November 12, 2006: The U.S. Department of Defense selected the HH-47 as its new sea-air rescue helicopter, and will buy 145 of them. These will replace the current force of rescue helicopters ( the HH-60G (a variant of the UH-60 Blackhawk.) The HH-47 is basically an updated version of the 1960s era CH-47 transport helicopter.   The HH-47 had an edge because SOCOM (Special Operations Command) already uses a CH-47 variant, the MH-47, for commando operations. The 22 ton HH-47s will cost about $69 million each, be all weather and will have the long range needed to be able to fly itself to overseas assignments.