Strike Rescue - Are We on the Right Path?

The Navy departed the right path to an enhance Strike Rescue capability in April 1989 with OSDs decision to cancel the Osprey program. This mission is vital for improving the morale and aggressiveness of our warriors, ensuring each service meets its own search and rescue needs in accordance with national and military policy, denying the enemy a source of intelligence and potential political propaganda, and returning a valuable asset to the fleet. Our track record in Strike Rescue success has dwindled with time. Lessons learned in Strike Rescue during the previous conflict tend to be forgotten while the threat had increased. Current Strike Rescue capabilities in the Navy are deficient due to the lack of commitment to spend precious dollars to upgrade Strike Rescue platforms, provide needed aircrew survival gear, support the mission with assets available, and provide adequate training and doctrine. Two programs that provide promise are the proposed 62 mix of Sikorskys SH-60FHH-60H helicopters for HS squadrons as an interim measure and BellBoeings tilt-rotor HV-22 Osprey for the future fix. Keywords Naval operations, Rescues, Prisoners of war, History, Helicopters, Military doctrine, Surveys.