Pave Hawks are specially designed to operate in some of the harshest and most hostile environments in the world, rescuing downed military personnel and civilian trapped or killed in enemy territory. Sikorsky’s $1.3 billion CRH contract awarded in June 2014 included funding for four initial engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) aircraft, and if it completes the air vehicle design review, the company can expect more funding for five system demonstration test article (SDTA) aircraft – bringing the total order to nine, of an eventual 112 rescue helicopters.Īfter assembling its suppliers and completing much of the design in 2015, Sikorsky says it is confident of capturing incentives in the contract by completing development in 69 months, six months ahead of schedule.įirst flight is expected in 2019, with initial operational capability targeted for 2021, by which tim e there should be one operational squadron and one training site.Īir force CRH programme chief David Schairbaum and Sikorsky counterpart Tim Healy say there have been only “minor clarifications” made to the proposed design through the requirements review process, and they are confident in completing the air vehicle PDR by April. Programme officials from the service and Sikorsky say that during 2015 the two sides came to an agreement on more than 1,000 design requirements and 3,000 subsystem specifications through the government’s "system requirements review" process. US air force’s Combat Rescue Helicopter programme is on track to complete a preliminary design review in April that will unlock funds for five more aircraft.
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