Lockheed Martin delivers final Seahawk helicopter to Royal Australian Navy

Lockheed Martin has delivered the 24th and final MH-60R Seahawk helicopter to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The helicopter was produced at the company’s new 8,300m² logistics and maintenance facility in Nowra on the New South Wales south coast, which will house and maintain the new fleet of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

This facility has a maintenance repair and overhaul base and a logistics centre warehouse that will provide services for the RAN’s new fleet.

Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Raydon Gates said: “We at Lockheed Martin are committed to securing and investing in the future of Australia.

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“This facility in Nowra will house and maintain the new fleet, contributing to the local community and creating local job opportunities.”

In June 2011, the MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopter was selected by the Commonwealth of Australia to fulfil the Australian Defence Force’s requirement of a fleet of 24 multi-role naval combat aircraft.

All 24 MH-60Rs have now been delivered to the Royal Australian Navy.

The MH-60R helicopter can perform secondary missions, including search-and-rescue operations, vertical replenishment, and has the capability to offer naval surface fire support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation, and VHF / UHF / link communication relay.

These aircraft will replace the RAN’s existing fleet of S-70B-2 SEAHAWK helicopters.             

The RAN fleet is supported by Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky through the Maritime Helicopter Support Company (MHSCo).

Image: A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter takes off from the helipad of aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, earlier this year. Photo: courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation.