For the first time in nearly 60 years, the Washington, D.C., area is home to a new rotary wing aircraft after Joint Base Andrews received its first HH-60W Jolly Green II. The arrival opens a new chapter for the Maryland base as it begins replacing a fleet of 26 aging UH-1N “Hueys.”

The first of 26 Jolly Green II aircraft arrived during a Monday ceremony at Andrews. The event formally marked the beginning of the base’s transition from the Hueys that have supported contingency operations there for decades.

The HH-60W came directly from Sikorsky’s manufacturing plant in Stratford, Connecticut. A member of the 5th Helicopter Squadron, which stood up in late August to prepare for the aircraft’s arrival, flew it to Andrews.

Hueys have supported contingency operations at Andrews for 60 years under the 1st Helicopter Squadron. Once replaced, the aircraft will leave behind a legacy at the base that dates to the Vietnam War.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our UH-1s, but we rightly recognize that this critical mission deserves the modern capability and safety upgrades that are available today in the HH-60 Whiskey,” Col. Karl W. Seekamp said during the ceremony.

Compared with the Hueys, the Jolly Green IIs feature a larger airframe and greater fuel capacity. They can also fly faster and farther while providing three times the airlift capability of the aircraft they will replace.

The 5th Helicopter Squadron is the first unit to field the Jolly Green IIs. Meanwhile, the 1st Helicopter Squadron will continue operating the Hueys before converting to the “Whiskey” mission, with the 5th expected to assume some of the 1st’s mission.

The new aircraft are expected to achieve initial operational capability by 2029 and full operational capability by 2030. By 2030, both the 1st and 5th helicopter squadrons are expected to fly the HH-60Ws full time, completing the transition.

“While the transition has many years of work ahead, today is unmistakably a day to recognize as a monumental milestone,” Seekamp said. “Against incredible odds and hurdles that should have been impossible to clear, iron on the ramp in 2026 will occur because of the people in this hangar today.”

During the two months since the 5th stood up, personnel completed tasks needed to clear the aircraft and crew for flight. Those efforts involved systems, equipment, hangar space and aircrew vetting, 5th Helicopter Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Jonathan Bonilla told reporters after the ceremony.

Some might view those tasks as “trivial,” Bonilla said, but they were necessary to prepare for the new aircraft. The squadron had to establish that foundation while awaiting the first HH-60W’s arrival from the factory.

Because the Jolly Green II came directly from the factory, it has not yet been modified for the squadron’s mission. Bonilla said those modifications will not be too complicated because the mission is relatively “simple,” but crew training currently holds greater priority for the unit.

Certain helicopter squadron airmen are scheduled to begin familiarization training with certified Sikorsky aircrews in January 2027, according to a recent Andrews release. Afterward, selected airmen will be able to instruct fellow crew members in safety and familiarization procedures for the Jolly Green IIs.

Unlike the Huey’s distinctive blue, white and gold paint scheme, the Jolly Green IIs will not receive a new paint job. They will retain their grey color to accommodate possible combat rescue missions in the future.

The squadron remains unsure when Joint Base Andrews will receive the complete fleet of 26 aircraft. Personnel learned that the first HH-60W was coming only three weeks to a month before its Monday arrival.

“There is naturally an inkling to try to get them as soon as we can,” Bonilla said. “But we definitely want to build, again, the foundation so that we can be properly ready to have them.”