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HH-60 Pave Hawk

Description

 

The HH-60 Pave Hawk is a variant of the Black Hawk helicopter optimized for search and rescue in hostile conditions. It is capable of day or night personnel recovery into hostile environments including adverse weather and low-level operations. Pave Hawks flown by Air Force Special Operations Command for infil/exfil of SOF personnel are designated MH-60 but are identical aircraft.

 

Pave Hawk enhancements include internal auxiliary fuel tanks, in-flight refueling probe, and a 270 kilogram capacity hoist. Survivability is enhanced with a radar warning receiver, infrared jammer and a flare/chaff countermeasure dispensing system. It also has a personnel locating system that is compatible with the PRC-112 survival radio.

 

During OPERATION ALLIED FORCE (NATO bombing of Yugoslavia), the Pave Hawk provided continuous combat search and rescue coverage for NATO air forces, and successfully recovered two U.S. Air Force pilots who were shot down behind enemy lines.

 

 

 

 

PRIMAL Assessment

 

The Pave Hawk is a highly capable platform that is suitable for extraction of PRIMAL personnel from hostile environments if they are using US military or CIA cover. The Pave Hawk enhancements are now becoming standard in the latest generation of aircraft.