MH-60R delivery milestones
2016 was a successful year for the MH-60R programme, with Denmark becoming the first European nation to join the global operator base of MH-60R helicopters. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) received their 24th and final MH-60R, and earlier, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia became the third Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer, procuring 10 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, following the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Danish Air Force.
The Danish aircraft are configured for search and rescue or anti- surface warfare operations, including defending Danish interests in the North Atlantic, executing anti-piracy operations, and conducting other missions during international deployments. The first four aircraft are currently in Denmark. Two aircraft are in the Lockheed Martin’s Owego, New York production hangar being fitted with their mission equipment.
Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 225 aircraft to the US Navy on or ahead of schedule, and the US Navy has operated more than 400,000 flying hours with the MH-60R, which they have found “to be operationally effective and reliable.” The MH60R’s highly integrated suite of weapons and sensors enhances situational awareness, expands the operational area of influence and elevates operators and commanders’ decision making ability.