Arizona’s 920th Rescue Wing receives first HH-60W Jolly Green II

The HH-60W has been flown to the 943d Rescue Group by the 305th Rescue Squadron, marking the beginning of the 920th Rescue Wing’s conversion from the HH-60G Pave Hawk. Serving since 1993, the HH-60G contributed to the rescue of over 4,000 lives. This comes after the Wing’s conversion to the HC-130J Combat King II aircraft in 2020.

The HH-60W is equipped with a flight management system combined with a flight director system, weather radar, and over-the-horizon tactical data receivers capable of receiving near real-time mission and threat updates.

Compared with the HH-60G Pave Hawk, according to the Wing, the Jolly Green II has a longer cabin, can reach a faster top speed, and has an increased allowed takeoff weight. It will be used for a variety of combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations in hostile or denied territory.

The Wing’s additional mission equipment upgrades include a 600lb-capable hoist with 250ft of cable, a personnel-locating system compatible with modern survival radios, and an 8,000lb capacity cargo hook.

Located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, the 943d Rescue Group is one of three geographically separated units that fall under the 920th Rescue Wing.

The US Air Force (USAF) also recently deployed an HH-60W Jolly Green II CSAR helicopter to Kadena Air Base in Japan.