The US Air Force plans to use modified HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters to evacuate high-ranking officials and ensure government continuity in emergency situations.
The new aircraft will operate in the Washington area, providing protection for national leadership during possible attacks or serious threats, The War Zone reports.
Replacing the outdated UH-1N Twin Huey with the modern Jolly Green II is expected to significantly increase mission speed and range.
The project involves adapting 26 aircraft to transport passengers and support government continuity plans.
The base HH-60W model belongs to the Black Hawk family manufactured by Sikorsky, part of Lockheed Martin. The helicopter is configured for search-and-rescue missions and includes a nose radar, aerial refuelling boom and a cabin designed for personnel evacuation.
For operations in the Washington area, the helicopters will undergo special modifications. Technicians will remove some combat equipment, including machine-gun mounts, floor armor, and medical stretchers, to create additional space for officials.
The updated cabin layout will allow up to 11 passengers while meeting safety standards and enabling emergency evacuation. Some rescue equipment, including a cargo winch, will be retained.
An important element of the upgrade will be the installation of infrared countermeasure systems (IRCM). These systems protect aircraft from heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles.
The US Air Force previously considered using MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters for the role but ultimately selected the HH-60W due to its higher payload capacity. Grey Wolf helicopters will now primarily guard Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile silos.
Another advantage of the Jolly Green II over other models is in-flight refueling capability, allowing the helicopter to remain airborne for extended periods.
The US capital region has one of the most dense and protected airspace monitoring systems in the country. The complexity of operations in this area was highlighted by a January 2025 incident in which an Army Black Hawk collided with a passenger aircraft during a government evacuation exercise.
The first upgraded Jolly Green II helicopters are expected to replace aging aircraft at Andrews Air Force Base after budget approval.
