RV in Personnel Recovery stands for Recovery Vehicle: the platform that takes isolated personnel on board in the objective area and transports them. It may be an aircraft, a ground vehicle or a maritime platform. The term describes its role in the recovery, rather than a particular class of vehicle.
Helicopters, transport aircraft and other recovery platforms
Alongside helicopters, tactical transport aircraft may serve as Recovery Vehicles in suitable circumstances. They require an appropriate landing facility, which may include a properly established improvised airfield. Carrying capacity, range, speed and the ability to transport additional personnel or medical equipment determine their value for a particular mission. A larger transport aircraft may, for example, recover a group that would otherwise require several smaller recovery platforms.
A recovery mission may use several Recovery Vehicles. In the NATO PR model, suitability for combat operations and appropriate passive and active defensive aids form part of the requirements.
Working with a ground team
A Recovery Vehicle may carry a Ground Operations Team. The team disembarks in or near the objective area, establishes direct contact with isolated personnel, identifies or authenticates them and brings them to the recovery platform. If necessary, the team may provide emergency medical care at the pickup site and during transport.
Escort and air protection may provide additional security. An aircraft that only escorts, relays communications or protects the airspace does not become a Recovery Vehicle through those activities.
Care and onward transport
Planning must consider whether isolated personnel are injured or require other medical support. Their condition may also be unknown when recovery begins. In the French PR model, planning therefore includes deciding whether additional medical personnel should join the PRTF or whether the extraction forces' capabilities are sufficient.
Once personnel have been recovered to safety, medical and psychological care and further medical evacuation may be needed. A Recovery Vehicle is not automatically a platform specifically equipped for medical evacuation.
Another meaning of RV in SAR
In Australian search and rescue, RV is also used for Rescue Vessel. The military term Recovery Vehicle, by comparison, also covers air and ground platforms.