First flight for total weapon system MH-60R

Sea Power, Jun 2002 by Burgess, Richard R

Aviation Programs Update

The first MH-60R Seahawk helicopter with a full mission suite installed made its first flight on 4 April at the Lockheed Martin Systems Integration (LMSI) facility at Owego, N.Y. LMSI is the systems integrator for the MH-60R, which is built by Sikorsky. The MH-60R features a common digital cockpit-also installed in the MH-60S Knighthawk multimission helicopter, which formally entered service earlier this year.

The MH-60R-being built as a replacement for the SH-60B and SH-60F now operational on Navy cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and aircraft carriers-is equipped with a multimode radar, the AQS-22 low-frequency dipping sonar, upgraded electronic-surveillance systems, an infrared imaging sensor, a K-band data link, sonobuoys, and an acoustic signal processor.

Two YSH-60R prototypes and one MH-60R test article aircraft are being tested at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Four MH-60R test article aircraft are being evaluated at Owego. The first seven H-60Rs were remanufactured from SH-60Bs; the Navy decided, though, that it would be more cost-effective to manufacture new aircraft, so all subsequent H-60Rs will be new-build helicopters. The Navy plans to procure approximately 243 SH-60Rs. Technical and operational evaluations are scheduled for 2004. A decision on full-rate production is scheduled for early 2005. Initial operational capability is scheduled for 2006.

LMSI has been awarded a $12.5 million modification to a previously awarded Naval Air Systems Command contract for weapons systems integration in the MH-60R. Sikorsky has been awarded contract modifications totaling $49.3 million for the MH-60R program.