Honoring the Legacy of Vietnam-Era Giants
The US Air Force (USAF) named its newest combat rescue helicopter, the HH-60W, the “Jolly Green II,” following the legendary tradition of the Vietnam-era HH-3E Jolly Green and HH-53 Super Jolly Green crews who pioneered the combat search and rescue mission.
USAF Secretary Barbara Barrett revealed the name at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 27, 2020. A model of the HH-60W unveiled on stage showed the famous green feet symbol.
During the ceremony, Barrett recognized retired Col. Barry Kamhoot and retired Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Fisk was honoring them for their distinguished service and contributions to the combat rescue mission. Kamhoot, who flew rescue missions into Vietnam, including a harrowing recovery of two Navy crewmen while under fire, was one of the original Jolly Green pilots who flew HH-3E and HH-53 aircraft.
Fisk manned an HH-3E Jolly Green Giant during the 1970 Son Tay Prisoner of War Camp Raid and received the Silver Star for his actions. He was also credited with being the first to notice the famed “green feet” impressions the HH-3E Jolly Green would leave after landing. The footprints came to symbolize the combat search and rescue mission and were incorporated in the new Jolly Green II logo.
Also honored were Airmen of the 41st and 48th Rescue Squadrons who supported Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and U.S. Special Operations Command East Africa. The crews designated Jolly 41 and Jolly 42 provided casualty evacuation and emergency close air support to friendly forces while deployed, notably rescuing four critically injured U.S. special operators and two critically injured partner nation members.
Developmental Testing Phase and First Aerial Refueling
The HH-60W Jolly Green II test program achieved several critical milestones during its development at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB).
Approximately 3,000 feet above the Eglin range, the HH-60W Jolly Green II connected with an HC-130J tanker for the first-ever aerial refueling by the Air Force’s new combat search and rescue helicopter on Aug. 5, 2020.
“This capability is essential for the CSAR mission since it greatly extends the operating range of the aircraft and thus allows the unit to extend its rescue capabilities over a larger battlespace,” said Joe Whiteaker, 413th FLTS Combat Rescue Helicopter Flight Chief.
The aircraft was piloted by both Air Force and Sikorsky pilots and flew at 110 knots to make contact with the tanker. The flight lasted just under two hours.
“The aircraft performed flawlessly during the testing and met all of the program objectives,” said John Biscaino, Sikorsky’s test pilot.
Throughout the tests, the aircrew and engineers evaluated the helicopter’s ability to connect with the fuel drogue and its handling qualities during fueling. They also monitored the functionality of the systems and gauges to ensure the aircraft received fuel appropriately with proper pressures.
Maj. Andrew Fama, 413th FLTS, was the Air Force pilot for the refueling mission. He evaluated the handling qualities and made the first contacts. “It’s rare for a test pilot to have the opportunity to test a new aircraft replacing the one he or she flew operationally and to be the first one to do something like this,” Fama said. The contract for Lot 5 for an additional 10 or more aircraft is expected to be awarded by the Air Force in 2023.
Live Fire Testing
Deep within Eglin’s range, rapid, powerful gunfire reverberated across the expanse beginning Aug. 17, 2020. Live fire testing began for the HH-60W Jolly Green II’s three primary weapons.
The goal of the ground testing was to verify the weapons systems’ functionality and accuracy, and to demonstrate that the guns were safe to employ operationally. The 413th Flight Test Squadron testers and their partners performed the testing over three weeks.
The three weapons tested were: the GAU-2, a 7.62mm Gatling gun with a 3,000 rounds per minute fire rate, the GAU-18, a .50 caliber legacy machine gun with a 650-800 round fire rate, and the GAU-21, a .50 caliber newly-designed machine gun with a 950-1100 round fire rate.
“It was great to see all the team’s planning and hard work finally pay off to get us to execution and gather this initial live-fire data,” said Maj. Christopher Hull, 413th FLTS chief test engineer.
The first HH-60W built, commonly referred to as Whiskey 1 within the unit, was used for ground testing. The helicopter’s guns could rotate independently, providing an almost 360-degree firing arc, which created a unique challenge for the squadron’s engineers.
The Jolly Green’s aircrew not only operated the weapons but were also part of the evaluation. The crew wore special instrumentation that measured the weapon’s blast effects on their bodies as part of a larger DOD study to better understand the effects of weapon blasts on the human body, specifically as it relates to traumatic brain injury.
Completion of Developmental Testing
On Apr. 13, 2021, the US Air Force’s new combat search and rescue helicopter, the HH-60W Jolly Green II, completed its developmental test program at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB).
The final test by the Sikorsky and Air Force team was on the aircraft’s weapon systems. The goal was to demonstrate the performance of the weapons while optimizing weapon-system configurations.
The test efforts began in May 2019 with the first HH-60W flight. The aircraft arrived at Eglin AFB with the 413th FLTS in November 2019, although various tests took place in other locations. The integrated test team accumulated more than 1,100 flight test hours across six aircraft, testing the full spectrum of aircraft systems.
Notable developmental tests included aircraft performance, communications systems, environmental tests at McKinley Climatic Lab, aerial refueling, data links, defensive systems, cabin systems, rescue hoist, and live-fire of three weapon systems.
The test aircraft were modified for operational use before being transferred to their respective Air Force rescue units. The Jolly Green II’s developmental test mission moved to the Combat Search and Rescue Combined Test Force for follow-on testing at Nellis AFB, Nevada, in 2022.
