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On 11 March 1959, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight.

SH-3As of HS-6 above Kearsarge in the early 1960s A total of ten prototypes were produced to support the development program. The designation HSS-2 was applied, allegedly to imply a level of commonality to the earlier HSS-1, should political sentiment turn against the development of an entirely new rotorcraft. Key features of the emerging ASW helicopter included its amphibious hull, which enabled the rotorcraft to readily perform water landings, and its adoption of a twin-turboshaft engine arrangement that enabled it to be larger, heavier and better-equipped than had been possible with prior helicopters. As such, the navigation suite for the rotorcraft was developed jointly by Sikorsky and the US Navy. It was also the first helicopter to be procured under the US Navy's new weapon system concept, under which Sikorsky was responsible not only for the design and production of the airframe, but all major onboard systems, such as the sonar, navigational equipment, electronic devices, and support equipment. As per the earlier specification, this new rotorcraft was to excel at ASW specifically, it would combine the roles of hunter and killer, as these two duties had previously been carried out by two separate helicopters. In 1957, Sikorsky was awarded a contract to produce an all-weather amphibious helicopter for the US Navy.

The specification included a dipping sonar, mission endurance of four hours, and the ability to support a weapons load of 380 kg (840 lb). Sikorsky received a request from the service to design a new turbine-powered helicopter that would be capable of performing the ASW mission.

During the late 1950s, the US Navy took advantage of recent aerospace advances, such as the turboshaft engine, by commissioning the development of a new large naval helicopter. The US Navy countered this threat by the improvement and development of various anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, which resulted in the development of the Sea King. The major civil versions are the S-61L and S-61N.ĭuring the Cold War, the Soviet Navy built up a large and varied fleet of submarines which at one point was in excess of 200 operational submarines.

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The Sea King has been built under license by Agusta in Italy, Mitsubishi in Japan, and by Westland in the United Kingdom as the Westland Sea King. As of 2015, many examples of the type remain in service in nations around the world. The Sea King has also proved to be popular on the export market with foreign military customers, and has also been sold to civil operators as well. The Sea King also performed various other roles and missions such as search-and-rescue, transport, anti-shipping, medevac, plane guard, and airborne early warning operations. Navy HSS-2 Sea King was used to break the FAI 3 km, 100 km, 500 km, and 1000 km helicopter speed records. In late 1961 and early 1962, a modified U.S. Introduced to service in 1961, it was operated by the United States Navy as a key ASW and utility asset for several decades prior to being replaced by the non-amphibious Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk in the 1990s. The Sea King was initially designated HSS-2, which was intended to imply a level of commonality to the earlier HSS-1 it was subsequently redesignated as the SH-3A during the early 1960s. Accordingly, the helicopter was specifically developed to deliver a capable ASW platform in particular, it combined the roles of hunter and killer, which had previously been carried out by two separate helicopters. The Sea King has its origins in efforts by the United States Navy to counter the growing threat of Soviet submarines during the 1950s. A landmark design, it was one of the first ASW rotorcraft to use turboshaft engines. The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (company designation S-61) is an American twin-engined anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft.

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