| The SH-60B Seahawk is a helicopter flown by the | | | | (listening only) or active (similar to radar-transmits a |
| United States Navy. It performs a number of roles | | | | sound through the water and waits for it to bounce off |
| including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surface | | | | of an object to determine position and range). The |
| search and control, anti-ship warfare, search and | | | | Seahawk is able to carry both the older Mark 46 |
| rescue and passenger and cargo delivery. The | | | | torpedoes and the newer Mark 50s. |
| SH-60B is a variant of the Army UH-60 Blackhawk | | | | For anti-ship missions the Seahawk has the ability to |
| and the Coast Guards HH-60 Jayhawk. | | | | carry anti-ship missiles such as the AGM-119 Penguin |
| The Seahawk is a twin engine, single rotor aircraft built | | | | and the AGM-114 Hellfire. The Seahawk is a LAMPS |
| by Sikorsky Helicopter. It's powered by two General | | | | (Light Airborne Multipurpose System) capable aircraft |
| Electric T700-GE-401C turbo-shaft engines that | | | | which means it's able to fully integrate its electronic |
| produce 1950 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. The | | | | sensors which include radar, ESM (Electronic Support |
| helicopter is based both on land bases and aboard | | | | Measures), FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red), passive |
| ships but its primarily operated from Navy cruisers, | | | | radar detection, and sonobuoys with vessels in the |
| destroyers and frigates. The Seahawk has a | | | | battle group. In essence whatever the Seahawk |
| maximum speed of 185 kts and is able to stay aloft up | | | | "sees" or "hears" the battle group or individual ships |
| to four hours depending on the mission and the load | | | | within the battle group can "see" and "hear". |
| out. The Seahawk usually patrols an area in excess of | | | | Additionally, personnel onboard the ship are able to |
| 100 miles away from its mother ship. It's able to extend | | | | operate the Seahawks sensors remotely. This makes |
| the battle groups eyes and ears. | | | | the Seahawk an invaluable tool for searching, |
| For ASW missions the Seahawk carries a mix of | | | | identifying, targeting, and attacking enemy combatant |
| sonobuoys and torpedoes. Sonobuoys are underwater | | | | ships. |
| microphones that allow the helicopter's crew to hear | | | | For search and rescue missions the Seahawk is able |
| noises in the water that they can then classify as | | | | to carry a variety of rescue and life support gear. |
| being a submarine. Sonobuoys can be passive | | | | |