The US Navy has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin for the production and delivery of common cockpits for the Navy’s MH-60S and MH-60R aircraft.

Under the $82m contract, Lockheed will provide long lead materials to support MH-60S Lot 13 and MH-60R Lot 9 common cockpit kits.

The MH-60S Knighthawk is a multi-mission naval helicopter that can undergo missions including troop transport, ship-to-ship cargo transport, minesweeping, special operations support and combat search and rescue operations.

The MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-role capability helicopter designed for a full range of anti-submarine warfare roles protecting within and outside fleets, as well as anti-surface roles, combat search and rescue, cargo missions and special operations support.

The majority of the work will be carried out in New York and the remainder at several locations across the US and is expected to be complete in July 2012.