United States Naval Aircraft: MH-60S Knight Hawk

MH-60S Knight Hawk (Multimission maritime helicopter) – 154

Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft

First flight: 12 December 1979

Introduction: 1984

Produced: 1979-present

Unit cost: $28.1m (in FY2012)

Developed from: Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

Variants:

Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk;

Mitsubishi SH-60

General characteristics

Crew: 4 (pilot, copilot and 2 others depending on mission)

Capacity: 11 passengers or slung load of 4,100 kg

Length: 19.75 m

Rotor diameter: 16.35 m

Height: 5.2 m

Disc area: 210 m²

Empty weight: 6,895 kg

Loaded weight: 8,055 kg; for ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) mission

Useful load: 3,031 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 9,927 kg

Powerplant:

2× General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft, 1,890 shp (1,410 kW) take-off power each

Performance

Never exceed speed: 333 km/h

Maximum speed: 270 km/h

Range: 834 km at cruise speed

Service ceiling: 3,580 m

Rate of climb: 8.38 m/s

The MH-60S is to deploy with the AQS-20A Mine Detection System and an Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). The ALMDS is a sensor system designed to detect, classify, and localize floating and near-surface moored mines in littoral zones, straits, and choke points. The ALMDS beams a laser into the water to pick up reflections from things it bounces off, and then uses that data to produce a video image for technicians on the ground to determine if the object is a mine.

The S-model is the first US Navy helicopter to field the glass cockpit whereby the flight data information is relayed to pilots using four digital screens rather than electromechanical gauges and dials. The primary means of defense is with the M60D, M240 or GAU-17/A machine guns. A «batwing» Armed Helo Kit based on the Army's UH-60L was developed to accommodate Hellfire missiles, Hydra 70 2.75 inch rockets, or larger guns. The MH-60S can be equipped with a nose mounted forward looking infrared (FLIR) turret to be used in conjunction with the Hellfire missiles and also carries the ALQ-144 Infrared Jammer.