MH-60S
Like the MH-60R, the multi-
mission MH-60S was developed
in support of the US Navy’s
Helicopter Master Plan. It provides
surface and mine countermeasure
warfare capabilities, as well as
the capability to provide the
eet with special warfare, SAR,
combat SAR, and logistics support/
vertical replenishment (VERTREP)
capabilities.
The MH-60S is based on the US
Army’s UH-60L utility helicopter
and was initially deployed in Block
I combat support con guration
in 2002. The Block I version is
dedicated to logistics support,
vertical replenishment, search and
rescue, and utility support.
Plans for the Block 2 airborne mine
countermeasures (AMCM) version
originally included numerous
weapon systems that comprised
the AN/AES-1 airborne laser mine
detection system (ALMDS) and the
AN/ASQ-235 Archer sh airborne
mine neutralization system (AMNS),
AN/ALQ-220 organic airborne
surface in uence sweep (OASIS) and
AN/AQS-20A sonar mine detecting
set. The AMCM tow mission was
cancelled, but development of
ALMDS and AMNS continued and
the two systems achieved IOC in
December 2016. Initial operational
test and evaluation (IOT&E) for the
AMCM and Littoral Combat Ship will
be completed by FY 2021.
Due to the development of the
AMCM systems, the Block 3A armed
helicopter preceded the Block 2
version. It achieved IOC in 2007
and began its rst deployment
aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN
74) with HSC-8 in January 2009.
The Block 3A incorporated the
AN/AAS-44C EO/IR sensor system
and could be armed with eight
Hell re missiles or 2.75in (70mm)
rockets carried on external weapon
system wings. Additionally, a xed
forward- ring weapon system
includes the M197 20mm cannon
that is capable of ring 680 rounds
per minute. Crew-served FN Herstal
laser-sighted M240D 7.62mm guns
can be installed in the port and
starboard gunners’ windows while
laser-sighted GAU-21 0.50-caliber
guns are mounted inside the port
and starboard cabin doors. TheSquadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
NAWDC NAS Fallon, Nevada MH-60S CNAF/CNAFP
HX-21 ‘Blackjack NAS Patuxent River, Maryland MH-60S NAWCAD HX
HSC-2 (FRS)
‘Fleet Angels’Chambers Field,
NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL HU
HSC-3 (FRS) ‘Merlins’ NAS North Island, California MH-60S CHSCWP SA
HSC-4 ‘Black Knights’ NAS North Island, California MH-60S CHSCWP NE
HSC-5 ‘Night Dippers’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL AG
HSC-6
‘Screamin’ Indians’NAS North Island,
California MH-60S CHSCWP NH
HSC-7 ‘Dusty Dogs’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL AC
HSC-8 ‘Eightballers’ NAS North Island, California MH-60S CHSCWP NH
HSC-9 ‘Tridents’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL AJ
HSC-11 ‘Dragonslayers’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL AB
HSC-12 ‘Golden Falcons’NAF Atsugi, Japan MH-60S CHSCWP NF
HSC-14 ‘Chargers’ NAS North Island, California MH-60S CHSCWP NG
HSC-21 ‘Blackjacks’ NAS North Island, California MH-60S CHSCWP VR
HSC-22 ‘Sea Knights’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL AM
HSC-23 ‘Wildcards’ NAS North Island, California MH-60S CHSCWP WC
HCS-25 ‘Island Knights’
(see note 1) Andersen AFB, Guam MH-60S CHSCWP RB
HSC-25 Det 6 MCAS Iwakuni, Japan MH-60S CHSCWP RB
HSC-26 ‘Chargers’ Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL HW
HSC-26 Det 1
‘Desert Hawks’Bahrain IAP, Manama,
Bahrain MH-60S CHSCWL HW
HSC-28 ‘Dragon Whales’Chambers Field, NS Norfolk, Virginia MH-60S CHSCWL BR
HSC-28 Det 1 NSA Capodichino AP, Italy MH-60S CHSCWL BR
HX-21 ‘Blackjack’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland MH-60S NAWCAD HX
VX-1 ‘Pioneers’ NAS Patuxent River, Maryland MH-60S COTEF JA
VX-31 ‘Dust Devils’ NAWS China Lake, California MH-60S NAWCWD DD
AOD NAS Whidbey Island, Washington MH-60S 7G/FW
AOD ‘Longhorns’ NAS Fallon, Nevada MH-60S 7H
AOD NAS Lemoore, California MH-60S 7S
AOD NAS Key West, Florida MH-60S 7Q
AOD NAS Patuxent River, Maryland MH-60S 7A
1 HSC-25 is under the OPCON of Commander Fleet Air Forward.An MH-60S of HSC-11
‘Dragonslayers’ participates
in a replenishment-at-sea.
US Navy/MCS2C Bobby Sienssubsequent Block 3B version added
the Link 16 tactical datalink to the
Block 3A capabilities. The MH-60S
was certi ed to re 2.75in (70mm)
Hydra unguided rockets from the
19-shot LAU-61C/A pod in 2013
and integration of the laser-guided
2.75in Advanced Precision-Kill
Weapon System II (APKWS II)
rockets followed beginning in 2014.
Ongoing upgrades are providing
the MH-60S with data link/full
motion video (FMV) kits and the
Helmet Display Targeting System
(HDTS). The Block 3B armed helopre-planned product improvement
(P3I) will incorporate identi cation
friend or foe (IFF) Mode S and
Mode 5, the advanced data transfer
system, moving map integration
(ADTS/MMI) and mixed loads
enhanced targeting capability
(MLETC) as well as a downed aviator
locator system (DALS).
Procurement of the MH-60S
ended in FY 2015 and the last of
275 aircraft was delivered to HSC-28
in January 2016. In early 2018,
261 examples of the variant were
in service.warfare, logistics support,
personnel transport, medical
evacuation (medevac) and
communications relay.
The MH-60R’s mission suite
includes the Raytheon AN/
AQS-22F airborne low-frequency
sonar, sonobuoys, an acoustic
processor, Lockheed Martin AN/
ALQ-210 ESM, Raytheon AN/
AAS-44C multi-spectral targeting
system (MTS) and Telephonics
AN/APS-147 or APS-153 multi-
mode radar (MMR). First elded
in 2012, the APS-153 features
an automatic radar periscope
detection and discrimination
(ARPDD) capability. An integrated
self-defense (ISD) suite is
composed of countermeasures
dispensing systems and infra-red
countermeasures (CMDS/IRCM)
cha and are countermeasures
and self-protection against radar,
infra-red and laser threats. The
helicopter has a Link 16 datalink
that greatly increases its value as
a ‘netted’ surveillance platform.
Four external stores stations
are provided and enable the
helicopter to carry various
combinations of Mk46 or Mk54
torpedoes, AGM-114 Hell re
missiles or external fuel tanks. It
is also capable of deploying the
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon
System II (APKWS) 2.75in
(70mm) laser-guided rockets
using the LAU-61G/A digital
rocket launcher (DRL). Crew-
served 0.50-caliber and 7.62mm
machine guns can be carried.US NAVY AIR POWER 2018^7966-85 US Navy Review C.indd 79 01/06/2018 10:12