Combat Rescue Helicopter

Abstract

The Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) program will replace the aging HH-60G. The HH-60G currently supports the Air Force's core function of Personnel Recovery. The primary mission of the HH-60G is to conduct day / night / marginal weather Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) in order to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel in hostile or non-permissive environments. The CRH will be capable of employment day or night, in adverse weather, and across the full spectrum of threats to include chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. On-board defensive capabilities will permit the CRH system to operate with less risk than legacy systems in an increased threat environment. An in-flight air refueling capability will provide an airborne alert capability and extend its combat mission range. The CRH system is capable of conducting combat search and rescue airborne mission commander duties. The aircraft will be self-supporting to the maximum extent practical. The CRH system may also conduct other collateral missions inherent in their capabilities to conduct Personnel Recovery, such as non-conventional assisted recovery, non-conventional evacuation operations, defense support to civil authorities, civil search and rescue, international aid, emergency aeromedical evacuation, disaster/humanitarian relief, counter-drug activities, support for National Aeronautics and Space Administration flight operations, and insertion/extraction of combat forces. The CRH development program procured a total of 11 aircraft as follows: 4 Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) aircraft, 5 System Demonstration Test Article (SDTA) aircraft, and 2 modernization flight test aircraft. The CRH program office will procure necessary ground and flight assets required for both Development Test (DT) and Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E). The CRH EMD program includes development of the complete CRH training system to include CRH Weapon System Trainer (WST), Operational Flight Trainer (OFT), Airframe Systems Trainer (AST), Avionics Desktop Trainer (AVDTT), other training devices, with associated spares and support equipment, as well as courseware required to perform flight, aircrew and maintenance training. Other development efforts include a systems integration laboratory, an avionics integration support facility, procurement of data rights and licenses, spares, aircraft, Government test, product support and program support costs (PSC). The CRH program will also pursue modernization efforts to develop and integrate enhancements in mission/defensive systems and additional system upgrades to address critical capability gaps. The program office will utilize the additional flight test aircraft in support of modernization efforts to address emerging threats and evolving mission needs. The Delta Training Device (DTD) effort will procure additional training assets, including but not limited to, maintenance and aircrew Crew Chief Part Task Trainers (CCPTT), aircrew Hoist Procedural Trainers (HPT), Virtual Reality (VR)/Mixed Reality (MR) maintenance aircrew trainers, associated spares and support equipment, as well as Type 1 training. Capability upgrades and modernization development efforts for the CRH may include, but are not limited to, the following priorities: Situational Awareness Data Link/Automatic Direction Finder (SADL/ADF) Removal, Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM), Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Tactical Overlay, Global Positioning System Anti-Jam/Anti-Spoof (GPS-AJ), Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) system, Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring System Control (IVHMS), Video Data Link (VDL), Radio Frequency Jammer (RF-Jammer), Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), Electronic Flight Bags, and Automated Dependent Surveillance Broadcast - In Device. Capability upgrades and modernization also supports inclusion for mandates, system enhancements, hardware and software changes for diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages as well as Deficiency Report Resolutions. In addition, studies, development, prototyping, testing and integration of emerging technology and support equipment opportunities to increase the effectiveness of the platform are considered in capability upgrades and modernization initiatives. The CRH program funding also supports innovation activities to include studies, analyses, requirements definition, and quick-reaction capability prototypes/demonstrations to accelerate planning for technology transition, technology insertion and future acquisition programs. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, and 0606398F. In FY 2023, $4.540 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2024, $5.879 million is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 654364_0605229F_5_3600_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

• 5G
• 5G - DoD 5G Program
• Microelectronics
• Space