Sikorsky HH - 60 Jayhawk The Sikorsky HH - 60J Jayhawk is a multi - mission , twin - engine , medium - range helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard for search and rescue , law enforcement , military readiness and marine environmental protection mission s . The HH - 60J is designed to fly a crew of four up to offshore , hoist up to 6 additional people on board while remaining on - scene for up to 45 minutes and return to base while maintaining an adequate fuel reserve . Normal cruising speed of the HH - 60J is and the aircraft is capable of reaching for short durations . The HH60J can fly at for six to seven hours . Chosen to replace the HH - 3F Pelican , the HH - 60J is a member of the Sikorsky S - 70 family of helicopters and is based on the United States Navy ' s SH - 60 Seahawk helicopter . Development began in September 1986 , first flight was achieved on August 8 , 1989 , and the first HH - 60J entered USCG service in June 1990 . Production ended in 1996 after 42 helicopters were produced . The MH - 60T Medium Range Recovery Helicopter upgrade program began in 2007 and is scheduled to provide upgraded avionics and operational capabilities to all 42 existing HH - 60J airframes by 2015 . As each airframe upgrade is completed , the affected HH - 60J will be re - designated to MH - 60T . Development . Chosen to replace the HH - 3F Pelican , the HH - 60J is a member of the Sikorsky S - 70 family of helicopters and is based on the United States Navy ' s SH - 60 Seahawk helicopter . Compared to its predecessor , the HH - 3F , the HH - 60J is lighter , is faster , has more powerful engines and is equipped with more sophisticated electronics . The HH - 60J was developed in conjunction with the United States Navy ' s HH - 60H Rescue Hawk . Sikorsky began development in September 1986 and aircraft registration number 6001 achieved first flight on August 8 , 1989 . The first aircraft was delivered to the USCG for developmental testing in March , 1990 at NAS Patuxent River , Maryland . In March 1991 , ATC Mobile , Alabama became the first USCG unit to fly the HH - 60J , allowing instructor pilots to prepare for pilot training . Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City , North Carolina was the first USCG operational unit to fly the HH - 60J . Sikorsky produced 42 HH - 60Js with sequential registration numbers from 6001 through 6042 . Sikorsky ceased production in 1996 after fulfilling the 42 unit contract . MH - 60T upgrade program . The USCG began converting its HH - 60Js to MH - 60Ts in January 2007 . This avionics and capabilities upgrade is part of the USCG ' s Integrated Deepwater System Program and will provide a glass cockpit , an enhanced electro - optic / infrared sensor system as well as a radar sensor system and airborne use of force capability . The airborne use of force package includes both weapons for firing warning and disabling shots and armor to protect the aircrew from small arms fire . Three Jayhawks have been upgraded to MH - 60Ts as of June 2009 and all 42 aircraft are scheduled to be upgraded by 2015 . Design . With a fuel capacity of , the HH - 60J is designed to fly a crew of four up to offshore , hoist up to 6 additional people on board while remaining on - scene for up to 45 minutes and return to base while maintaining an adequate fuel reserve . Normal cruising speed of the HH - 60J is to and the aircraft is capable of reaching for short durations . The HH60J can fly at for six to seven hours . The HH - 60J uses the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System as its primary long range navigational aid , using a Collins RCVR - 3A radio to simultaneously receive information from four of the NAVSTAR system ' s 18 worldwide satellites . The HH - 60J is normally based on land but can be based on 270 foot medium endurance Coast Guard Cutters ( WMEC ) or 378 foot high endurance Coast Guard Cutters ( WHEC ) . The HH - 60J has a radar for search / weather that gives its nose a distinctive look . A forward looking infrared ( FLIR ) sensor turret can be mounted below its nose . It can carry three fuel tanks with two on the port side rack and one on the starboard side rack . The starboard side also carries a capacity rescue hoist mounted above the door . The hoist has of cable . Operational history . In 1990 , HH - 60J Jayhawks began replacing HH - 3F Pelican and CH - 3E Sea King helicopters in service with the US Coast Guard . HH - 60Js perform search and rescue missions , along with other missions such as maritime patrol and drug interdiction . Coast Guard cutters with their HH - 60Js and other helicopters performed security and interdiction in the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm and also in 2003 for Operation Enduring Freedom . On 29 October 2012 , Jayhawk serial number ( 70 - 1790 ) 6031 was used during the offshore rescue of the crew of HMS Bounty during Hurricane Sandy . Accidents . As of July 2010 , three HH - 60Js have been involved in crashes , including two fatal crashes .