Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk

The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant airframe modification is a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.

The U.S. Navy uses the H-60 airframe under the model designations SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60R, and MH-60S. Able to deploy aboard any air-capable frigate, destroyer, cruiser, fast combat support ship, amphibious assault ship, or aircraft carrier, the Seahawk can handle anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), naval special warfare (NSW) insertion, search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), vertical replenishment (VERTREP), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). All Navy H-60s carry a rescue hoist for SAR/CSAR missions.

Variants

US Variants

• YSH-60 Seahawk: Developmental version, led to SH-60B; five built.
• SH-60B Seahawk: Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, equipped with an APS-124 search radar and an ALQ-142 ESM system under the nose, also fitted with a 25-tube sonobuoy launcher on the left side and modified landing gear; 181 built for the US Navy.
• NSH-60B Seahawk: Permanently configured for flight testing.
• CH-60E: Proposed troop transport version for the U.S. Marine Corps. Not built.
• SH-60F Oceanhawk: Carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare helicopter, equipped with dipping sonar; 76 built for the U.S. Navy.
• NSH-60F Seahawk: Modified SH-60F to support the VH-60N Cockpit Upgrade Program.
• HH-60H Rescue Hawk: Search-and-rescue helicopter for the U.S. Navy; 42 built
• XSH-60J Seahawk: Two U.S.-built pattern aircraft for Japan.
• SH-60J Seahawk: Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.
• YSH-60R Seahawk: Developmental version, led to the MH-60R/S.
• MH-60R Seahawk: Variant of the SH-60 that combines the features of the SH-60B and SH-60F
• YCH-60S Knighthawk:
• MH-60S Knighthawk: Multimission helicopter whose missions include vertical replenishment, medical evacuation, combat search and rescue, anti-surface warfare, maritime interdiction, close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and special warfare support. It replaced the CH-46 Sea Knight in USN service.
• HH-60/MH-60 Jayhawk: U.S. Coast Guard version, developed from HH-60H.

Users

• Australia
  • Royal Australian Navy
• Brazil
  • Brazilian Navy
• Republic of China
  • Republic of China Naval Aviation Command
• Denmark
  • Royal Danish Navy
• Greece
  • Hellenic Navy
• Israel
  • Israeli Sea Corps
• India
  • Indian Navy
• Japan
  • Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - see Mitsubishi H-60
• South Korea
  • Republic of Korea Navy
• Mexico
  • Mexican Navy
• Qatar
  • Qatar Emiri Air Force
  • Qatar Emiri Navy
• Saudi Arabia
  • Royal Saudi Navy
• Singapore
  • Republic of Singapore Air Force
  • Republic of Singapore Navy
• Spain
  • Spanish Navy
• Thailand
  • Royal Thai Navy
• Tunisia
  • Tunisian Navy
• Turkey
  • Turkish Naval Forces
• United States
  • United States Navy

See Also

Related Development

• Sikorsky S-70
• Mitsubishi H-60
• Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk
• Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
• Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
• Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone

Comparable Aircraft

• AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat
• Eurocopter AS565 Panther
• HAL Dhruv
• Harbin Z-20
• Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite
• Kamov Ka-27
• NHIndustries NH90
• Westland WG-13 Lynx