Air Force's HH-60W Jolly Green II Takes First Pacific Flight

The search and rescue helicopter airframe modernization marks the service's conversion from the HH-60G Pave Hawk.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 11:51 AM ET

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A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II, assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron, takes off during its first flight at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Tuesday. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force's new HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue helicopter completed its first flight in the Pacific theater at Kadena Air Base, Japan.
The HH-60W serves as an upgraded replacement for the HH-60G Pave Hawk, featuring enhanced capabilities such as longer range, improved survivability, and updated avionics.
Designed for critical missions, the helicopter will be used for personnel recovery from hostile areas, disaster relief, medical evacuation, and humanitarian operations.
Kadena Air Base is transitioning its fleet, with HH-60Gs being divested by August and more HH-60Ws expected to arrive before mid-2025.

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The HH-60W Jolly Green II, the U.S. Air Force’s new combat search and rescue helicopter, took its first flight over the Pacific theater Tuesday at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

“This is the first sortie this aircraft has flown since arriving at Kadena, and this is the first active-duty Air Force crew to fly this helicopter,” said Lieutenant Colonel Brian Rhoades, 33rd 33rd Rescue Squadron combat rescue helicopter team lead. “It flew exactly like how I expected it to and met all our expectations.”