Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk facts for kids

class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;" ! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: large; padding-bottom: 0.3em;" | SH-60 / HH-60H / MH-60 Seahawk |-

|- | colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | |- |colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;text-align:center;" |A U.S. Navy SH-60B landing on USS Abraham Lincoln. |-

! Role | Utility maritime helicopter |- ! National origin | United States |- ! Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |-

! First flight | 12 December 1979 |-

! Introduction | 1984 |-

! Status | In service |- ! Primary users | United States Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Turkish Naval Forces
Spanish Navy |- ! Produced | 1979–present |- ! Number built | 938 |-

! Unit cost | US$42.9 million (MH-60R in FY2012)
US$28.1M (MH-60S in FY2012) |- ! Developed from | Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk |- ! Variants | Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk
Mitsubishi SH-60 |-

|}

The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a powerful helicopter used by the United States Navy. It has two turboshaft engines, which are like jet engines that power a spinning shaft. This helicopter is designed for many different jobs at sea. It is based on the United States Army's UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

To fit on Navy ships, the Seahawk has special features. Its main rotor blades can fold up, and its tail can hinge. This makes the helicopter much smaller for storage on a ship.

What the Seahawk Does

The U.S. Navy uses several versions of the H-60 Seahawk. These include the SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60R, and MH-60S models. Each version is built for specific tasks.

The Seahawk can fly from many types of Navy ships. These include frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and large aircraft carriers. It can also operate from amphibious assault ships and Littoral combat ships.

Many Missions at Sea

The Seahawk is a "multi-mission" helicopter. This means it can do many different jobs. Here are some of its important roles:

• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): It hunts and tracks enemy submarines underwater.
• Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW): It finds and attacks enemy ships on the water's surface.
• Naval Special Warfare (NSW): It helps special forces teams get to their missions.
• Search and Rescue (SAR): It rescues people who are lost or in danger, often at sea.
• Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR): This is SAR, but in dangerous combat zones.
• Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP): It carries supplies between ships using a sling underneath. This is faster than ships docking.
• Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC): It transports injured or sick people to hospitals.

Images for kids

• 

  A Seahawk hovers during a simulated casualty evacuation as MARSOC operators carry a stretcher.

• 

  An HH-60H Seahawk deploying a SAR swimmer

• 

  An MH-60R Seahawk conducts sonar operations.

• 

  An MH-60S lifting humanitarian supplies from the deck of USNS Comfort in Haiti 2010

• 

  US Navy technician inside an MH-60S cockpit

• 

  MH-60S in East Timor

• 

  A MH-60R prepares to land aboard USS John C. Stennis.

• 

  An MH-60R Seahawk firing a live Hellfire missile

• 

  The first two Australian MH-60Rs arriving at Naval Air Station Jacksonville shortly before being formally delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in December 2013

• 

  MH-60S empty cabin and sling load mechanism

• 

  View of front of MH-60R, 2010

• 

  A Hellenic Navy S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk

• 

  MH-60R Seahawk helicopter of Indian Navy

• 

  A JMSDF SH-60J lands on board USS Russell.

• 

  Republic of China Navy S-70C(M) Thunderhawks

• 

  A MH-60R of the US Navy

See also

In Spanish: Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk para niños