Artist rendering courtesy of Sikorsky Sikorsky has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) of U.S. Air Force's Com...
 |
| Artist rendering courtesy of Sikorsky |
Sikorsky has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) of U.S. Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) program intended to replace its ageing HH-60G Pave Hawk combat rescue helicopter fleet.
The CDR will enable the program to proceed to assembly, test, and evaluation of the new HH-60W helicopter featuring increased internal fuel capability for greater range and will be derived from the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.
Introduced in 1982, the HH-60G Pave Hawk is currently tasked to perform critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all U.S. military services day and night.
The USAF awarded Sikorsky the $1.28 billion Engineering Manufacturing & Development (EMD) contract in June 2014, which includes development and integration of the next generation combat rescue platform and mission systems, delivery of four HH-60W helicopters, aircrew and maintenance training systems, and support for both.
In January of 2017, the USAF exercised a $203 million contract option with Sikorsky to provide five additional aircraft, bringing the total to nine. The training suite includes devices that span full-motion simulators and discrete aircraft systems, such as hoist and landing gear.
USAF plans to acquire 112 of these CRH helicopters at a cost of $7.9 billion, with initial deliveries expected in 2019.
The CRH will feature GE T700-701D engines, composite wide-chord main rotor blades to sustain maneuverability at high density altitudes, and a new fatigue- and corrosion-resistant machined aero-structure to ensure reliability and availability to USAF operational units.
The design includes an advanced Tactical Mission Kit integrating multiple sensors, data links, defensive systems, and other sources of intelligence information for use by combat rescue aircrews. The aircraft is designed with a weapons and cabin configuration specifically optimized for combat rescue and recovery operations.
The CRH and USAF teams will meet again in September for the Training Systems Critical Design Review.
