In a first-of-its-kind check, the effectiveness of the HH-60’s countermeasures was evaluated in a maritime surroundings towards fashionable aerial threats.
The U.S. Air Nationwide Guard and Air Drive Reserve examined the survivability and countermeasure programs of an HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II and an HH-60G Pave Hawk fight search and rescue helicopters towards a simulated assault by an F-15D in a maritime setting. In keeping with the announcement by Moffett ANGB (Air Nationwide Guard Base), California, on Aug. 25, 2025, the first-of-its-kind train evaluated the effectiveness of the countermeasures in helicopter and fighter plane engagements in maritime surroundings.
The Air Nationwide Guard Air Drive Reserve Command Check Middle (AATC) oversaw the trial, though the date is just not clear. In actual fact, whereas the captions put the date of the check on Aug. 20, the VIRIN naming reveals the pictures have been taken on Aug. 25.
The assessments concerned an HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 129th Rescue Wing (129th RQW) at Moffett ANGB; an HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II from the 305th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona; and the F-15D Eagle from the 144th Fighter Wing (144th FW), from Fresno ANGB, California.
Whereas the Naval Air Warfare Middle at Naval Air Station (NAS) Level Mugu additionally offered “essential help,” the train “evaluated the effectiveness of countermeasures in a maritime surroundings,” the place an F-15D Eagle from the 144th FW engaged with the HH-60G and the HH-60W. “The assessments, simulating real-world situations, evaluated the helicopters’ defensive capabilities towards fashionable aerial threats,” the discharge defined.
Throughout a first-of-its-kind check, @TheCalGuard Airmen helped consider the defensive capabilities of HH-60G Pave Hawk and HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II helicopters in real-world, over-water situations towards fashionable aerial threats.
🔗 pic.twitter.com/SqVXLvX0r9
— Nationwide Guard (@USNationalGuard) August 27, 2025
The 129th RQW already began its transition from the HH-60G Pave Hawk to the HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II, receiving the primary two of six helicopters in February 2025. The remaining ones are to be delivered by the top of 2026. Primarily based on the confirmed framework of the UH-60M Black Hawk, the HH-60W sports activities important enhancements over the HH-60G, targeted on vary, survivability, higher engines, new rotor blades, avionics and armament.
The check
The photographs launched on DVIDS present the Pave Hawk and Jolly Inexperienced over water, presumably off the Californian coast, releasing flares and chaff because the F-15D flew and maneuvered round it. The check could have concerned the F-15D utilizing its AN/APG-63 radar to trace and lock the helicopters, and assessing the efficiency of their radar warning receivers and missile method warning sensors.
These self-defensive suites are essential for exfiltrating and rescuing downed pilots in fight search and rescue in high-risk, air-defended and contested battlespaces, and even behind enemy traces. Because the press launch added, the outcomes and information generated from the trial “will inform future coaching and tools upgrades geared toward enhancing the survivability of rescue helicopters.”
The bottom additional talked about the participation of Las Vegas-based Trendy Expertise Options Inc. (MTSI) “offering digital warfare evaluation help” throughout the train. “Digital countermeasures disrupt enemy sensors and weapons programs, essential for plane safety,” the press launch defined.
MTSI’s web site says it supplies “check and analysis help in a number of domains, together with digital warfare,” in addition to “full spectrum help of initiatives with core duties together with program administration, check planning, check logistics, check conduct, information evaluation, check reporting, and particular research and evaluation at a number of areas.” The corporate has additionally offered ‘Operational Check’ and ‘Superior EW Check’ capabilities to the 53rd Wing by supporting testing of the F-15EX, CCAs (Collaborative Fight Plane) and the Offended Kitten EA (Digital Assault) pod.
The first mission of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or evening personnel restoration operations into hostile environments to recuperate remoted personnel throughout warfare. #ReadyAF #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/5Wya6KZ3ae
— U.S. Air Drive (@usairforce) August 3, 2020
Among the many customary self-defensive programs on the HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II are theAN/APR-52 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), AN/AAR-57 Widespread Missile Warning System (CMWS) and AN/ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser Techniques. The check could have assessed their sensitivity, response time to radar and missile focusing on at varied ranges and modes – lively, passive or Observe Whereas Scan (TWS).
