Knighthawk and StrikeHawk

No, but I am courious, are these going to be special ops birds?
John
Helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

Apparently they are the Navy's newest Spec Ops helos. The MH-60R Knighthawk and MH-60S Strikehawk. Interestingly, the MH-60S landing gear is set up like a conventional Blackhawk's. It doesn't look like either bird has sonobuoys or anything like that, but I don't have any interior information. I'm doing a little online research now to see what I can find.

The MH-60R is a combination of SH-60B/F and HH-60H. The MH-60S is the replacement for the CH-46 and is made from the same design as Army UH-60s.

Chief Snake

Hi
Both the Romeo and Sierra are multi-mission helos, not just Spec Ops, so the interior configuration will change according to the mission. Since the Romeo will replace the B/F, it does have a sonobouy launcher similar to the F. Although it has been moved outboard a couple inches to make room for the dipping sonar. So the sono launcher is not flush with the exterior skin. Cobrahistorian, I have been considering the same project, so please post some updates if you decide to do it.

Phil

Phil,

Firstly, We've got quite the forum going here.

I'm contemplating the Sierra model. Seems to be a rather straightforward conversion. I will most likely do it in December after my Apaches book is done and the semester is finished, so I'll keep everyone postedon the developments... is it too late to get in on the GB?.

I'm still waiting for a model of the MH-60S/R to hit the shelf myself. Going with the "Lima" model is a safe bet due to airframe duplication. But with the MH-60S and MH-60R, as far as the cockpit differences are concerned they do not differ very much from what I have seen first hand. They both incorporate "glass cockpit design" with digital multi-purpose display modes. Several analog gauges as back-up and slight differences in center console components. Cyclic and collective are essentially the same as well. I am presntly a Navy UH-3H Sea King pilot in Norfolk that will be transitioning to the MH-60S Knighthawk in 2 months in San Diego.

Welcome aboard JJHangs10.
We will be looking forward to your builds and any info you may be able to share.
And hey Jon! If I can gather enough good reference pictures, I may get involved in the Attack Helo group build. Need some motivation to start converting one of my MRC 1/35 UH-1Cs to a Marine "E" with a TAT-101 turret.
Not a lot of external differences but, I have not got into that much of a conversion yet. A little bit of cutting, a little scratch building and a LOT of hoping I don't cut too much!!!

The MH-60R will start hitting the Fleet in a couple years. The Navy has recently retired the CH/HH-46D from their inventory and have replaced the HC Squadrons with MH-60S. Only the USMC are flying Phrogs now. When both MH-60 variants are in the Fleet, the Navy will re-designate/re-align their HS/HC/HSL squadrons.

The Navy currently has plans to revamp its helo usage to include more ground attack and spec-ops roles. There are still several versions of the plan floating around, but basically there are, at present, 3 types of squadrons that fly six different aircraft. They are going to 2 different a/c (SH-60S and MH-60R) and 2 types of squadrons. Some of the HCs are combining with HSs, while some of the HSLs are combining with the HSs. The HC/HS's will be going to Sierras while the HSL/HS's will be getting the Romeos. The HC/HS's will take up the duties of starboard-d, vertrep (which has been outsourced to civilian contractors to some degree), and the like, while the HSL/HS's will take on a more strike-oriented role. It still hasn't been finalized, as the Romeo is still being tested. The Sierras are out there currently in some of the HCs.

All HC squadrons have MH-60S with a spattering of UH-3s.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dragonfire All HC squadrons have MH-60S with a spattering of UH-3s.

There's actually one HC squadron in Sigonella that flies MH-53Es -- HC-4, but yes, the overwhelming majority have already transitioned to Sierras.

/have a lot of Navy helo bubba friends