Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk

Sahilku010101-psn · April 15, 2025, 9:01pm

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MH-60R Seahawk

History

Known as the “Romeo,” the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk is one of the most sophisticated and adaptable marine helicopters available. This aircraft, which was created to satisfy the changing requirements of the U.S. Navy and its allies, is capable of a variety of tasks, including as maritime security, search and rescue (SAR), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-surface warfare (ASuW).

The legendary Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, which went into service for the first time in 1979, is the ancestor of the MH-60R Seahawk. The SH-60 Seahawk family was born out of the Black Hawk’s successful operations and sturdy airframe, which made it a perfect foundation for naval adaption.

In the 1990s, the MH-60R program was launched in an attempt to replace the outdated SH-60B and SH-60F Seahawks. Although useful in their day, these outdated devices lacked the sophisticated features required to counter threats in the twenty-first century. The objective was to develop a single, multi-mission platform that would perform well in a variety of marine conditions.

In 1999, Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin were given the contract by the U.S. Navy to build the MH-60R. The aircraft had upgraded weapons, new mission systems, and improved avionics. After the helicopter’s capabilities were proven in early test flights, full manufacturing approval was granted in 2005. The fleet received the first MH-60Rs around 2006.

MH-60R’s inaugural flight occurred in July 2001. The first low-rate initial production (LRIP) helicopters were remanufactured SH-60Bs; however, the subsequent MH-60Rs are all newbuilds. August 2005 marked the delivery of the initial new production MH-60R helicopter. October 2005 defined the conclusion of operational evaluation (OPEVAL), and April 2006 established the approval of full-rate production. The MH-60R was declared ready for deployment in 2006 when it achieved initial operational capability (IOC). Since then, it has replaced older models and improved operational effectiveness, becoming a mainstay of the U.S. Navy’s aviation force.

In October 2007, the United States Navy established the first of five MH-60R squadrons, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71, at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, San Diego. MH-60R conducted its initial “at sea” operations from the USS Preble (DDG-88) Aegis destroyer in March 2008. In early 2009, the helicopter’s initial operational deployment was concluded with the USS Stennis carrier group.

The helicopter is capable of operating from frigates, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious ships, and aircraft carriers. It is best suited for open-water operations and intensive littoral warfare operations, where it can manage numerous contacts in confined spaces.

Specifications

Engine: X2 General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines (1,450 kW each)

Length: 64.8 ft (19.8 m)
Height: 17 ft (5.1 m)
Main Rotor Diameter: 53.7 ft (16.4 m)

Maximum Speed: 180 knots (207 mph or 333 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 13,000 ft (3,960m)
Range: 245 nautical miles (454 km)
Maximum takeoff gross weight: 22,500 lb (10,206 kg)

Weaponry

Mounted on doors:

M240 Machine Gun
GAU-17/A Minigun

Mounted on fuselage:

x2 Mk 46 torpedo
x2 Mk 54 torpedo
x4 AGM-114 Hellfire

Avionics

Optics

Raytheon AN/AAS-52 (AAS-44C(V)) Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS)

Fov:
- Wide: 34° x 45°
- Medium-wide: 17° x 22°
- Medium: 5.7° x 7.6°
- Medium-narrow: 2.8° x 3.7°
- Narrow: 1.2° x 1.6° (IR and TV)
- Ultra-narrow: 0.6° x 0.8° (IR)
- Ultra-narrow: 0.21° x 0.27° (TV)
Six-axis stabilized mount

RWR

AN/ALQ-210 electronic support action (ESM) system

MAW

ATK AN/AAR-47V(2) missile Warner

Countermeasures

IEWS AN/ALQ-144V(6) infrared countermeasures set
AN/ALE-39 Countermeasure Dispensing System

Other

N/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS)
AN/APS-153(V) Multi-mode Radar
- Long and short-range search
- ISAR imaging (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar)
- Small target/periscope detection
- Short-range SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar)
- Navigation