Combat rescue helicopter "HH-60W" (CRH program): ~$6.00B — the Air Force's award to Sikorsky, the "wings of rescue" (USAspending)
Per USAspending, the U.S. Air Force awarded acquisition of the Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH; the airframe is the HH-60W) to Sikorsky. The value is about $6.00 billion ($6,004,579,823), a definitive contract running June 2014–September 2027. Procurement of a dedicated helicopter for the dangerous mission of rescuing personnel stranded in hostile territory.
Contract key facts
- RecipientLockheed Martin
- Contract value$6,006,448,628 (≈$6.01B)
- BranchAir Force
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Defense
- Awarding sub-agencyDepartment of the Air Force
- Award typeDEFINITIVE CONTRACT
- Period of performance2014-06-26 〜 2028-04-28
- Contract ID (PIID)FA862914C2403
Contract scope (original)
ACAT 1D - CRH
Key points
- The Air Force awarded acquisition of the Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH; airframe HH-60W) to Sikorsky. Cumulative ~$6.00B ($6,004,579,823).
- Definitive contract, performance June 26, 2014 – September 30, 2027.
- CRH = Combat Rescue Helicopter — the dedicated aircraft for combat search and rescue (CSAR).
- The HH-60W airframe is of the same H-60 family as the Black Hawk (specialized for rescue).
- "ACAT 1D" — the top acquisition tier (a major defense acquisition program) — reflecting emphasis on recovering personnel.
In military operations, "combat search and rescue (CSAR)" — recovering downed pilots and personnel stranded in dangerous places in hostile territory — is a vital and extremely dangerous mission.
This contract's "CRH (Combat Rescue Helicopter)" program newly acquires the dedicated aircraft for it; the airframe is known as the HH-60W. A member of the same H-60 family as the Black Hawk and Seahawk covered separately on this site, it carries equipment and protection specialized for rescue.
Worth noting is the designation "ACAT 1D." This means Acquisition Category 1D — the top tier (a major defense acquisition program), signaling a large procurement managed with the DoD's strictest oversight. That equipment for a rescue helicopter — an unglamorous but life-saving mission — is treated as such a top-tier acquisition program shows how much the U.S. military values recovering its people.
The description (USAspending) goes as far as "ACAT 1D — CRH" and does not detail airframe counts (this site does not fill in what the description omits). A cumulative ~$6.00B shows vast sums continuously invested in the dedicated helicopter for the dangerous rescue mission.
Why it matters
Combat search and rescue is a vital, dangerous mission of saving lives, and the CRH (HH-60W) is its dedicated aircraft. That it is handled as a top-tier ACAT 1D acquisition reflects the U.S. military's emphasis on recovering personnel. As a rescue-specialized member of the same H-60 family as the Black Hawk, it represents investment in the "life-saving" layer of defense equipment. Useful to readers tracking the defense industry and security.
FAQ
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What is combat search and rescue (CSAR)?
Sources (primary)
This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.
- USAspending (award details)
- Contract ID (PIID)：FA862914C2403