MH-60 Naval Helicopter

[Wisemarko]

The US Army’s UH-60 Black Hawks have always had a naval counterpart. SH-60B/F Seahawk/ LAMPS helicopters were outfitted with maritime radar, sonobuoys, and other specialized equipment that let them perform a wide variety of roles, from supply and transport, to anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and even surface attack with torpedoes or Kongsberg’s AGM-119 Penguin missiles. Like their land-based counterparts, however, the Seahawks are getting older. The Reagan defense build-up is receding into history, and its products are wearing out.

MH-60R on deck


European countries chose to build new designs like the medium-heavy EH101 and the NH90 medium helicopter. They’re larger than the H-60s, make heavy use of corrosion-proof composites, and add new features like rear ramps. The USA, in contrast, decided to upgrade existing H-60 designs for the Army and Navy. Hence the MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter (aka. “Romeo”) and MH-60S (aka. “Sierra”) Seahawks. MH-60Rs and MH-60Ss will eventually replace all SH-60B/F & HH-60H Seahawks, HH-1N Hueys, UH-3H Sea Kings, and CH-46D Sea Knight helicopters currently in the US Navy’s inventory. Both programs are underway, and will be covered in this DID FOCUS Article…

The New Sikorsky Seahawks

Before this program began, MH- was the traditional designation for special forces aircraft, but the Navy has now adopted it to stand for “multi-mission.” Confusing nomenclature aside, the new MH-60R/S helicopters will be the backbone of the US Navy’s future helicopter force.

The ‘Romeo’ multi-mission Seahawks will erase a previous division of labor. The previous SH-60F traditionally handled the advanced dipping sonar, and performed utility and rescue tasks, while the SH-60B used its radar for wider anti-submarine sweeps, and was armed with a wider array of weapons beyond torpedoes and door guns. That division of labor is being erased by the MH-60R, which can handle all surface attack and anti-submarine roles by itself. Secondary missions that include directing naval surface fire support, search and rescue, vertical replenishment, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation and communications and data relay. At one time, it was informally known as the “Strikehawk.” The MH-60R will replace the faster and longer-range S-3 Viking sea control jet, as well as existing Seahawks.

The U.S. Navy had planned to convert all of its SH-60B/Fs to multi-mission H-60Rs (“R” for “remanufactured”). The new version would feature a multi-mode, long-range search radar that can automatically detect and track an increased number of surface vessels, low frequency dipping sonar that provides significantly increased range for detecting submarines, an advanced electro-optical surveillance and target designation turret, the addition of Hellfire anti-armor missile capabilities, an integrated self-defense suite, and a host of other improvements that include a new cabin, a service life extension for the tail, and new avionics including Link 16 datalink connectivity.

In 2001, the US Navy restructured the SH-60R program from a remanufacture of the existing U. S. Navy SH-60 fleet to a new procurement program that would remanufacture only 7 helicopters, and build the rest new. This would keep existing SH-60s available for duty, while supplying new-generation helicopters with longer wear lifespans.


Common cockpit

The new MH-60R common “glass” cockpit is based on display screens rather than dials, and will be shared with the MH-60S. This will allow pilots to switch from one aircraft type to another with greater ease and will reduce the logistic support infrastructure, resulting in lower cost of ownership. It integrates 4 Night Vision Device compatible 8×10 inch color active matrix liquid crystal displays, and provides the operators with: Dual integrated programmable keysets for data entry and mission management; Dual prime/backup flight management computers allowing redundancy for all flight critical operations; Audio management computer providing digital audio for flight communications and sensors; Dual embedded global positioning inertial navigation (EGI) system that includes all weather coupled hover operations.

In the MH-60R models and MH-60S Block 2A+ configurations, one of the flight management computers is replaced with a mission computer providing all flight related capabilities plus multiple sensor/weapon data fusion. The cockpit as a whole received Instrument Flight Conditions certification in September 2001, the first NAVAIR IMC certification issued to a glass cockpit.

Like the MH-60S, the “Romeos” feature an advanced multi-spectral electro-optical turret, but they use the more advanced AN/AAS-52 MTS (Multi-spectral Targeting System) with a wider field of view. Unlike their MH-60S counterparts, however, the MH-60Rs can be distinguished by the cylindrical naval radar profile on their undersides, characteristic of anti-submarine helicopters around the world. Telephonics’ AN/APS-147 (now APS-153) radar was designed to meet both blue water and shallow/coastal littoral performance requirements in all weather conditions, providing day and night maritime domain surveillance that includes small target detection even amidst wave clutter, Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging, and a unique Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator capability which is readily upgradeable and fully integrated with the helicopter’s combat systems. The AN/APS-153 upgrade adds hardware and software to handle an Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination System (APRDDS), which automatically discriminates between periscopes and other small surface objects.

The MH-60Rs will also have full sonar capabilities via their Raytheon/Thales AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS) and sonobuoys, a big change from the past when bulky electronics forced Sikorsky to split the radar and sonar roles between the SH-60B (radar) and SH-60F (sonar). HSM-71’s Cmdr. Michael K. Nortier has said that this fusion, plus other advances, enables his MH-60R squadron to provide 5x-10x better coverage of the strike group than previous helicopters, and ALFS itself is proving to be much more sensitive than previous systems.

