Mitsubishi received a license to pruduce the Sikorsky civil S-61L/N & HSS-2 Sea King in 1961. Sikorsky shipped two S-61Ls in knock down form, two HSS-2s as parts and sub-assemblies and production jigs to assemble them in early 1962. IHI produced the GE T58 engines under license as the CT58-IHI-10-M1. Mitsubishi quickly re-assempled the two S-61Ls, but found no market in Japan, so they returned to the US. However, the JMSDF was interested in the HSS-2 as an ASW & SAR helicopter. Mitsubishi went on to build 3 S-61A SAR, 13 S-61AH long-range SAR, 4 S-61A-1 improved SAR, 55 HSS-2 (~SH-3A), 28 improved HSS-2A (~SH-3D), and 82 further improved HSS-2B (~SH-3H) before production ended with 187 machines built.
Derivatives & Versions of S-61 |
Model | Year | History |
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HSS-2 1962 | 1962 | License built version of Sikorsky SH-3A with Japanese engines and avionics. 55 built for JMSDF service on Helicopter ASW Cruisers and Destroyers. |
S-61A 1962 | 1962 | License built version of Sikorsky S-61A with Japanese engines and avionics. 3 built for JMSDF service as SAR helicopters. |
S-61L 1962 | 1962 | The Sikorsky S-61L first flew on 2 November 1961, and was 4ft 3in (1.27m) longer than the HSS-2 in order to carry a substantial payload of freigh ... |
HSS-2A 1968 | 1968 | License built version of Sikorsky SH-3D with Japanese engines and avionics. 28 built for JMSDF service on Helicopter ASW Cruisers and Destroyers. |
S-61A-1 1968 | 1968 | License built version of Sikorsky S-61D with Japanese engines and avionics. 4 built for JMSDF service as SAR helicopters on Icebreakers and Iwo J ... |
S-61AH 1968 | 1968 | The Mitsubishi S-61AH was a long-range SAR helo for the JMSDF; total of 13 built. |
HSS-2B 1974 | 1974 | License built version of Sikorsky SH-3H with Japanese engines and avionics. 82 built for JMSDF service on Helicopter ASW Cruisers and Destroyers. |
List of Operators of S-61 |
Years | Model | Org | |
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1964/08 | Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force |
Global Distribution of S-61 |
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