Impending IOC Announcement for a New Rescue Helicopter – Its Role and Power Explained

IOC Achieved for New Rescue Helicopter – What Function Is it? How Powerful?

Air Combat Command said its new HH-60W Jolly Green II has achieved initial operational capability, a key milestone for the new combat search and rescue helicopter.

Lockheed Martin, whose Sikorsky business unit makes the helicopter, and ACC announced the achievement in separate releases Oct. 12.

Achieving IOC means the Air Force now has the Airframe, Engine, Mission Equipment, and Logistics in place to deploy a package of four HH-60Ws to any forward operating location up to 30 days.

“It’s an exciting day for combat rescue as we bring a new capability online and the ability to provide enhanced care for our service members and their families,” said Maj. Gen. Davi Lyons, director of operations at ACC, in the release. “Current and future combatant commanders can be confident in our extremely capable CSAR [combat search and rescue] platform, which will no doubt save lives downrange.”

Sikorsky has delivered 24 HH-60Ws thus far, with deliveries more or less on track. The 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., both have the helicopter, which completed testing at Duke Field, Fla., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

The HH-60W had its first operational deployment from Moody on Sept. 23, to support the launch of combat air patrols. A 23rd Wing spokesperson could not immediately confirm where the helicopters deployed.

“This declaration is a vote of confidence from U.S. Air Force leadership, and the commitment of the Sikorsky team to stand behind the U.S. Air Force and provide it with a proven, capable and ready aircraft to support the CSAR and personnel recovery mission,” Nathalie Previte, vice president of Sikorsky Army & Air Force Systems, said in a statement. “Sikorsky is committed to delivering the UH-60W Comanche for the warfighter and ensuring the aircraft is ready and able to support the critical mission of CSAR and personnel recovery.”

ACC said in February in a release that it anticipated delivering full operational capability by the end of 2023. The Air Force’s 2023 budget request sought to reduce its HH-60W purchases from the originally planned 113 to 75. Both the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee have balked at that plan, with each asking the Air Force to report back on the impact of cutting the buys.

The Jolly Green II is an upgrade over the HH-60G Pave Hawk, which the Air Force has flown since the 1980s. The new helicopter is more range and is more survivable, and it features advanced avionics and other benefits. It is one of two new helicopter the Air Force is bringing into service, with the MH-139 Grey Wolf having recently entered utility testing after a year-long delay.