Mission systems and integration are bought as a separate item through a multi-year contract with Lockheed Martin Systems Integration of Owego, NY (see Aug 15/07 entry).


MH-60Rs fire Hellfire
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Initial MH-60R armament will include a wide range of systems, from lightweight torpedoes to Penguin anti-ship missiles, Hellfire anti-armor missiles, DAGR laser-guided 70mm rockets, and machine guns.

Lot I-II production MH-60R helicopters were equipped with SysConfig 19.9 software, as well as all of the advanced equipment originally planned for the type. Part-way through Lot III (6 helicopters), after around 10 production helicopters, the software leapt ahead to SysConfig 46. Those helicopters added IMDS prognostics in key mechanical areas, along with updates to the ALE-47 countermeasures. These are MH-60R Block 1.

Subsequent MH-60Rs upgraded to next-generation SysConfig 58 software, and add an array of new equipment. These “Block 2” [DID reference] helicopters will add the DoD-wide Joint Mission Planning System, improved internal wireless, satellite, and radio communications, and:

A Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) with audible alerts like “roll left,” “pull up!” etc.
Link-16, for a common tactical picture shared with other ships and aircraft;
A “SAASM EGI” Embedded GPS Inertial Navigation System with better resistance to countermeasures;
Upgrades to the Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) system via Mode 5 IFF’s much improved algorithm, encryption, range, and civil compatibility. It also adds “lethal interrogation” as a must-respond last chance, and the ability to see individual aircraft even when they’re close together. The further addition of Mode S assigns a discrete ‘squawk’ which is unique to that aircraft. Together, they improve combat identification and enable unrestricted flight in civilian airspace.
Upgrades planned after 2010 include electronic surveillance capabilities (Copperfield 2 ELINT and Dragonfly COMINT), integration of conventional 70mm and APKWS-II laser-guided rockets into MH-60R and MH-60S Block 3s, and other improvements in their anti-submarine capability.

The other component of note is a project called “Hawklink,” which aims to improve the helicopters’ Common Data Link. Why does Hawklink matter? In a word, bandwidth. MH-60R and SH-60B Seahawks currently send data across the C-band microwave frequency range. Using the Ku band and the high definition SAU 07000 Ship Air Upgrade interface will create point-to-point Internet-equivalent connectivity between the MH-60R and the ship, enabling both to publish and subscribe for information. That would allow a ship or strike group to request specific data from the helicopter, simultaneously receive streaming imagery and other messages, and capture ever greater levels of detail about multiple targets.

While the USA is looking for ongoing upgrades, some countries are more interested in downgrades. In 2011, reports surfaced of a planned “MH-60R Lite” variant, which would make the ALFS dipping sonar a removable option. That would improve its range, and increase cabin space from 3 people to 8, at the expense of limiting its anti-submarine capability without ALFS. Lockheed Martin is even contemplating a version that also removes the sonobuoy launcher and acoustic processors, leaving a helicopter with just surface attack, search and rescue, and utility helicopter capabilities. It would really be more of an MH-60S+, with an advanced maritime radar and other electronics improvements.

Initial production MH-60Rs were delivered to U.S. Navy training squadron HSM-41, at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, CA. The first MH-60R operational squadron was the HSM-71 “Raptors,” also based at NAS North Island in San Diego, CA. The squadron stood up in October 2007, and made their first deployment in April 2009 as part of the USS John C. Stennis [CVN 74] aircraft carrier strike group.


Blue Collar Sierra: The MH-60S

The MH-60S entered service in 2002 as a replacement for the US Navy’s Boeing CH-46D Sea Knight, flown mostly in utility roles that involve moving cargo between ships. There was a fair bit of discussion about renaming it the “MH-60S Knighthawk” in honor of its predecessor, a move that would also have distinguished it from the MH-60R Seahawk; indeed, several official Navy releases featured this nomenclature. Unfortunately, the Navy decided to add type confusion to the special forces nomenclature confusion by referring to both MH-60 helicopters as “Seahawks.”

With the addition of the MH-60S program, the U.S. Navy will become an all H-60 helicopter fleet. Its roles will encompass troop transport, search and rescue, and other standard roles. The ‘Sierras’ will also become the Navy’s primary mine countermeasures platform. The US Marines, in contrast, are scheduled to replace their CH-46Es with MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors. If the Navy continues to decline investment in 48 HV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft of its own for combat search and rescue, special warfare, and fleet logistics support duties, the MH-60S will formally add its already-emerging assignment as the primary naval helicopter for those roles.

The US Navy expects to buy 275 MH-60S helicopters:

50 Block 1, 225 Block 3, with all Block 2s scheduled for retrofit
Initial MH-60S deliveries are Block 1 aircraft with glass cockpits and data buses, but little specialized mission equipment. They appear to be destined for supply, utility, and training roles only, as they will be the only helicopters without Link 16’s common tactical picture capability at the program’s end.

