Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded a not-to-exceed $49,664,990 undefinitized firm-fixed-price modification to an order in opposition to a beforehand issued fundamental ordering settlement. This modification gives non-recurring engineering and add/delete efforts to convey 12 MH-60R plane from commonplace International Army Gross sales configuration to a singular configuration for the federal government of Australia. This modification procures 12 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) distinctive modification one kits and 10 embedded World Positioning System Inertial Navigation Programs spares. Work is anticipated to be accomplished in December 2026. The U.S. Naval Air Programs Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting exercise.
The RAN ordered 16 S-70B-2s which had been delivered in 1988 and 1989. In December 2017, the S-70B-2s had been retired from service. The S-70B-2 had served extensively within the Center East launched into the Adelaide-class and the Anzac-class frigates. In June 2011, the Defence Minister introduced that the MH-60R had been chosen to switch the S-70B-2. 24 MH-60Rs had been ordered to be geared up with the Mark 54 and the Hellfire with deliveries commencing in mid-2014. The US had permitted a International Army Sale of 24 MH-60Rs in July 2010. The primary MH-60R was delivered to the RAN in 2013 and the final was delivered in 2016. In 2018, Australia signed a 10-year settlement with the US Navy to assist the MH-60R. 23 MH-60R Seahawks in service as of Oct. 2022.
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The Australian Authorities Division of Defence within the 2020 Pressure Construction Plan reported it deliberate to increase and rationalise the RAN’s MRH-90 Taipan fleet used for assist and logistics. In October 2021, the US permitted a International Army Sale to Australia of 12 MH-60Rs. In Might 2022, the Australian authorities introduced that it will buy 12 MH-60Rs to switch the MRH-90 fleet. In September 2022, Australia ordered a further 12 MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopters. As a part of the Australian Authorities’s Challenge SEA 9100 Section 1 (Improved Embarked Logistics Help Helicopter Functionality), the 12 new MH-60R plane will create a standard fleet of maritime helicopters supporting all the RAN’s air succesful platforms.
The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission U.S. Navy helicopter based mostly on america Military UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 household. Probably the most vital modifications are the folding fundamental rotor and a hinged tail to cut back its footprint aboard ships. The MH-60R was initially generally known as “LAMPS Mark III Block II Improve” when improvement started in 1993 with Lockheed Martin (previously IBM/Loral). Two SH-60Bs had been transformed by Sikorsky, the primary of which made its maiden flight on 22 December 1999. Designated YSH-60R, they had been delivered to NAS Patuxent River in 2001 for flight testing. The manufacturing variant was redesignated MH-60R to match its multi-mission functionality. The MH-60R was formally deployed by the US Navy in 2006.
