Combat Rescue Helicopter gains Milestone C
The US Air Force (USAF) has issued a Milestone C decision for the Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) programme, clearing the way for low rate initial production to begin.
Four instrumented test aircraft demonstrated their production readiness during rigorous USAF performance and flight load survey testing. To date over 70 hours of envelope expansion flights have been carried out.
Based on the Black Hawk helicopter, the CRH is designed for combat search and rescue and personnel recovery operations for all US military services.
There are five CRH aircraft in various stages of production at Sikorsky's Stratford facility.
The USAF program of record calls for 113 helicopters to replace the Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk.
Col Dale White, Program Executive Officer, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces, USAF, said: ‘We have just successfully gained approval to launch the production of a helicopter that will save the lives of our warfighters and our allies all over the world.
‘This decision begins the transition to this more capable and reliable helicopter to fulfil the air force's mission to leave no one behind. I could not be more proud of our government-contractor team for making this happen.’
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