The HH-60W Jolly Green II, known as the “doomsday helicopter,” has been modified to be used for evacuating senior U.S. government officials in emergency situations.
According to The War Zone, the new aircraft will operate in the Washington, D.C. area, providing protection to national leadership during potential attacks or serious threats.
The HH-60W model belongs to the Black Hawk family manufactured by Sikorsky, part of Lockheed Martin. The helicopter is configured for search and rescue missions and includes a nose radar, aerial refueling probe, and a cabin designed for personnel evacuation.
It will replace the aging UH-1N Twin Huey, which is expected to provide a significant increase in speed and mission range, according to Air Force budget documents. The project involves modifying 26 aircraft to carry passengers and support government continuity plans.
For the models that will operate in the capital region, technicians will remove some combat equipment, including machine gun mounts, floor armor, and medical litters, to create additional space for evacuating officials.
The updated cabin layout will allow for up to 11 passengers while meeting safety standards and enabling emergency evacuation. Some rescue equipment, including a cargo winch, will be retained.
Among the upgrades, the update will include the installation of infrared countermeasure systems (IRCM), which will protect the aircraft from heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles.
The Air Force has not indicated any plans to remove the aerial refueling capability of the HH-60W as part of the modifications, and the feature is expected to be retained to ensure extended flight endurance.
Photo: USAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
