Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk

Sahilku010101-psn · April 15, 2025, 8:59pm

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MH-60S Knighthawk

History

Developed by Sikorsky for the U.S. Navy, the MH-60S Knighthawk is a multi-mission helicopter that integrates elements from both the UH-60 Black Hawk and SH-60 Seahawk platforms. Although “Seahawk” is the official DoD name for the MH-60S, it is unofficially referred to as the “Knighthawk” in reference to the predecessor Sea Knight.

The U.S. Navy looked to replace its outdated CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters in 1997. Sikorsky received a production contract for the CH-60S in 1998 after assessing a modified UH-60 for use in maritime applications. Flight testing started later that year with the first flight on January 27, 2000. To better reflect its multi-mission capabilities, the designation was modified to MH-60S in February 2001.

The MH-60S combines the SH-60’s folding tail pylon, engines, gearbox, and rotors with the UH-60L’s airframe, which includes huge sliding doors on both sides and a single aft-mounted tail wheel. Along with the MH-60R version, it also features an integrated glass cockpit designed by Lockheed Martin.

Older types such as the CH-46 Sea Knight and HH-60H were replaced by the MH-60S when it joined the U.S. Navy in 2002. Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons (HC) were renamed Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons (HSC) in response to the arrival of the MH-60S. September 2004 marked the end of the US Navy Sea Knights’ retirement. There are 275 MH-60S helicopters in service with the US Navy.

The Royal Navy of Thailand ordered two MH-60S helicopters in June 2007 and they were delivered in August 2011, making them the first foreign customer of the aircraft. They are employed in logistics, military transportation, and marine utility.

In September 2010, Lockheed Martin was given a $10 million contract to create software for the MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters. The main roles of the multi-mission MH-60R helicopter are anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.

In January 2011, Lockheed Martin was granted a $360 million contract by the US Navy to supply advanced spectrum equipment for the MH-60R by April 2013.

The MH-60S remains an adaptable platform that performs a number of functions within the operational framework of the U.S. Navy.

Specifications

Engine: X2 General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines (1,450 kW each)

Length: 64.8 ft (19.8 m)
Height: 17 ft (5.1 m)
Main Rotor Diameter: 53.7 ft (16.4 m)

Maximum Speed: 180 knots (207 mph or 333 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 13,000 ft (3,960m)
Range: 380 nautical miles (600 km)
Weight: 21,000 lb to 23,000 lb (9,450 kg to 10,350 kg).

Weaponry

Mounted on doors:

M240 Machine Gun
GAU-17/A Minigun

Mounted on fuselage:

x8 AGM-114 Hellfire
x38 Hydra 70 Rockets (19 per LAU-61 pod each side)
x14 APKWS (7 per LAU-68 pod each side)

Avionics

Optics

Raytheon AN/AAS-52 (AAS-44C(V)) Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS)

Fov:
- Wide: 34° x 45°
- Medium-wide: 17° x 22°
- Medium: 5.7° x 7.6°
- Medium-narrow: 2.8° x 3.7°
- Narrow: 1.2° x 1.6° (IR and TV)
- Ultra-narrow: 0.6° x 0.8° (IR)
- Ultra-narrow: 0.21° x 0.27° (TV)
Six-axis stabilized mount

RWR: