The US Air Force began testing the weapons of the rescue helicopter for the US Special Operations Forces HH-60W Jolly Green II. Reported by NPlus1 with reference to Flightglobal, During the tests, three variants of the helicopter's machine gun equipment will be tested.
Options for installing a container with high-velocity machine guns will be tested as helicopter armament.: GAU-2/Minigun with a rotating barrel block caliber 7,62 mm, single-barrel GAU-18 caliber 12,7 and GAU-21 caliber 12,7 mm. The rate of fire of these machine guns is respectively 3000, 800 and 1100 rounds per minute. At the first stage of testing, the helicopter will remain on the ground all the time. The tests are planned to be completed 2020 of the year, after which the HH-60W will be allowed for flight checks.
The new American HH-60W helicopter for rescue operations is designed to replace the outdated HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, adopted for service in the early 1980s. The purpose of such helicopters – rescue operations in the area, controlled opponent, as well as search and rescue work, medical transportation and the fight against drug trafficking.
The new helicopter was developed with 2012 of the year, he received larger fuel tanks, updated on-board equipment and secure communication systems. A car, developed on the basis of the multi-purpose UH-60M with an electric remote control system, also received an expanded range of weapons.
The US Air Force plans to acquire 113 new helicopters, which, as they become available, will replace the HH-60G.
The name Jolly Green II was assigned to the HH-60W in the spring of this year. The car was named after the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter, actively used by the military during the Vietnam War.
used photos:U.S. Air Force
