The U.S. Air Force is pursuing superior infrared countermeasures for its HH-60W, the service’s premier combat search-and-rescue helicopter.

In recent operations, two of the helicopters were used in the high profile rescue of downed American pilots over Iran, with one HH-60W taking multiple hits from Iranian small-arms fire, wounding crew members aboard, according to Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This push comes as the HH-60W Jolly Green II lacks a capable advanced infrared countermeasures system, the Air Force Material Command’s Sources Sought notice indicates.

“This absence significantly increases the risk of infrared-guided missile engagement, jeopardizing mission success, aircraft survivability, and crew safety,” the notice warned.

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“The integration of an AIRCM system is critical to mitigating this threat and ensuring the platform can operate effectively in contested environments.”

The Air Force is inviting contractors who can integrate two potential infrared countermeasures into the HH-60W: CIRCM and DAIRCM.

These defensive systems will be provided by the government, with the goal of ensuring seamless operation within the helicopter’s existing framework.

“The effort requires the complete integration of the AIRCM system with all existing HH-60W avionics, mission computers, and data buses,” the notice says.

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“The final solution must not degrade the performance of any existing system.”

Contractors should also have “specific experience with the HH-60W platform’s mechanical, electrical, power, and data bus architecture,” the notice continues.

Northrop Grumman’s CIRCM uses a quantum cascade laser for “fast, simultaneous break-lock jamming” to disrupt infrared-homing missiles, the company said.

Meanwhile, Leonardo’s laser-based DAIRCM “utilizes a single sensor for both 2-color infrared missile warning and a wide angle field of view gimbal for threat countermeasures,” according to its website.

The HH-60W is already equipped with six integrated chaff-and-flare dispensers, according to Sikorsky’s product sheet. It also has radar, laser, missile and hostile fire warning receivers.

The HH-60W, which achieved initial operational capability in 2022, is replacing the aging HH-60G Pave Hawk.

The original plan was for 113 Jolly Green IIs, but the Air Force later trimmed the number to 75 amid concerns over their suitability for potential operations against advanced adversaries, such as China and Russia.

The helicopter has a speed of 176 miles per hour and range of 690 miles. It is armed with two .50-caliber machine guns or two 7.62 mm miniguns.

Protecting critical rescue missions has taken on heightened importance as the service aims to deter and defeat aerial threats in contested airspace.

In this political and strategic moment, the push to modernize the HH-60W aligns with a broader effort to keep American forces safe while expanding reach and resilience.

President Trump has long emphasized robust military modernization, and his administration has signaled support for weapons systems that can counter advanced adversaries.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has likewise called for steady progress on transformative defense upgrades that strengthen readiness and deterrence.

The emphasis remains clear: invest in capabilities that preserve life, win engagements, and maintain air superiority even under pressure.

Critics might note the budgetary and logistical challenges that come with integrating new countermeasures into an aging platform. Yet the defense leadership believes the payoff justifies the effort.

The proposed AIRCM integration aims to ensure the HH-60W can operate effectively in environments where threats are both sophisticated and persistent.

The mission has always demanded speed, precision, and protection, and officials argue that the new countermeasures will help preserve crews and aircraft under fire.

As the Air Force moves forward, it will measure success by whether the integrated system can defend the helicopter without compromising performance elsewhere.

The objective remains straightforward: equip rescue crews with reliable, cutting-edge protection that enables rapid, decisive action when lives hang in the balance.

With a steady focus on deterrence and readiness, the program seeks to deliver an important strategic advantage in contested skies.

This path reflects a broader philosophy that prioritizes readiness and survivability for frontline forces. The conversation around AIRCM is part of a larger effort to ensure America’s pilots can complete their missions even when adversaries threaten them from standoff ranges.

The outcome will shape how the service files its future upgrades and how policymakers evaluate the costs and benefits of modernizing essential air assets.

Above all, the priority is clear: protect the men and women who perform rescue missions under fire, and give them the tools to return home safely.

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