H-60

The H-60 Line Item in the Air Force's FY 2026 budget request focuses on the sustainment and modification of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter fleet. The primary objective of this program is to support the Air Force's core Personnel Recovery mission, with the HH-60G serving as the main platform for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations. The HH-60G is tasked with conducting day, night, and marginal weather CSAR missions to recover isolated personnel in both hostile and permissive environments. This ensures the safety and retrieval of service members in distress.

In addition to its primary CSAR mission, the HH-60G supports a range of secondary mission areas, including casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), non-combatant evacuation operations, civil search and rescue, international aid, disaster humanitarian relief, and the insertion or extraction of combat forces. The versatility of the HH-60G makes it a critical asset for both military and humanitarian operations, providing the Air Force with a flexible response capability for a variety of contingencies.

For FY 2026, the budget line item H06000 allocates funding primarily for program support costs and Interim Contractor Support (ICS). These funds are necessary to maintain operational readiness and ensure the continued availability of the HH-60G fleet as it approaches divestment. The request also provides for addressing Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) issues, which are critical for sustaining legacy systems as parts become less available due to obsolescence or supplier attrition.

The FY 2026 request reflects a reduction for Advisory and Assistance Services, aligning with Executive Order 14222, which emphasizes government efficiency and cost-saving initiatives. This reduction is intended to promote efficiencies and advance the administration's policies on cost control within the Department of Defense. The remaining funding is focused on essential sustainment activities to ensure mission capability until the final divestment of the HH-60G fleet, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of FY 2026.

The remaining HH-60Gs in the Air Force inventory will be divested by the end of FY 2026. As such, the funding in this line item is transitional, supporting the fleet's final operational period and ensuring a smooth phase-out. This transition is managed in accordance with Section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires that such assets remain available for both active and reserve components for homeland defense, domestic emergency response, and military support to civil authorities.

Funding for the H-60 line item is contained in Program Element (PE) 0207228F, with related activities also tracked under PE 0207224F. These program elements ensure that all modifications, sustainment, and support activities are properly resourced and managed. The Air Force's approach is to maximize the utility of the HH-60G fleet while preparing for its eventual replacement and ensuring that personnel recovery capabilities remain uninterrupted during the transition.