ANGB personnel would have additionally firmed up techniques and procedures in such conditions, incorporating them into future coaching curriculum.
‘First-of-its-kind check’
AATC’s HH-60 Division deputy director Lt. Col. Don Smith mentioned the HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II “has by no means undergone the sort of analysis.” He additional added that “this check information will assist us decide how efficient U.S. countermeasures are towards fighter plane over water.”
The reference is to how humid and saline environments on the excessive seas would possibly have an effect on the efficiency of the self-protection suites, since that might be the predominant terrain in a high-end warfare with China within the western Pacific.
The press launch added that the check is critical for the Air Nationwide Guard, because it “faces distinctive coaching limitations.” Particularly, U.S. Air Drive Lt. Col. Terry Parham, AATC HH-60 Division director, defined that “Guard items execute the identical essential missions as lively responsibility however typically have fewer specialised coaching alternatives.”
Saying goodbye to a legend!
The thirty third Rescue Squadron honors the HH-60G Pave Hawk with a formation flight over Okinawa, marking its legacy for the reason that early 90s.
As they transition to the HH-60W mannequin, they’re gearing up for much more superior fight and rescue ops. 🚁 pic.twitter.com/BWMjLV7XdZ
— Division of Protection 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) Might 4, 2024
The press launch revealed the participation of the Air Drive Reserve’s 305th and 943rd Upkeep Squadrons, that are each a part of the 943rd Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, demonstrating “inter-unit and inter-service cooperation.” Moreover, “reservists from the 943rd overcame logistical challenges in making ready tools for the check, highlighting their dedication.”
HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced milestones
An official truth sheet says the HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II has different modifications together with cabin and cockpit armor; externally mounted 7.62 mm or .50 heavy machine gun; Hyperlink 16 tactical information hyperlink; Situational Consciousness Knowledge Hyperlink; built-in cockpit and cabin shows; superior communications; Computerized Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast; tactical shifting map shows; upturned IR-masking exhausts; and environment friendly wide-chord rotor blades.
Able to rescue! ⛑️ 🚁
A U.S. Air Drive pararescueman from the 563rd Rescue Group participated in search-and-rescue coaching from an HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II helicopter in help of train #REFORPAC 2025.#DLE2025 #563RG #IndoPacific pic.twitter.com/hq2McI8snQ
— PACAF (@PACAF) August 1, 2025
Within the newest check, neither the HH-60G Pave Hawk nor the HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II have been armed. Early in August nonetheless, the Jolly Vihar 25 train in western Hungary noticed HH-60Ws from the 56th Rescue Squadron from Aviano Air Base, in Italy, taking part in live-fire drills with the weapons. The 56th RS acquired its first new HH-60W in Dec. 13, 2024. Aviano additionally retired its remaining 5 legacy HH-60G Pave Hawks the identical yr.
Previous to that, late in December 2022, the USAF revealed the HH-60W’s first actual world CASEVAC operation within the Horn of Africa (HOA), the place it saved the lives of two members of a “associate” drive. The unspecified variety of HH-60W helicopters from the 449th Air Expeditionary Group’s PRTF (Personnel Restoration Job Drive) and an HC-130J Fight King II from the 347th Rescue Group have been activated within the “pre-dawn hours” and following the “fast […] preliminary pickup of the injured [was] out and in of the world with out incident.”
Airmen flying a HH-60W Jolly Inexperienced II rescued 4 injured civilians and one critically injured throughout search and rescue efforts in North Carolina.
Click on to learn this story from the @usairforce: 🔗 pic.twitter.com/FkAC3mI3Ve
— Sikorsky (@Sikorsky) October 11, 2024
The primary items to obtain and discipline the brand new plane have been the forty first Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia and the 512th Rescue Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Then on Sep. 7, 2022, Moody AFB was the primary throughout the USAF to deploy the brand new Jolly Inexperienced II for its first rescue mission by the thirty eighth and forty first Rescue Squadrons.
