Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk)

History of Sikorsky MH-60 (Knight Eagle)

The MH-60S Knighthawk is the US Navy's newest utility helicopter. Originally designated CH-60S to denote its primary vertical supply role, the Knight Eagle designation was later changed to MH-60S to reflect additional mission parameters including special operations and support, combat search and rescue, and aerial mine countermeasures. The Knighthawk entered service with the U.S. Navy in February 2002 and began mass production in August of the same year, replacing the durable but aging CH-46D Sea Knights tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopters in service at the time (Sea Knights were fully retired). September 2004 with U.S.

Navy cooperation). While the CH-46D Sea Knight shares a similar exterior design with the U.S. Army's CH-47 Chinook Utility series, the MH-60S also mirrors the U.S. Army's current UH-60 Black Hawk line.

In fact, the UH-60 airframe is used in a handful of naval forms, including the SH-60B Seahawk, SH-60F Seahawk, HH-60H Rescue Hawk, MH-60R Seahawk, and MH-60S "Knight Falcon". As of this writing, the U.S. Navy plans to have a total of 237 Knight Eagles in service by 2011.

The MH-60S Knighthawks and MH-60R Seahawks are also expected to replace all previous Seahawk versions in service with the US Navy.

By the way, "Knighthawk" is the unofficial name for the MH-60S.

All Knighthawks are powered by two General Electric T-700-GE-401C turboshaft engines driving a four-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor, all equipped for the rigors of maritime combat. The main rotor adopts an electric folding system, which can take up less space on naval vessels.

The Knighthawk is equipped with a Hover In-Flight Refueling System (HIFR).

Default defensive weapons are mission specific and may include 7.52x51mm M60D general purpose machine guns, 7.62x51mm M240 general purpose machine guns, or GAU-17/A machine guns in port or starboard cabin windows. The cab door supports the installation of a Browning 12.7mm heavy machine gun. With the Lockheed Martin Gunship Mission Kit, the Knight Eagle can deploy Hellfire anti-tank or Penguin anti-ship missiles, MK54 digital torpedoes, cannons or gun pods as needed. Other attack systems added since then include laser rangefinders, full-color TV cameras, and FLIR (forward-looking infrared).

For electronic defense, the MH-60S sports countermeasures, including the AN/APR-39AV(2) and AN/AAR-47V(2) series of radar detectors and the AN/ALQ-144V(6) (ICS).

Survival system includes disposable cockpit doors for pilot and co-pilot, mounted side-by-side at the front of the fuselage, providing excellent front, side, top and bottom visibility. Each pilot has an armoured chair to protect against ground fire. A third crew member manages the cabin and defensive weapons as needed.

Added ground proximity warning system to avoid accidents.

Since the Knighthawk system has been expanded to accommodate a variety of fleet key roles, nothing stands out more than the inclusion of a Knighthawk to support mine counter roles. For this mission, the Knight Eagle is equipped with a Raytheon AN/AQS-20A towed sonar, an AN/AES-1 ALMDS airborne laser detection system (in pod form) and a variety of other mission-sensitive anti-mine detectors and medium and device.

MH-60S Knighthawks deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In June 2007, Thailand became Knight Eagle's first export customer, ordering two MH-60S platforms to be used as maritime supply systems for its Royal Navy.

Specification

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