Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk)

Multi-Mission Naval Helicopter

United States | 2002

"The Sikorsky MH-60S came online with the United States Navy to replace the aging Boeing CH-46D Sea Knights then in service."

Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/27/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The MH-60S Knighthawk is the United States Navy's newest multi-mission helicopter. Originally designated as the CH-60S to signify its primary vertical replenishment role, the Knighthawk has since had its designation revised to MH-60S to reflect additional mission parameters consisting of special warfare and support, combat search & rescue and airborne mine countermeasures. The Knighthawk entered into USN service in February of 2002 with full scale production beginning in August of that year, replacing the durable but aging CH-46D Sea Knights heavy-lift, tandem-rotor helicopters then in service (Sea Knights were fully retired from service with the USN in September of 2004). While the CH-46D Sea Knight sported a similar external design to the US Army CH-47 Chinook utility series, the MH-60S similarly reflects the US Army's current UH-60 Blackhawk series. In fact, the UH-60 airframe is used in a handful of navalized forms that include the SH-60B "Seahawk", SH-60F "Oceanhawk", HH-60H "Rescue Hawk", MH-60R "Seahawk" and the MH-60S "Knighthawk". As of this writing, the US Navy plans on fielding a total of 237 Knighthawks in its inventory by 2011. It is also expected that the MH-60S Knighthawks and MH-60R Seahawks will replace all earlier Seahawk versions in service with the USN.

Incidentally, "Knighthawk" is an unofficial designation for the MH-60S.

The MH-60S was developed by Sikorsky beginning in 1997 and first flight by a production aircraft was achieved in January of 2000. Its origins lay in the UH-60L model of the Blackhawk series along with the proven systems of its navalized form - the SH-60B Seahawk . Essentially, the Knighthawk is a hybrid design of sorts, sporting the airframe, external pylons, cabin space and cargo-hauling capabilities of the Blackhawk while showcasing the engines, gearbox, folding rotor system and autopilot systems of the Seahawk. The Knighthawk fits an "all-glass", two-seat cockpit featuring four large programmable liquid crystal displays (known as the "MH-60 Common Cockpit") of the MH-60R series. Other digital components include an inertial navigation and a global positioning system.

Evaluation trials for the Knighthawk began in November of 2001 and continued up through May of 2002. Production MH-60S Knighthawks first graced the decks of the USS Essex, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, and will continue to be a primary fixture on such vessels for decades to come. In addition to replacing the CH-46 in the vertical replenishment role, the MH-60S also replaces the HH-60H in the combat search and rescue role (retaining the rescue hoist of the Seahawk for this purpose).

Externally, the Knighthawk looks every bit the part of her Blackhawk origins, sporting large cabin doors (on both sides of the fuselage), doors for the pilot and co-pilot, high-mounted turboshaft engines, static undercarriage and slender fuselage shape. The cabin holds space for up to 20 passengers and features full heating and cooling capabilities for increased comfort.

Power for all Knighthawks is derived from twin General Electric T-700-GE-401C turboshaft engines driving a four-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor, all navalized for the rigors of operating at sea. The main rotor features powered folding for a smaller footprint aboard naval vessels. The Knighthawk is equipped with the Hover In-Flight Refueling system (HIFR).

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Standard defensive armament is mission-specific and can include the pintle-mounting the 7.52x51mm M60D general purpose machine gun, the 7.62x51mm M240 general purpose machine gun or the GAU-17/A minigun on the port or starboard cabin windows. Cabin doors support the mounting of the 12.7mm Browning heavy caliber machine gun. With the "Armed Helicopter Mission Kit" by Lockheed Martin, the Knighthawk can field Hellfire anti-tank or Penguin anti-ship missiles, the MK54 digital torpedo, cannon pods or gunpods as needed. Other offensive systems that have since been added include a laser range finder, full-color TV camera and FLIR (Forward-Looking InfraRed). For electronic defense, the MH-60S sports countermeasures made up of the AN/APR-39AV(2) and AN/AAR-47V(2) series radar warners along with the AN/ALQ-144V(6) Infrared Countermeasures Set (ICS).

Survival systems include jettisonable cockpit doors for the pilot and co-pilot, seated side-by-side at the front of the fuselage offering excellent views forward, to the sides, above and below. Each pilot is afforded an armored chair to protect from ground fire. A third crewmember manages the cabin and defensive weapons as needed. A ground proximity warning system was been added to help avoid accidents.

Since the Knighthawk system has been branched out to include a variety of fleet-important roles, none might be more distinctive than the inclusion of the Knighthawk in support of the mine countermeasures role. For this job, the Knighthawk has been supplied with a Raytheon AN/AQS-20A towed sonar, the AN/AES-1 ALMDS airborne laser detection system (in pod form) and various other mission-sensitive anti-mine detectors and neutralizers.

MH-60S Knighthawks were deployed operationally in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In June of 2007, Thailand became the first export customer for the Knighthawk, putting an order in for two MH-60S platforms for use as utility maritime systems in their Royal Navy.

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January 2021 - The U.S. Navy has formally announced its intention to replace its MH-60 helicopter and MQ-8 UAV fleets during the mid-2030s.

July 2021 - The Indian Navy has received its first two MH-60R helicopters. The platforms are intended for the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role with the service.

October 2021 - The Royal Australian Navy has announced its intention to procure an addition 12 MH-60R ASW helicopters for its active inventory.

March 2022 - The United States has approved the$950 million USD sale of eight MH-60R helicopters with support equipment and spares for the nation of Spain.

March 2022 - The U.S. has officially approved the sale of MH-60R helicopters to Spain.

March 2023 - Norway has selected the MH-60R helicopter as the direct replacement to the troubled NH90 series given up back in June 2022.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Sikorsky MH-60S (Knighthawk) Multi-Mission Naval Helicopter.

2 x General Electric T-700-GE-401C turboshaft engines developing 1,260kW each and powering a four-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor.
Propulsion

207 mph
333 kph | 180 kts
Max Speed

12,139 ft
3,700 m | 2 miles
Service Ceiling

1,379 miles
2,220 km | 1,199 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Sikorsky MH-60S (Knighthawk) Multi-Mission Naval Helicopter.

4
(MANNED)
Crew

64.8 ft
19.76 m
O/A Length

53.7 ft
(16.36 m)
O/A Width

12.3 ft
(3.76 m)
O/A Height

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk) Multi-Mission Naval Helicopter provided across 2 hardpoints.

Offensive and defensive armament can comprise of any of the following covering mission-specific needs:

1 OR 2 x 7.62mm M60D OR 7.62mm M240 General Purpose Machine Gun(s) OR 7.62mm GAU-17/A minigun(s) on side pintle mounts.

With Armed Helo Kit Installed:
Support for Hellfire Anti-tank or Penguin Anti-Ship Missiles. Also automatic cannon pods and machine gun pods as needed.

X

Hardpoints Key:

Centerline

Wingroot(L)

Wingroot(R)

Wing

Wingtip

Internal

Not Used

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk) family line.

CH-60S - Original Designation.

MH-60S - Revised Designation; replaces the CH-46 Sea Knight in USN service; troop transport and resupply variant; Search and Rescue capable; fitted with ALQ-144 infrared jammer; future capabilities to include AQS-20A Mine Detection System with Airborne Laser Designation; all-digital cockpit; optional armaments package; main fuselage of S-70A/UH-60 series models with drivetrain, engines and rotors of the S-70B/SH-60 series models; sliding cabin doors on both sides of fuselage; single tail wheel.

MH-60R - Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) variant.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 239 Units
Contractor(s): Sikorsky Aircraft - USA