Upgrade funding, accelerated procurement drives USAF HH-60W cost growth

Capability upgrades identified in 2019 and accelerated aircraft procurement of the US Air Force (USAF) Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) helicopter are responsible for programme cost growth, according to the Pentagon.

The HH-60W’s programme costs increased by USD933 million, or 10.2%, from USD9.2 billion to 10.1 billion, as reported in the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) released in November 2020. This information, for the December 2019 reporting period, is based on the SARs through the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2020, as updated by the FY 2021 budget request submitted on 26 May 2020.

The HH-60W on display on 27 February at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium. Capability upgrades identified in 2019 and accelerated aircraft procurement are responsible for programme cost growth, according to the Pentagon. (Janes/Pat Host)

USAF spokesman Captain Joshua Benedetti said on 23 November that the FY 2021 budget request accelerates aircraft procurement and increases initial spares funding to account for the HH-60W unique spares requirement not previously captured in the original acquisition programme baseline (APB). The Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), which projects Pentagon funding, manpower, and force structure needed over a five-year period, includes an additional three aircraft in FY 2021, seven more aircraft in FY 2022, eight additional platforms in FY 2023, and five more HH-60Ws in FY 2024.

Funding is available for a total procurement of 108 platforms, including 10 test aircraft, within the 113 platform limit of the current contract.

The requirements for the HH-60W programme were set in 2012 and approved at Milestone B in 2014. Capt Benedetti said that the mission needs and threats have evolved since the original contract award.