In an unprecedented exercise, the US Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve tested the defensive capabilities of the HH-60W Jolly Green II and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters in a maritime environment.
The simulation, conducted in California, put the aircraft face-to-face with an F-15D Eagle fighter, evaluating the effectiveness of electronic countermeasures such as flare and chaff deployment against modern aerial threats.
The maneuvers were overseen by the Air Guard and Reserve Test Center (AATC) and also supported by the Naval Air Warfare Center and the company MTSI, specialized in electronic warfare. The goal was to assess how factors like humidity and salinity can affect protection systems, as the maritime environment would be predominant in a potential high-intensity conflict in the Pacific. The collected data will be used to improve training and define future equipment upgrades.
The HH-60W, which is gradually replacing the veteran HH-60G, features improvements in range, engines, avionics, armor, and communication systems. Since its debut in 2022, the aircraft has already participated in real operations, including a rescue in the Horn of Africa.
The US Air Force views the model as a key asset in search and rescue missions in high-risk areas, reinforcing its importance in a modern warfare scenario.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @USNationalGuard | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
During a first-of-its-kind test, @TheCalGuard Airmen helped evaluate the defensive capabilities of HH-60G Pave Hawk and HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters in real-world, over-water scenarios against modern aerial threats.
🔗https://t.co/zCkghHZaVL pic.twitter.com/SqVXLvX0r9
— National Guard (@USNationalGuard) August 27, 2025
