The U.S. Air Force 129th Rescue Wing is replacing the HH-60G Pave Hawk with six newer HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters.

The first two helicopters arrived this month and the wing plans to receive the next four by the end of 2026.

The Jolly Greens offer better integration tools, advanced avionics and improved survivability, with upgraded radar, laser, missile and fire warnings.

“It brings new systems with new interoperability, with those systems not only with our aircraft but with the rest of the combat Air Force,” said U.S. Air Force. Maj. John Kerr, an HH-60 pilot assigned to the wing.

The aircraft can self-report faults, which leads to better troubleshooting, said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Mayo, an HH-60 flight chief assigned to the wing. If the crew doesn’t notice a problem or a system could be running more efficiently, the maintenance team can access that data.

The Jolly Greens don’t have internal auxiliary fuel tanks, allowing for more valuable cabin space for the crew and pararescuemen to work and provide in-air medical care.

“It provides a much better platform to do vertical lift and rescue from,” said Kerr.

The Jolly Greens have 701D engines, which are more powerful with better torque, helping with weight limits.

“What really makes the 60W have a better power advantage is its aerodynamics,” said Kerr. “The blades are much more aerodynamically efficient, so they produce more lift, and that translates to more power and torquing capability.”

Kerr said the newer aircraft are also more reliable, giving the 129th Maintenance Group a fresh start.

“(The aircraft) will do a lot for combat capability and search and rescue, as well as state domestic operations,” said Kerr. “It’ll be a great advantage not just for the wing but the state of California.”