HH-60W Jolly Green II Reaches IOC And Departs For First Operational Deployment
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 38th Rescue Squadron and 41st RQS execute a combat search and rescue demonstration over Grand Bay Bombing and Gunnery Range at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Sept. 9, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Deanna Muir)
The HH-60W is
replacing the HH-60G, even if the procurement will be terminated earlier with
less helicopters that initially planned.
The newest U.S. Air
Force combat rescue helicopter, the
HH-60W Jolly Green II, has finally reached the IOC (Initial
Operational Capability). The milestone was celebrated with a ceremony at Moody
Air Force Base, Georgia, one of the first locations to receive the HH-60W, on
Sept. 9, 2022. The public announcement was however delayed, with Gen. Mark
Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, giving the news on October 4 and the
Public Affairs releasing the info on October 12.
“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 supports the platform’s viability for our Air Force Personnel Recovery core
function for as long as possible.”
In the
press release it is specified that the IOC means the Air
Force now possesses sufficient HH-60Ws, logistics requirements and trained
Airmen to support a 30-day deployment to any independent location with a
package of four aircraft. As a matter of fact, the helicopter was deployed as
soon as the IOC was declared, as shown in photos published few days ago on
DVIDS.
At least two
helicopters were shown in the photos while they were loaded
on C-17s at Moody AFB on Sept. 19 and 27. No details were
released, with the captions saying only “Moody Airmen set out on the first-ever
operational deployment of the HH-60W to provide rescue services in support of
contingency operations.”
U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 23rd Wing load an HH-60W Jolly Green II onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Sept. 19, 2022. This is the first deployment for the HH-60W and it offers a range of improved capabilities over its predecessor including improved range and survivability. Moody Airmen set out on the first-ever operational deployment of the HH-60W to provide rescue services in support of contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Deanna Muir)
On Sept. 7, 2022,
just a couple of days before the IOC declaration, the 41st Rescue Squadron and
the 38th Rescue Squadron completed
the first rescue mission in the Jolly Green II. The South
Georgia Medical Center requested assistance for a patient transfer to Tampa,
Florida, and “Air Force Rescue 490”, which just returned from a four‐hour training sortie, was immediately launched after a quick
turnaround.
The first HH-60W
helicopters first flew in 2019 and were
delivered to the U.S. Air Force in November 2020, after they
underwent extensive testing at Duke Field. The Air Force was initially expected
to receive 113 helicopters, later reduced to 108, as part of the Combat Rescue
Helicopter program. However, it now appears the procurement
of the HH-60W will end in FY2023, further reducing the fleet to
just 75 helicopters, which is also less than the 100 HH-60Gs that it should replace.
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