SH-60 Seahawk
Used
in: Navy, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard
Description:
A twin-engine, medium lift, utility or assault helicopter.
Features:
The Seahawk is a twin-engine helicopter. It is used for
anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, drug interdiction,
anti-ship warfare, cargo lift, and special operations. The
Navy's SH-60B Seahawk is an airborne platform based
aboard cruisers, destroyers, and frigates and deploys sonobouys
(sonic detectors) and torpedoes in an anti-submarine role. They
also extend the range of the ship's radar capabilities. The
Navy's SH-60F is carrier-based. Some versions, such as the Air
Force's MH-60 G Pave
Hawk and the Coast Guard's HH-60J Jayhawk, are
equipped with a rescue hoist with a 250 foot (75 meter) cable
that has a 600 pound (270 kg) lift capability, and a retractable
in-flight refueling probe. The Army's UH-60L Black Hawk
can carry 11 soldiers or 2,600 pounds (1,170 kg) of cargo or
sling load 9,000 pounds (4,050 kg) of cargo.
Background:
The UH-60 Black Hawk was fielded by the Army in 1979. The
Navy received the SH- 60B Seahawk in 1983 and the SH-60F
in 1988. The Air Force received the MH-60G Pave Hawk in
1982 while the Coast Guard received the HH-60J Jayhawk in
1992. The unit cost varies with the version. For example, the
unit cost of the Army's UH-60L Black Hawk is $5.9 million
while the unit cost of the Air Force MH-60G Pave Hawk
is $10.2 million.
General
Characteristics:
Primary
Function: Varies with the particular military service
Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (airframe);
General Electric Company (engines); IBM Corporation (avionics
components)
Power plant: Two General Electric T700-GE-700 or
T700-GE-701C engines
Thrust: Up to 1,940 shaft horsepower
Length: 64 feet 10 inches (19.6 meters)
Height: Varies with the version; from 13 to 17 feet (3.9
to 5.1 meters)
Rotor diameter: 53 feet 8 inches (16.4 meters)
Weight: Varies; 21,000 to 23,000 pounds (9,450 to 10,350
kg)
Speed: 180 knots maximum
Range: Generally about 380 nautical miles (600 km); range
becomes unlimited with air refueling capability.
Armament: Usually two 7.62mm machine guns mounted in the
windows; can also be equipped with AGM-114 Hellfire
or AGM-119 Penguin
missiles, three Mk46
or Mk 50 torpedoes or additional .50-caliber machine guns
mounted in the doors
Crew: Three to four |
