Photo By 1st Lt. Lindsey Weichel | U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 87th Electronic Warfare Squadron unload...... read more read more
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Late last year the 87th Electronic Warfare Squadron (87th EWS) made history for the second time in 2025, completing the first COMBAT SHIELD flight line developmental assessment of the HH-60W helicopters assigned to the 55th and 305th Rescue Squadrons (RQS) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Dec. 15-19, 2025.
Following closely on the heels of the first developmental assessment of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), COMBAT SHIELD once again demonstrated its commitment to pushing the boundaries of electronic warfare (EW) evaluation. This time, their focus turned to the HH-60W, the Air Force's dedicated combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter.
While the COMBAT SHIELD program has previously evaluated the defensive systems of the HH-60G helicopter—including its radar warning receiver, missile warning system, and countermeasure dispense system—the HH-60W is equipped with enhanced defensive capabilities to counter advanced adversary threat systems, requiring a modernization of these evaluation methods. To develop and verify the updated assessment procedures, COMBAT SHIELD engineers are utilizing the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing's EW hardware-in-the-loop laboratories, which involves a testing technique that connects a machine's actual electronic controller to a powerful computer simulation of its real-world environment, allowing for safe and thorough testing before physical use. For the flight line testing phase of this assessment, the 87th EWS collaborated with experts from the 23rd EWS and industry partners to validate the modernized testing equipment and processes.
"Understanding the HH-60W's ability to detect and classify electronic threats is paramount,” said Lt. Col. Jennifer Messinger, 87th EWS Mission Commander. “This initial COMBAT SHIELD assessment provides a crucial baseline for future assessments, allowing us to continuously refine tactics and training to ensure rescue aircrew maintain a decisive advantage against evolving threats in the electromagnetic spectrum. It's about ensuring they can confidently penetrate contested environments and return home safely."
The HH-60W, essential to the Air Force’s CSAR mission, is designed to recover isolated personnel in hostile or contested territory, often operating deep behind enemy lines. Its ability to survive and accomplish its mission in these challenging environments is critically dependent on its EW capabilities.
The COMBAT SHIELD team didn't stop with the HH-60W. The 79 RQS's HC-130J also underwent a thorough evaluation of its EW systems. As a critical enabler for CSAR missions, providing aerial refueling and on-scene command and control, the HC-130J's ability to operate effectively in a contested electromagnetic environment is essential to extending the range and loiter time of rescue helicopters like the HH-60W.
“COMBAT SHIELD’s comprehensive assessments play a key role in giving units, prior to deployment, an accurate snapshot of their aircraft’s EW capabilities,” said Tech. Sgt. Blake Campbell, COMBAT SHIELD Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge. “This allows maintenance personnel an opportunity to isolate faults and fix previously undetected issues. This helps units achieve higher overall EW system readiness, improve system operability, and increase aircrew confidence in their EW systems.”
The insights gained from this COMBAT SHIELD assessment of the HH-60W and HC-130J provide Air Combat Command with actionable data to drive improvements in training, tactics, and system development. This evaluation by the 87th EWS ensures the Air Force maintains a capable and adaptable combat search and rescue force, ready to operate effectively in any electronic environment.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2026 16:16 |
| Story ID: | 557058 |
| Location: | FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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