The story of the Seahawk

Date:   10/24/2007 6:30:56 PM ( 17 y ago)

History

In 1977 the U.S. Navy initiated a program to replace it's existing fleet of LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) Mk I SH-2 Sea Sprite helicopters. The contract was awarded to Sikorsky Aircraft for the development and construction of a LAMPS helicopter based on the existing Army UH-60 utility helicopter design. The first flight of the YSH-60B occurred in December of 1979 and the navy then placed an order for 18 in 1982. The first flight of the production SH-60B occurred in February of 1983 and the SH-60B entered service with the Navy in 1984.

A total of 181 SH-60B helicopters were built for the Navy. In 1993 the Navy decided to curtail production of the SH-60 (as well as the SH-60F Seahawk) in favor of the SH-60R multi-mission helicopter, which would combine the mission capabilities of both the B and F variants. Initially, existing SH-60B/F airframes were to be remanufactured into SH-60R helicopters, however, by 2001 this plan had been scrapped infavor of new production aircraft. In addition, the navy changed the designation of the SH-60R to MH-60R to reflect it's multi-mission, littoral warfare capabilities

The SH-60B is still in active service with the Navy, with squadrons upgrading to MH-60Rs as aircraft become available.

Description

Airframe and general capabilities

The SH-60B is a twin-engined medium lift utility helicopter.  It is equipped with a single 4-bladed rotor and a single 4-bladed tail rotor.  The basic crew compliment for the SH-60B is three; pilot, co-pilot/ATO (Airborne Tactical Officer), and an enlisted electronic systems operator.

The SH-60B was designed as an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Anti-Ship Surveillance and Targeting (ASST) support helicopter.  In addition, the SH-60B is capable of performing utility missions such as vertical replenishment and communications relay, and as such was developed for operation off of the Navy's fleet of frigates, destroyers, and cruisers.  The Seahawk is equipped with a reward sliding and lockable door on the right side of the cargo compartment.  The SH-60B is equipped with an externally mounted 600-pound rescue hoist located on the right-hand side of the airframe.  As with the UH-60, the SH-60B is equipped with a centrally mounted external cargo hook rated to 6,000 pounds.  External weapons and auxiliary systems are mounted on a pair of weapon pylons mounted aft of the cargo/crew compartment.  The right-hand wing will accommodate a single weapon or external fuel tank, while the left-hand pylon will accommodate two weapons.

The SH-60B utilizes a tricycle wheel landing gear system similar to that of the Army UH-60 Blackhawk except that the tailwheel assembly has been moved further forward to shorten the wheelbase for warship operations.  In addition, the tail wheel is equipped with two wheels vice one on the UH-60, and all landing struts have been re-enforced and feature increased rebound for impact absorption in rough landing situations.  The SH-60B is RAST (Recovery, Assist, Secure, and Traversing) equipped, which enables the Seahawk to be recovered in sea state 5 (33 kt winds, 13" swells, 6 degrees of pitch, 15 degrees of roll) conditions.  The Seahawk is capable of hovering, in-flight refueling.

The SH-60B carries 25 sonobuoys which are ejected pneumatically from the left hand side of the helicopter.  The AN/ASQ-81(V)2 MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) is mounted on the Right side of the airframe, above and behind the weapon pylon.

To reduce the stowed "footprint" of the helicopter, the SH-60B features an automated main rotor blade folding system while the tail assembly can be folded manually.

Powerplant
The initial production SH-60B Seahawks were equipped with two navalized General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines rated at 1,690 shaft horsepower each.  Beginning in 1988 these engines were upgraded to 1,800 shp T700-GE-401C variants.  Internal fuel capacity totals 590 gallons, and the helicopter can be equipped with two pylon mounted auxiliary tanks rated to 120 gallons each.

Flight characteristics
The empty weight of the SH-60B is 13,648 pounds, while the mission take off weight is 21,110 pounds and the maximum take off weight is 21,884 pounds.  The external cargo carrying capacity (cargo hook) is 6,000 pounds and the internal cargo capacity is 4,100 pounds.

The maximum level speed of the SH-60B is 145 knots (167 miles per hour) while the cruising speed is 139 knots (160 miles per hour.)  The service ceiling is 19,000 ft (5,790 m.)

Maximum range of the SH-60B on internal fuel and at maximum take-off weight is 380 nautical miles (437 statute miles.)  The maximum mission range with one hour of loiter time is 150 nautical miles while the Seahawk has a three hour loiter time out to 50 nautical miles.

Electronics
The SH-60B is equipped with VHF-FM, UHF-FM, and VHF-AM/FM radios, as well as encrypted IFF recognition system.  For ASW/ASuW operations, the SH-60B is equipped with an AN/APS-124 surface search radar, mounted in an enclosed "button" fairing under the nose, which has 360 degrees of coverage. The Seahawk is also equipped with the AN/ASQ-81(V)2 MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) for submarine detection.  For target acquisition and tracking, the SH-60B is equipped with an AN/ASS-44 Infrared Laser Detecting/Ranging/Tracking set.  For processing sonobouy data the SH-60B is equipped with both the AN/ARR-84 and the R-1651/ARA sonobouy data receivers.

For self defense the Seahawk is equipped with an AN/ALQ-142 ESM system.  Though not considered standard equipment, the SH-60B can be outfitted with the AN/ALQ-144 infrared countermeasures system and the AN/ALE-39 chaff/flare dispenser.

Armament
The standard armament for the SH-60B is a combination of up to three externally mounted Mk. 46/Mk. 50 lightweight ASW torpedoes or the AGM-119B Penguin Mk. 2 mod 7 anti-ship missile.  Beginning in the mid 1990's, the Penguin was replaced by the AGM 114 Hellfire anti-tank missile for use against small ships.  For self-defense against surface threats, the SH-60B can be equipped with a single pintle mounted M-60 machinegun.

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