Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II
Sikorsky Aircraft · United States · first flew 2019 · helicopter
The Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II is a UH-60M-derived combat rescue helicopter built for the United States Air Force to replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.76 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-blade main rotor above a twin-engine Black Hawk-type airframe, being derived from the UH-60M
- US Air Force combat rescue helicopter: the Pave Hawk line it replaces carries a retractable in-flight refuelling probe, a hoist and internal auxiliary fuel tanks
- Folding rotor blades for transport and shipboard use, as on the HH-60G it replaces
It looks much like a Black Hawk with a four-blade main rotor and two turboshaft engines, so the rescue fit and Air Force markings are the practical clues.
Specifications
- The Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II has a length of 19.76 m (65 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.05 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 357 km/h (222 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Air Force issued a Combat Rescue Helicopter request in October 2012, and on 24 November 2014 designated the UH-60M-derived winner the HH-60W. It first flew on 17 May 2019 and was named Jolly Green II in February 2020.
Variants
The HH-60W is the newest variant of the Pave Hawk family. It follows the HH-60G, the MH-60G and the HH-60P operated by South Korea.
Where you'll see it
The 41st Rescue Squadron received the first two aircraft on 5 November 2020, and a total of 112 were to be procured. In July 2025 the US approved a possible sale of up to nine to Norway.
Related aircraft
- Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot
- Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk
- Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk
- Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk
- Boeing MH-139A Grey Wolf
- Sikorsky SB-1 Defiant
- Ka-62
- Subaru UH-2
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