Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk HSC-2 Fleet Angels
by Arthur Eggers
Title
Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk HSC-2 Fleet Angels
Artist
Arthur Eggers
Medium
Digital Art - Color Print
Description
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 2 (HELSEACOMBATRON 2 or HSC-2) (previously Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 2 (HC-2)), also known as the "Fleet Angels" (previously the "Circuit Riders"), is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Station Norfolk operating the Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk. The Fleet Angels are a Fleet Replacement Squadron providing trained MH-60S crew to units on the East Coast. The MH-60 was originally known as "LAMPS Mark III Block II Upgrade" when development began in 1993. The MH-60 is designed to combine the features of the SH-60B and SH-60F. Its sensors include the ASE package, MTS-FLIR, the AN/APS-147 multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, an advanced airborne fleet data link, and a more advanced airborne active sonar. It does not carry the MAD suite. Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of new Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and Hellfire missiles. The MH-60S is unofficially known as the "Knighthawk", referring to the preceding Sea Knight, though "Seahawk" is its official DoD name. A standard crew for the MH-60S is one pilot, one copilot and two tactical aircrewmen depending on mission. With the retirement of the Sea Knight, the squadron designation of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) was also retired from the Navy. Operating MH-60S squadrons were re-designated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC). The MH-60S was to be used for mine clearing from littoral combat ships, but testing found it lacks the power to safely tow the detection equipment. The MH-60S will utilize the BAE Systems Archerfish remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to seek out and destroy naval mines from the air. Selected as a concept in 2003 by the Navy as part of the Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS) program and developed since 2007, the Archerfish is dropped into the water from its launch cradle, where its human operator remotely guides it down towards the mine using a fiber optics communications cable that leads back up to the helicopter. Using sonar and low-light video, it locates the mine, and is then instructed to shoot a shaped charge explosive to detonate it.
Uploaded
May 3rd, 2021
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