A Signature Visit for the Combat Rescue Helicopter

The New York National Air Guard 106th Rescue Wing (RQW) recently visited Sikorsky’s Stratford headquarters to see their 101st Rescue Squadron’s first HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter nearing its completion on final assembly. This HH-60W is scheduled to be ready for flight testing this summer and will be the first of its kind to be operated by the New York Air National Guard. The aircraft will be based on Long Island at the F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., which is a quick helicopter ride from Stratford across Long Island Sound. Joining the 106TH RQW was Major General Denise Donnell, Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the New York Air National Guard, and 106th were members form the 129th RQW from the California Air National Guard based at Moffett Field, CA.

Sikorsky Director of Army and Air Force Programs Greg Hames watches U.S. Air Force Major General Denise Donnell, Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the New York Air National Guard, sign HH-60W aircraft #53. This will be the first HH-60W delivered to the New York Air National Guard. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

The team enjoyed a tour of Sikorsky’s digital factory where they saw the full build and test process for the HH-60W. The squadron’s primary mission is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations into hostile, isolated environments. They also perform additional operations, including search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, security cooperation and aviation advisory, NASA space flight support, and rescue command and control.

“I think this visit was extremely beneficial on both ends because Sikorsky was able to hear from us, the end user. And for us, it was important to come up and see a lot of the safety and quality that goes into the building of these aircraft,” said Command Chief Master Sergeant Edward Rittberg, 106th Rescue Wing senior enlisted leader. “We were able to see the first aircraft that is going to be delivered to us while it is in production, which is a unique and great experience for us,” he said.

U.S. Air Force members of the New York Air National Guard pose in front of HH-60W aircraft #53 – destined to be their first Combat Rescue Helicopter – while on a tour of Sikorsky’s Stratford headquarters and digital factor. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

“It is an absolute privilege to provide these aviators with the only dedicated Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) helicopter in the Department of Defense to support their critical lifesaving missions,” said Greg Hames, director of Army and Air Force programs. “At Sikorsky, we are committed to building the most capable platforms to meet the CSAR mission requirements and support operations in a 21st Century Security environment.”

The all new HH-60W has an increased main fuel tank allowing for a larger main cabin, an Advanced Radar Warning Receiver and integrated survivability and defensive systems, net-centric connectivity, upgraded armor and ballistic protection, a fully integrated glass cockpit with three rear cabin displays, six communications radios, and Upgraded Electro-Optical/Infrared Sensor with laser range-finding and laser illuminator.

U.S. Air Force Major General Denise Donnell, Assistant Adjutant General and Commander of the New York Air National Guard, and Colonel Jeff Cannet, 106th Rescue Wing Operations Group Commander, sit in the cockpit of an HH-60W flight simulator developed by Lockheed Martin. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

Following the manufacturing tour, the squadron visited a flight simulator where they had the opportunity hop in and fly the aircraft. To wrap up the visit and welcome the NY Air National Guard officially to the CRH community, the Sikorsky team presented them with a commemorative HH-60W print.

From left to right David Morgan, Director Air Force Business Development, Greg Hames, Director Army and Air Force Programs, Colonel Shawn Fitzgerald, Commander of the 106 Rescue Wing, NY Air National Guard, and Maj Gen Denise Donnell, Assistant Adjutant General and Commander, New York Air National Guard. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.