Role of Hellfire Armed Navy Seahawk Helicopters in Overland Strike Operations

摘要

This study investigates the potential role of Navy Seahawk helicopters, armed with the AGM-114 hellfire missile system, in overland strike operations. Navy H-60 aircraft have only recently been upgraded to include forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors, LASER designation capability, and the Hellfire missile system. The focus of the study is to determine if the recent upgrades in capability can be used to expand the helicopters' mission capabilities to include overland strike. The capabilities of the Sh-60B, HH-60H, and SH-60F aircraft are examined and compared to helicopters of other services that are capable of employing the Hellfire missile in overland strike operations. The various Navy Seahawk aircrew-training programs are similarly compared to identify the impact of expanding the mission capabilities to include overland strike. The study identifies the critical issues surrounding future employment of Navy Seahawk helicopters in overland strike. This study promotes doctrine development for the HH-60H aircraft to include offensive overland strike applications with Hellfire. The development is recommended to increase carrier battle groups strike capability.