- The U.S. Coast Guard plans to replace its aging HH-65 Dolphin helicopters with new models based on Sikorsky’s Jayhawk and Seahawk designs.
- The contract, to be managed by the Naval Air Systems Command, would make Sikorsky the primary supplier due to its proprietary H-60 program expertise.
The U.S. Coast Guard is preparing to issue a new procurement contract to Sikorsky for the production of advanced helicopters based on its Jayhawk and Seahawk platforms, potentially reshaping the service’s rotary-wing fleet over the next decade.
As reported by CT Insider, the Coast Guard intends to replace its aging Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopters, originally designed in France, with a new generation of U.S.-built aircraft. The decision would mark a shift toward platforms currently used across multiple branches of the U.S. military.
According to a federal procurement notice published on Sam.gov, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), operating under the U.S. Department of Defense, will manage the contract. The Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, operates 48 Jayhawks today, some of which were converted from U.S. Navy Seahawks.
The new aircraft would be manufactured by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary based in Stratford, Connecticut. Sikorsky also produces CH-53K King Stallion helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps and the UH-60 Black Hawk for the U.S. Army.
The Coast Guard previewed its plans in September by ordering engines from GE Aerospace to be installed in the upcoming Jayhawks. In a press release, the service said the helicopter’s “ability to locate, identify and track surface targets day or night makes it a valuable search and rescue and law enforcement asset.”
The Jayhawk first entered service in 1990, replacing the larger HH-3F Pelican, a helicopter that had triple the cabin space and could land on water. The Jayhawk, however, offers improved range, endurance, and maintainability. It has a range of up to 800 miles, a seven-hour flight endurance, and is equipped with a rescue hoist capable of lifting up to 600 pounds.
Any new helicopters ordered would join a fleet deployed across the U.S., including at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod. A final count of units and the overall contract value has not yet been disclosed.
In its formal justification, NAVAIR stated that only Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky possess the “proprietary data, expertise, technical data, equipment, and personnel” required to produce and support the H-60 series helicopters. Although the notice allows potential competitors to file capability statements, no alternative bids have been made public.
Sikorsky currently employs more than 7,000 workers in Connecticut, with additional staff supporting operations through regional suppliers. The company’s production portfolio includes the UH-60M Black Hawk, MH-60R/S Seahawks, and the heavy-lift CH-53K, giving it a unique industrial base for multirole rotorcraft development.
In 2021, the Coast Guard awarded Sikorsky a contract worth up to $850 million to manufacture new helicopter hulls for its existing Jayhawk fleet. That program, managed through the Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, aimed to extend airframe life by adding another 20,000 flying hours per unit. Work under that award concluded in April 2024.
While the new helicopters will resemble the H-60 design, it is not yet clear if the Coast Guard will opt for airframes converted from Navy Seahawks or build all units new. In past procurement cycles, the service has used both approaches to manage cost and delivery timelines.
The HH-65 Dolphin helicopters currently in service were built as a custom variant of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin. Though initially effective in the search-and-rescue role, the aging fleet has become increasingly expensive to maintain. The Coast Guard previously refurbished 90 Dolphins to extend their service life, but upcoming retirements have now forced a more permanent solution.