# Project 674364 — HH-60W Modernization Development

**Program element:** 0605229F — HH-60W  
**Project:** 674364  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605229F/674364  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605229F

## Summary

Project 674364 — HH-60W Modernization Development requests $63.6M in FY2027, 72% of the $87.9M requested for program element 0605229F, up 57% on FY2026. 6 R-2A activities decompose the request, 3 new this cycle. Sikorsky is the largest named R-3 performer at $20.4M, 32% of the project's FY2027 R-3 total.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 40.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 63.6 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 81.2 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 56.7 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 58.3 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 60.1 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0605229F; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 674364 buys

The HH-60W Jolly Green is the US Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH). HH-60W, now in Full Rate Production (FRP) provides the modernization and upgrade to the legacy HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. HH-60W modernization funding is crucial to ensure the HH-60W fleet can support the new theater and revitalize support for not only the crew but the rescues they save. RDT&E efforts include but are not limited to the Software Upgrade Program, Advanced Infrared Countermeasures (AIRCM), Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) with Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol (JREAP), Degraded Visual Environment System (DVES), Global Positioning System Anti-Jam (GPS-AJ), Link-16, Personnel Locator System (PLS), Joint Tactical Terminal (JTT), Hybrid Satcom, Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Radio Frequency (RF) Threat Jamming, Friendly Force Tracker, HF Radio System, Snow Skis, Tactical Flight Symbology, Gun Mount System Performance Improvement, Next Gen Crypto Mod, Electronic Flight Bags, Electro Optical Infrared Sensors (EOIR), Automated Dependent Surveillance Broadcast - In Device, and Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) mission requirement modifications. HH-60W budget request supports three lines of effort to include but not limited to hardware and software programs. Follow-On Capability Upgrade Systems (FOCUS) includes three (3) capabilities; GPS-AJ, MUOS, and JREAP. MUOS provides narrow band military Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communication capability with improved availability for voice and video communications and is the DoW directed replacement to Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Satellite Communication (SATCOM). With MUOS, The HH-60W will be compatible with future satellite communication standards. MUOS adds JREAP capability for Link-16 over the horizon /BLOS, Common Interactive Broadcast (CIB), and future data formats. JREAP is a joint protocol per Military Standard (MIL-STD) 3011E, which allows for extension of J-series and Common Message Format messages through long back-haul means BLOS range, e.g. SATCOM, land lines, and specifically used with MUOS. GPS-AJ will enable Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations in contested environments and areas with high jamming risk, especially where no other means of navigation exist, greatly reducing risk and significantly increasing combat capability in multiple theaters.

**R-3 lines of work:** Product Development; Support; Test and Evaluation.

## Named R-3 performers

| Performer | $M | Share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total |
|---|---|---|
| Sikorsky | 20.4 | 32% |
| AFLCMC | 6.0 | 9.4% |
| 413th, 579th, 704th TS | 3.9 | 6.2% |

> Budget-justification contract funding, not obligations. Shares need not reach 100% — unnamed and government work is in the denominator.

## Activities (R-2A) — 6

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Upgrade Program (SUP) | 0.0 | 26.3 | 35.1 | +34% | — |
| Gun Mount System Performance Improvement | — | 0.0 | 9.8 | new | — |
| Follow-On Capability Upgrade Systems (FOCUS) | 0.0 | 13.8 | 6.2 | −55% | — |
| Link-16 Advanced Capability Modernization | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.5 | new | — |
| Communication Block Modification | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 | new | — |
| Degraded Visual Environment System (DVES) | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.0 | +408% | — |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### Software Upgrade Program (SUP)

**FY2027 planned work.** Perform development and integration activities for DO1 agile software development and government test and Training System's projects. Also includes product support, SBIR Tax, mission planning, civ pay and government test.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding increased due to additional software upgrade activities.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Perform development and integration activities for DO1 software, government test, and Training System's projects.

### Gun Mount System Performance Improvement — NEW START

**FY2027 planned work.** Development of design enhancements, testing, and integration of gun mount components needed to address deficiencies identified during FOT&E. New software will not be required.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding increased because initial development effort for Gun Mount System will start in FY 2027.

### Follow-On Capability Upgrade Systems (FOCUS)

**FY2027 planned work.** Continuation of development and integration activities for MUOS-capable radios and software in the COM-3/COM-4 positions and additional development for GPS-AJ. Continue development on JREAP to support MUOS capability.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding decrease due to negotiated savings and efficiencies of mature contract vehicle to support development and integration activities for FOCUS.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Perform development and integration for MUOS-capable radios and software in the COM-3/COM-4 positions and additional development for GPS-AJ. Start initial development on JREAP to support MUOS capability. Purchase of A-kits and B-kits for MUOS and GPS-AJ.

### Link-16 Advanced Capability Modernization — NEW START

**FY2027 planned work.** Initial work for Link-16 Advanced Capability Modernization was previously done under DO1. Link 16 will now be a major thrust (Link 16) and progress to hardware updates. Development and testing for replacing the TacNet Tactical Radio (TTR) with a Link-16 radio capable of meeting the Advanced Capabilities Mandate.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding increased due to continued development and testing activities for Link-16 efforts. Previous efforts were under DO1 and ECP-50.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** N/A, Costs were part of DO1 and ECP-50 in previous years. Transfer of costs to Link 16.

### Communication Block Modification — NEW START

**FY2027 planned work.** Initial work for JTT_NG and Hybrid SATCOM. Development and testing for replacing the ENTR V4 Radio system and installing the Hybrid SATCOM support equipment.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding increased because development and testing for the Communications Block Mod will start in FY27.

### Degraded Visual Environment System (DVES)

**FY2027 planned work.** Plan includes continuation of engineering support for requirement maturation and strategy and document development to support initiation of research, development, integration, engineering, and hardware/software integration for a DVES solution. DVES integrates multiple sensors, including infrared, light detection, and ranging (LIDAR), and millimeter wave radar, to provide real-time, high-resolution data and imagery of the terrain and obstacles.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding increased due to progression from engineering support only to research, development, integration and engineering efforts for sensors including LIDAR.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Plan includes continuation of engineering support for DVES Navy Price Fighters (NPF).

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605229F.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0605229F project 674364 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0605229F")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*