Initial Operational Capability
Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, declared the HH-60W Jolly Green II reached initial operational capability on Oct. 4, 2022.
The declaration signified that the USAF possessed sufficient HH-60Ws, logistics requirements, and trained Airmen to support a 30-day deployment to any independent location with a package of four aircraft.
“It’s an exciting day for Combat Rescue as we bring a new platform and its upgraded capabilities into operation,” said Maj. Gen. David Lyons, Director of Operations at Air Combat Command. “This declaration is the culmination of years of hard work and vision. Current and future combat environments require us to maneuver further and faster than ever before, and the capabilities provided by the Jolly Green II support the platform’s viability for our Air Force Personnel Recovery core function for as long as possible.”
“This declaration is a vote of confidence from U.S. Air Force leadership and demonstrates the critical role of and need for the HH-60W,” said Nathalie Previte, vice president of Sikorsky Army & Air Force Systems.
The 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, one of the first locations to receive the HH-60W, held a ceremony to mark the declaration on Sept. 9, 2022.
“The airmen of the 23rd Wing have done a tremendous job working with partners to get this aircraft combat-ready on time,” said Col. Russ Cook, 23rd Wing commander. “Bottom line, the future of Air Force Rescue is secure, and our team is ready to recover anybody, anytime, anywhere, against any adversary.”
First Combat Saves
HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters were involved in their first real-world casualty evacuation operation in the African area of responsibility late in December 2022.
A combined force of deployed US assets coordinated to save two lives of partner forces outside the wire in the Horn of Africa. The force consisted of HC-130J recovery aircraft and Guardian Angels from the 347th Rescue Group, as well as HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters.
The HH-60W and its sister squadrons were assigned to the Personnel Recovery Task Force (PRTF) under the direction of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group and the Joint Personnel Recovery Center (JPRC). The special capabilities and training of the HH-60W and its crews made it a unique capability within the AOR that enabled commanders to reduce the overall risk to the mission and risk to the force.
“The PRTF is specifically manned, trained, and equipped to rapidly respond to emergency battlefield situations to return American, allied, and partner forces to friendly control,” said Lt. Col. Thaddeus Ronnau, commander of the PRTF and regional director of the JPRC at Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. “While personnel may be behind enemy lines, or far from needed support, this team is equipped to travel great distances and fight their way in and out if necessary to make the mission happen.”
Alert crews were activated during the pre-dawn hours and responded quicker than the required theater response times. The initial pick up of the injured was quick, and the team was in and out of the area without incident. They then immediately made for the nearest medical facility for trauma surgery while the Pararescuemen performed their own stabilizing emergency medical care in the aircraft’s cabin. The HC-130Js were then called to swiftly move the most seriously wounded member to another location for further treatment. Both lives were saved.
“Everyone responded with complete professionalism, doing exactly what we train to do. We couldn’t have done it without the whole team,” said Capt. Abby Norwood of the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron.
The successful recovery demonstrated that the HH-60W was a force multiplier that transcended the tactical to the operational and strategic levels. By bringing the team directly to the location, the HH-60W shortened the time required to rescue isolated and/or wounded individuals.
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, designed and manufactured the HH-60W, which enabled the US Air Force to conduct rescue missions at greater ranges, in the most challenging environments, and with increased survivability.
As the sole dedicated combat search and rescue (CSAR) platform in the Department of Defense, the Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter was built on the decades-long legacy of USAF combat rescue and recapitalized the critical combat search and rescue fleet. The HH-60W Jolly Green II, which was replacing the aging HH-60G Pavehawk, was specially built for the Air Force’s combat rescue mission based on fully vetted operational requirements.
Leveraging the proven survivability and reliability of the H-60M Black Hawk, the HH-60W Jolly Green II incorporated advanced digital design techniques, an open architecture for rapid mission system integration, an air refueling system, upgraded survivability and defensive systems, cabin and cockpit armor, integrated weapons, and increased main fuel tank capacity to 644 gallons. These advanced technologies enabled the Jolly Green II to meet the Combatant Commander’s demands and the emerging Joint All Domain Operations (JADO) requirements in near-peer competition.
Capability Highlights
- Expanded aerodynamic and hover performance
- Increased main fuel tank – 644 gallons vs 360 gallons – and air refuelable for greater range
- Advanced and integrated survivability and defensive systems
- Expanded communications, including two Tactical Datalinks & Intel Receivers for Net-centric connectivity to operate in the joint all-domain environment
- Higher resolution sensors
- Larger main cabin
- Upgraded armor and ballistic protection
- 100% commonality with all UH-60M engines and dynamic systems
Production and Delivery
Sikorsky delivered 24 aircraft to the Air Force through 2022, including all Engineering & Manufacturing Development and Lot 1 aircraft. Lot 2 deliveries, comprised of 12 aircraft, began in June 2022. Sikorsky was awarded four production lots through early 2022, most recently Lot 4 for 14 aircraft in February 2022. The contract for Lot 5 for an additional 10 or more aircraft was expected to be awarded by the Air Force in 2023.
The USAF program of record called for 113 helicopters to replace the Air Force’s aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, which performed critical combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all US military services and allies.
The following video by Lockheed Martin introduces the HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter, which builds on the legacy of the Jolly Green Giant, brings new capabilities to the combat rescue mission.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. John Raven / U.S. Air Force; Lockheed Martin and Airman 1st Class Deanna Muir
