MH-60T Airframes Will Extend Fleet Service Life into 2040s

Sikorsky delivered the first of 45 replacement MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter airframes to the U.S. Coast Guard, starting off a 10-year program to extend the service life of their vital aerial response fleet into the 2040s.

The first aircraft to get a new airframe began its rehabilitation this month at the Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. While in their care, it will see the replacement of its nose, cabin, and aft transition structures. A stock Jayhawk sports an operational life limit of 20,000 flight hours. Fleet-wide, they've logged more than 730,000, saving more than 11,900 people in the process across nearly 50,000 SAR missions.

“We congratulate the Coast Guard ALC for the tremendous work it’s done to keep the Jayhawk fleet operating for decades,” said Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo. “Equally, we applaud the Coast Guard aircrews, whose bravery and skill flying these rugged aircraft into extreme conditions over land, lakes and sea have saved thousands of lives.”

“The MH-60T is an important part of the execution of many Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, and our Service Life Extension Program is vital in maintaining this capability,” said Rear Adm. Michael Campbell, Coast Guard Director of Acquisition Programs and Program Executive Officer. “Delivery of this first newly manufactured hull by Sikorsky is an important step in this effort.”

“In addition to this partnership with Sikorsky for the new hulls, it is important to note the talented workforce at the Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, who will be executing the SLEP work,” Campbell said. “Their skills make this project possible.”

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