US firms receive approval from DBA to begin Denmark’s MH-60R production

16 June 2015 (Last Updated June 16th, 2015 18:30)

The Danish Business Authority (DBA) has approved four US companies to begin the first phase of industrial cooperation projects to deliver MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and associated services to Denmark.

MH-60R SEAHAWK

The Danish Business Authority (DBA) has approved four US companies to begin the first phase of industrial cooperation projects to deliver MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and associated services to Denmark.

In 2012, Denmark selected nine US Navy MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission maritime helicopters for its maritime helicopter replacement programme.

As part of a US foreign military sales agreement with Denmark, the companies, including Sikorsky Aircraft, Lockheed Martin, CAE and General Electric are responsible for work and projects totalling kr3bn ($430m).

Danish Business Authority deputy general director Anders Hoffmann said: "Currently, the four companies have fulfilled or initiated activities covering 50% of the total obligation."

With this order, Denmark is the second country to purchase MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, after Australia procured 24 units in 2011.

The Royal Danish Navy will use the aircraft to support anti-surface warfare missions, as well as anti-piracy operations, while protecting and defending Danish interests in the North Atlantic during international deployments.

"The four companies have fulfilled or initiated activities covering 50% of the total obligation."

The country is expected to receive all nine helicopters from the US Navy by mid-2018.

With the latest DBA approval, Sikorsky will begin projects with four companies, including Terma, Sky-Watch, Bruel & Kjaer, and Multicut to develop composite panels, survivability equipment, software, noise, and vibration instrumentation, as well as other MH-60R parts.

Lockheed will work with three Danish companies, Systematic, SSBV-Rovsing, and Weibel Scientific, for an electronic warfare support system solution, solar array simulator, and the next-generation Star Tracker.

GE will cooperate with Lockheed and Terma for the development of the next-generation star tracker, while CAE will partner with IFAD and Systematic to develop a full-motion flight training simulator

Image: The US Navy's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. Photo: courtesy of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.