Aviation Specials - July 2018

VH-60N Seahawk

Sikorsky Aircraft delivered nine

VH-60Ns to the US Marine Corps

beginning in November 1988.

Based on the UH-60A variant of

the Black Hawk utility helicopter,

the VH-60N was intended as a

replacement for the Bell VH-1N

executive transport.

The small  eet, which now

includes eight examples, is

operated by marine helicopter

squadron HMX-1 ‘Nighthawks’ at

MCAF Quantico, Virginia.

The VH-60N has a maximum

range of 200nm (370km), is

capable of carrying 10 passengers

and is  own by a crew of four

comprising the pilot, co-pilot,

crew chief, and a communication

systems operator (CSO). A single

MH-60S was modi ed to UH-60N

con guration to support HMX-1’s

VH-60N training requirements.

Di erences from the UH-60

include the addition of a rotor

brake, an improved auxiliary

power unit (APU), enhanced

landing gear capable of

supporting higher gross weights

and the installation of T700-

GE-401 engines. The VH-60N’s

aircraft survivability equipment

(ASE) includes the AN/APR-39

radar warning receiver missile

plume detection, AN/AAR-47

missile warning system, AN/AVR-2

laser detection, AN/ALQ-144

infrared countermeasures and

AN/ALE-47 cha / are

dispensing systems.

In addition to a mid-life upgrade,

unusually known as MUG, the

VH-60N has undergone a

signi cant cockpit upgrade

program (CUP) and received the

associated communication system

upgrade (CSU) that provided a

secure communications link

between the VH-3D, VH-60N,

VC-25A, E-4B and the White House

Communications Agency (WHCA).

An ongoing service life extension

program (SLEP) that began in FY

2015 extends the helicopter’s

service life by a further 4,000 hours.

The type also received upgraded

General Electric T700-GE-401C

turboshaft engines, which

improved high-altitude

performance. The CSU is now being

modernized to incorporate a

wideband line of sight (WBLoS)

communications capability.

Planned phase-out of the

VH-60N will begin in FY 2021 and

the aircraft will be fully retired in

FY 2023. Like the VH-3D, it is being

replaced by Sikorsky’s S-92A-

based VH-92A.

The Sikorsky S-92A Superhawk is

scheduled to enter service with

the US Marine Corps under the

designation VH-92A in FY 2019. The

aircraft was selected as the winner

of the Presidential Helicopter

Replacement (VXX) competition

on May 7, 2014. Selection of the

S-92A followed a failed attempt by a

Lockheed Martin-led team to adapt

the AgustaWestland AW101 for the

presidential airlift mission. It will

replace both the VH-3D and VH-60N

helicopters operated by HMX-1

beginning in FY 2020. The VH-92A

will be equipped with upgraded

communications and executive-

style interior enhancements.

Lockheed Martin and its Sikorsky

Aircraft subsidiary are developing

the VH-92A under the terms of

a $1.24-billion engineering and

manufacturing development

(EMD) contract. The contractor will

initially deliver two engineering

development models (EDMs)

and four system demonstration

test articles (SDTAs), but planned

production comprises 21

helicopters. Production options for

the remaining 17 will be  nalized

in Fiscal 2019 after a Milestone C

decision to begin production is

received. Funds for the low-rate

initial production (LRIP) of six

VH-92As were earmarked in the FY

2019 budget request.

Sikorsky conducted the initial

 ight of the  rst EDM VH-92A at

Stratford, Connecticut, on July 28,

2017, marking the start of a 250-

hour  ight test program that was

primarily conducted at Lockheed

Martin’s Owego, New York, facility.

The two EDM helicopters support

contractor and government-led

testing and will remain con gured

as test and evaluation assets. The

four SDTA aircraft will support

developmental testing and initial

operational test and evaluation

(IOT&E). They will subsequently be

transitioned to operational status.

In addition to the standard S-92A

features, the VH-92A, which is

powered by two General Electric

CT7-8A6 turboshaft engines,

is equipped with a VIP interior,

upgraded environmental control

system avionics and electrical

system and is hardened against

electromagnetic interference and

electromagnetic pulse (EMI/EMP). It

features a newly designed mission

communications system (MCS). The

VH-92A will be air-transportable to

via a single US Air Force

C-17A. The navy plans to maintain

the S-92A’s Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) airworthiness

certi cation throughout the

helicopter’s lifecycle.

The VH-92A is scheduled

to achieve IOC in 2020. Full

operational capability (FOC) will

occur in 2022 on current plans and

delivery of the last of 23 VH-92As

is scheduled for 2023. HMX-1

will operate 21 of the helicopters

including the four SDTA models.

The navy will conduct around 150

hours of integrated developmental/

operational testing at NAS Patuxent

River, beginning in mid-FY18. An

operational assessment that will

follow will evaluate the aircraft’s

ability to perform all presidential

airlift missions.

VH92A PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER REPLACEMENT VXX

Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code

HMX-1 ‘Nighthawks’ MCAF Quantico, Virginia VH-60N, UH-60N DC(A)

A VH-60N of HMX-1 ‘Nighthawks’.

Ted Carlson/Fotodynamics

US NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018

(^96) AIR POWER REVIEW
86-99 Marine Tables C.indd 96 01/06/2018 14:05