Date: 10 Dec 2003
Time: 17:28
MH-60S fleet combat support helicopters are serving the U.S. Navy around the world. MH-60S crews have won numerous Sikorsky Winged-S Rescue Awards, continuing a tradition dating to 1950. The newest operational helicopter in the Navy inventory conducted its first lifesaving mission in 2002 in the Atlantic.
This year's honours for the MH-60S aviators include the awards for the rescue of 27 merchant sailors from an Egyptian ship in the Arabian Sea, an Iraqi journalist off Dubai and five hikers in Guam.
The MH-60S and its counterpart, the Sikorsky MH-60R, form the basis for the US Navy's Helicopter Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and will replace all other existing Navy helicopters by 2010. Together, the aircraft will provide a full array of maritime helicopter capabilities, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface ship warfare (SUW), medevac, logistics, Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) and Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM).
The MH-60S is a baseline BLACK HAWK configuration with SEAHAWK engines, rotor system and dynamic components, including the SEAHAWK's automatic rotor blade folding system, folding tail pylon, improved durability gearbox, rotor brake and automatic flight control computer.