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$6,007,924,475 (≈$6.01B)
- BranchAir Force
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Defense
- Awarding sub-agencyDepartment of the Air Force
- Award typeDEFINITIVE CONTRACT
- Period of performance2014-06-26 〜 2027-02-28
- Contract ID (PIID)FA862914C2403
The amount cited in the write-up ($6,004,579,823) is the figure at the time of writing. After later modifications the record now shows $6,007,924,475 (the details above are current).
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.
- The 207 Department of Defense contracts held as of 2026-09-01 carry 50 recipient names, gathering at Lockheed 55 and Boeing 25.
1The combat rescue helicopter mission
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.
2What the ACAT 1D designation means
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.
3What the public record covers
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.
4Fifty companies hold the awards
Sorting the 207 Department of Defense contracts this site holds as of 2026-09-01 by recipient gives only 50 distinct names. Ordered by count, they gather heavily in a handful of firms.
Sikorsky, the recipient here, is fourth most frequent in that distribution. ACAT 1D denotes the highest acquisition category, the major defence acquisition programs the Department of Defense manages most stringently. Combat search and rescue — recovering downed pilots and personnel stranded in hostile territory — is unglamorous, yet acquiring its dedicated aircraft is handled in that top category. The summary reaches "ACAT 1D — CRH" and no further, giving no count of aircraft.
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
What data is this?
Is the amount final?
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