The Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky — based in Stratford, Connecticut (www.lockheedmartin.com/
sikorsky) — has begun final assembly of the first HH-60W combat rescue helicopter, with the aircraft’s first flight expected at the end of this year, two months ahead of the original schedule.

The final-assembly process includes the installation of the new Tactical Mission Kit, delivered from Lockheed Martin’s Owego (New York) facility, as well as the installation of a new fuel system that features dual internal fuel tanks with a capacity of 660 gallons, nearly doubling the capacity of the internal tank on a UH-60M Black Hawk.

This Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) aircraft is the first to be assembled at the Sikorsky headquarters in Stratford; a total of nine aircraft will be built during the EMD phase of the programme ― four EMD aircraft and five System Demonstration Test Articles.

The US Air Force is looking for 112 helicopters to replace its ageing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.