So Long, Pave Hawk: Air Force’s HH-60G Combat Rescue Helicopter Completes Final Flight

Executive Summary

The Air Force’s retirement of the HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet — with the final aircraft retired in September 2026 as part of the FY2026 budget — and its full replacement by the HH-60W Jolly Green II creates a clear near‑term shift in demand across manufacturers, sustainers, trainers, and logistics providers that support Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and military aviation. The transition is already reflected in budget planning: the Summary notes that the FY2027 budget requests over $200 million for continued procurement of the HH-60W, signaling a multi‑year modernization and procurement window that contractors should track closely.

Contractors across the listed segments (Defense; Aerospace; Aircraft Manufacturing; Aircraft Maintenance and Repair; Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR); Military Aviation; Defense Training and Simulation; Aviation Logistics Support) should expect both risk and opportunity. Risks include near‑term declines in sustainment demand tied to HH-60G work and the need to meet tougher compliance and integration requirements during platform transition. Opportunities include new production/procurement work tied to the HH-60W, follow‑on sustainment and parts contracts, training and simulation upgrades, and logistics/supply‑chain roles connected to the new fleet. Contractors should act now to align with Air Force acquisition channels named in the Tags, validate compliance posture, and position technical and programmatic capabilities toward HH‑60W solicitations and sustainment competitions.

Impact Matrix

Defense

• Risk Level: Medium
• Opportunity: Support for force modernization tied to the HH-60W replacement; roles in program support, systems integration, and sustainment. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. Relevant NAICS (from Tags): 336411, 336413, 488190, 541330, 611512, 811310, 336412. Relevant agencies (from Tags): DOD; Department of the Air Force; Air Combat Command; Air Force Materiel Command. Contract vehicles (from Tags) to monitor: GSA (General Services Administration) Federal Supply Schedule; AFWERX; Air Force Contract Augmentation Program (AFCAP).
• Timeline: Final HH-60G retirement completed September 2026 (FY2026); FY2027 budget requests over $200 million for continued HH-60W procurement.
• Action Required: Inventory capabilities against HH‑60W program needs; track FY2027 solicitations and Air Force acquisition notices; ensure compliance regimes in place (see Compliance Surfaces).
• Competitive Edge: Demonstrate program-level understanding of Air Force CSAR modernization, present integrated offers that combine production, sustainment, and training.

Aerospace

• Risk Level: High
• Opportunity: Participation in aircraft and component production, retrofit/upgrade contracts for the HH‑60W transition, and engineering services supporting fielding and certification. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. NAICS (from Tags): 336411, 336413, 336412. Contract vehicles to watch: GSA Federal Supply Schedule; AFWERX; AFCAP.
• Timeline: Transition noted as complete for HH‑60G retirement (Sept 2026); procurement activity reflected in FY2027 budget request.
• Action Required: Assess production capacity and supplier readiness; secure ability to meet aerospace compliance and export control requirements.
• Competitive Edge: Build or highlight validated supply‑chain resilience and rapid ramp capabilities for aircraft production and part deliveries.

Aircraft Manufacturing

• Risk Level: High
• Opportunity: Direct manufacturing and subcontracting work to support HH‑60W procurement and associated component production. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. NAICS (from Tags): 336411, 336413, 336412.
• Timeline: Procurement emphasis in FY2027 (budget request over $200 million); retirement completed Sept 2026.
• Action Required: Prepare bids and teaming arrangements for platform procurement; align quality and IT/export controls to Air Force requirements.
• Competitive Edge: Offer validated manufacturing processes and cost/schedule predictability for new helicopter builds and part production.

Aircraft Maintenance and Repair

• Risk Level: Medium
• Opportunity: Transitioned sustainment work from HH‑60G to HH‑60W lifecycle support, depot and field maintenance, and parts provisioning. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. NAICS (from Tags): 811310, 488190.
• Timeline: HH‑60G retirement completed Sept 2026; ongoing procurement activity expected in FY2027 and beyond.
• Action Required: Re-scope maintenance offerings for HH‑60W; retrain technicians or redeploy capabilities; update certifications and supply inventories.
• Competitive Edge: Propose cost‑effective fleet transition plans and MRO solutions that shorten fielding timelines and lower sustainment costs.

Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)

• Risk Level: Medium
• Opportunity: Mission systems, sensors, mission‑role equipment, and training packages tied to the HH‑60W CSAR mission set. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. Agencies to engage: Air Combat Command; Air Force Materiel Command.
• Timeline: Platform replacement in motion following HH‑60G retirement (Sept 2026) and FY2027 procurement request.
• Action Required: Align mission‑systems integration and CSAR‑specific offerings to Air Force requirements; engage relevant Air Force commands and innovation channels.
• Competitive Edge: Deliver integrated CSAR capability offers (systems + training + sustainment) that shorten operational readiness timelines.

Military Aviation

• Risk Level: Medium
• Opportunity: Broader aviation programs that intersect with the HH‑60W fielding, including lifecycle support, interoperability, and avionics upgrades. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. NAICS (from Tags): relevant codes listed above.
• Timeline: Retirement completed Sept 2026; procurement emphasis FY2027.
• Action Required: Validate interoperability credentials and propose upgrade paths for avionics and mission systems.
• Competitive Edge: Emphasize integrated solutions across avionics, mission software, and logistics for the new helicopter fleet.

Defense Training and Simulation

• Risk Level: Medium
• Opportunity: New training curricula, simulators, and pilot/maintenance conversion training for HH‑60W operators and crews. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. NAICS (from Tags): 611512, 541330. Contract vehicles to monitor include AFWERX and GSA FSS.
• Timeline: Training needs will track platform transition following HH‑60G retirement Sept 2026 and ongoing HH‑60W procurement in FY2027.
• Action Required: Update training content to the HH‑60W platform, pursue training vehicle opportunities, and coordinate with Air Force training stakeholders.
• Competitive Edge: Offer modular, scalable conversion training packages that leverage simulation to reduce aircraft flight hours required for qualification.

Aviation Logistics Support

• Risk Level: High
• Opportunity: Spares provisioning, supply‑chain management, field logistics, and lifecycle parts support for the HH‑60W fleet. Specific opportunities TBD pending solicitation language. NAICS (from Tags): 488190, 811310, 336413. Contract vehicles: GSA FSS; AFCAP.
• Timeline: HH‑60G retirement completed Sept 2026; procurement activity in FY2027 signals ramping logistics demand.
• Action Required: Position to supply spares pools and integrated logistics support; ensure DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement)/NIST/CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) readiness for defense contracting.
• Competitive Edge: Propose logistics solutions that reduce time‑to‑mission through pre‑positioned spares and predictive maintenance analytics.

Cross-Segment Implications

• Procurement and manufacturing activity for the HH‑60W (FY2027 budget request of over $200 million) will cascade into increased demand for parts, engineering, training, and logistics, creating interdependencies between Aircraft Manufacturing, Aviation Logistics Support, and Defense Training and Simulation.
• Reduced HH‑60G sustainment work will shift maintenance workload patterns: Aircraft Maintenance and Repair firms must transition skillsets and inventory toward HH‑60W sustainment or risk a shortfall in work. This affects labor planning and subcontractor relationships across the Aerospace and Aircraft Maintenance segments.
• CSAR mission requirements drive systems integration and training needs, tying Defense Training and Simulation providers to avionics and mission‑systems suppliers in Aerospace and Military Aviation. Successful offers will likely span multiple segments (manufacturing + training + logistics).
• Compliance and acquisition channels listed in the Tags (ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), CMMC, NIST 800‑171, DFARS 252.204‑7012, FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) Part 25; and vehicles such as GSA Federal Supply Schedule, AFWERX, AFCAP) form a common baseline contractors must satisfy to compete across segments; gaps here will limit cross‑segment participation.