HH-60W Jolly Green II Proves Combat Readiness in High-Threat Over-Water Rescue Ops

An HH-60W Jolly Green II conducts over-water training during a recent U.S. Air Force combat search and rescue exercise, showcasing advanced defensive systems and joint-force integration in high-threat maritime environments.

 The United States Air Force continues to prioritize combat search and rescue (CSAR) as a critical mission area, especially in light of growing challenges posed by modern peer adversaries. As part of this emphasis, recent exercises have focused on validating the performance of the HH-60G Pave Hawk and the more advanced HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters in over-water combat scenarios. These exercises are part of a broader shift toward preparing U.S. air assets for high-intensity warfare, particularly in contested maritime environments where adversary aircraft, sensors, and missile systems are becoming increasingly capable.

The HH-60 series of helicopters has long been the backbone of the Air Force’s CSAR capability. Originally based on the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk, the HH-60G was modified to perform rescue operations in combat zones, including features like in-flight refueling, upgraded communications, and defensive systems. The Pave Hawk has served in numerous missions worldwide, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and humanitarian responses to natural disasters. However, due to decades of operational use, the airframes have aged, and new requirements for survivability, range, and networked warfare have driven the need for a replacement.

Enter the HH-60W Jolly Green II. This aircraft represents a generational leap in capability. It integrates a host of modern systems designed to keep the aircraft and crew alive in increasingly lethal battlespaces. Among these are digital cockpit displays, secure tactical data links, and an integrated suite of survivability features. These include a digital radar warning receiver, missile approach warning sensors, hostile fire indication systems, and automated countermeasure dispensers. The aircraft also features better armor protection and a more robust airframe designed to survive damage and continue the mission.

In the latest training evaluations, Air Force personnel were tasked with operating the HH-60W in realistic scenarios that simulated operations over the ocean. Maritime environments present unique challenges for any aircraft. The lack of terrain features means there is little to no radar masking, making helicopters easier to detect and target by enemy radar and missile systems. Additionally, the salt-laden air and humidity create long-term maintenance issues and can interfere with sensors and electronics. The training addressed these environmental conditions head-on, exposing the aircraft and crews to simulated tracking and engagement by hostile aircraft using radar-based targeting systems.

The defensive systems onboard the HH-60W were put to the test through these engagements. By deploying countermeasures such as flares and chaff in response to simulated missile threats, the Air Force evaluated the speed and effectiveness of threat detection and automated countermeasure release. These systems are critical in contested zones where seconds can determine survival. Importantly, crews were also evaluated on their ability to make tactical decisions under pressure, using available data to evade threats and complete their mission—retrieving isolated personnel.

Alongside the performance of the aircraft itself, the exercise also served as a proving ground for joint-force coordination. Aircrew from the Air National Guard, active-duty squadrons, and the Air Force Reserve worked together, reflecting the operational reality that any future conflict would require full-spectrum integration of all force components. The inclusion of the 144th Fighter Wing, which provided F-15D Eagles to simulate enemy threats, added realism and allowed helicopter crews to face threats comparable to those posed by near-peer adversaries.

This kind of joint, high-end training is necessary because CSAR is not a luxury in modern conflict—it is a mission-critical capability. In future warfare, the risk of aircrew being shot down in contested areas is higher than in past conflicts. With sophisticated integrated air defense systems, long-range sensors, and advanced aircraft in the hands of potential adversaries, every minute that a downed pilot is on the ground in enemy territory increases the risk of capture or death. A capable and survivable rescue force must be able to respond rapidly, operate under threat, and fight its way in and out if necessary.

The HH-60W is designed with this reality in mind. Its increased range—approaching 600 nautical miles—and its ability to refuel mid-air mean that it can reach deeper into hostile territory. Its communications systems allow it to stay linked with strike and surveillance aircraft, ground controllers, and support forces. It can also operate in conjunction with unmanned systems, adding further intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support to recovery missions. These capabilities are not theoretical—they are being practiced and refined now, based on lessons from these evaluations.

Another layer of importance lies in the adaptability of training. By performing these tests over water, the Air Force acknowledges that future conflicts may occur in areas far from land-based infrastructure—over oceans, near islands, or along coastal regions. In such environments, there may be limited safe zones, extended distances between friendly bases, and fast-changing operational conditions. The ability to insert, extract, and support personnel in these environments is not only a matter of rescue—it’s a strategic capability that signals the U.S. military’s ability to sustain operations anywhere on the globe.

These exercises also provide valuable feedback into the Air Force’s acquisition and modernization process. By analyzing the data from the aircraft's sensors and crew reports, developers and engineers can identify potential improvements to the aircraft’s defensive systems, avionics, or operational procedures. This ensures that future upgrades are rooted in operational reality rather than theoretical assumptions. It also strengthens the feedback loop between operational units and program offices responsible for sustaining and improving the HH-60W fleet.

Importantly, the Air Force’s investment in this capability demonstrates long-term strategic planning. Rescue forces do not just serve a tactical purpose—they also have a major impact on morale and force cohesion. Knowing that there is a dedicated, capable force ready to recover them gives aircrews the confidence to take risks when necessary, secure in the knowledge that they will not be abandoned. This psychological and strategic factor plays a crucial role in combat effectiveness, especially in prolonged or large-scale operations.

The recent over-water HH-60 countermeasure training was more than a routine exercise. It marked a deliberate step toward building a more capable, survivable, and integrated combat search and rescue force for the United States Air Force. It tested the real-world performance of the newest generation of rescue helicopters in the kind of complex, high-threat environment that future conflicts are likely to feature. It advanced joint-force readiness, validated new technologies, and reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to never leaving its people behind. All of this contributes to ensuring that the U.S. remains prepared for high-end warfare, with the ability to project power, protect its people, and prevail in any environment.