Structurally strengthened Block 2A and B helicopters added the “common console,” an auxiliary fuel tank, and the ability to carry the Airborne Mine Counter-Measures (AMCM) kit. Link 16 will be backfit into existing Block 2 aircraft after its introduction in Block 3B, allowing the automated transmission of a common tactical picture shared with other ships and aircraft. This will convert MH-60S Block 2As into Block 2Bs.

The US Navy plans to buy a total of 66 AMCM ancillary kits. These new MH-60S AMCM helicopters will eventually have 5 mine-hunting systems available to them: [1] towed AN/AQS-20 sonar, [2] OASIS acoustic/magnetic minesweeper, [3] AMNS remotely piloted anti-mine torpedo delivery, [4] ALMDS mine-detecting laser and [5] RAMICS 30mm mine-detonating cannon with super-cavitating ammunition. This will give the MH-60S the ability to sweep for mines from any ship, a capability that is presently found only in the much larger MH-53E Sea Dragon dedicated mine sweeping helicopters. MH-60S AMCM helicopters will also have some secondary anti-submarine detection and prosecution capability.

MH-60S Block 3A aircraft are slated to add armament kits, including an AN/AAS-44C electro-optical turrets similar to those mounted on existing SH-60 and HH-60 Seahawks; integration for Hellfire anti-armor missiles (8) or DAGR laser-guided rockets (32); .50 caliber (GAU-21/M3M) and 7.62 mm (M240B) machine guns. Other changes include IMDS prognostics for key mechanical areas, a Digital Map System, and kneeboard and floor armor. These helicopters will receive Link 16 backfit upgrades as well, after this capability is introduced in Block 3B.

The final MH-60S Block 3B version, which will make up the vast majority of the fleet after all retorfits are done, will begin production using SysConfig 58 software and the upgrades described above for the MH-60R “Block 2”, plus the DALS Downed Aircrew Locator System. It receives signals from survival radios and can GPS-locate them, then send voice – or quieter text messages.

Additional improvements may be added over time, and some of the helicopter’s sub-systems like AMCM can also be expected to evolve.


The MH-60R/S Program

With the Reagan defense build-up receding into history, the US Navy believed that technology advances offered the prospect of integrating greater capabilities into each machine, without having to spend much on R&D. Unlike new-design, new-materials projects like the EH101 and NH90 in Europe, or Sikorsky’s H-92 Superhawk (CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter) on order for Canada, the US Navy decided that enhancing the proven H-60 Seahawk design would be the most cost-effective recapitalization option. Hence the MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter (aka. “Romeo”) and MH-60S (aka. “Sierra”).

Each program is currently set within the 5-year MYP-VII multi-year procurement deal that runs from FY 2007-2012, and also includes US Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and foreign military sales. The MH-60R is under an initial deal following full-rate production authorization, while the MH-60S’ MYP-VII totals represent a production extension.

The US Navy originally planned to field 254 MH-60R “Romeo” helicopters, but that figure was officially raised to 300 in April 2010, with production now set to end in 2018. The Navy’s deployment plan will do away with existing Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) squadrons, while fielding a total of 23 squadrons: 19 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons (HSM) squadrons, 2 HSM training squadrons, and 2 Test & Evaluation squadrons. The HSMs will include 10 Carrier Strike Group squadrons with 11 MH-60Rs each, 8 Expeditionary squadrons with 8-14 each, and the HSM-60 reserve squadron with 7 MH-60Rs. Training squadrons will include HSM-40 with 19 helicopters, and HSM-41 with 23. Test & Evaluation squadrons VX-1 and HX-21 will each receive 7 MH-60Rs.

As of September 2011, the US Navy has received 107 MH-60Rs. Total MH-60R acquisition costs are expected to be approximately $12 billion over the life of the program, and include the cost of government-furnished equipment (radar, avionics, ground-maintenance equipment, training materials, etc.) and secondary contractors like Lockheed Martin, as well as the cost of the helicopters themselves. MH-60R production for the US Navy is scheduled to end in 2018, but an export success in Australia seems set to extend it a bit, and more foreign orders will keep the line open longer.

When fully deployed, the Navy will field 275 MH-60S “Sierra” helicopters in 23 squadrons – 16 Active, 3 test, 2 Reserve and 2 Training squadrons, with 40 aircraft in the training squadrons. There will also be MH-60S helicopters in each of 5 Search and Rescue (SAR) stations around the USA.

As of September 2011, Sikorsky has delivered 201 MH-60S helicopters to the US Navy. Barring additional foreign orders beyond Thailand (2), production is slated to end in 2016.


MH-60R/S Budgets
Budgeted program amounts for each helicopter type break down as follow. RDT&E stands for “Research, Development, Test, & Evaluation,” and “procurement” also includes long-lead time materials for subsequent years’ production:

Editorial note: the MH-60 helicopters have a wide variety of ancillary equipment. The rule we use here at DID is that if it’s not an integral part of operating the helicopter, we cover it separately. Flight trainers and maintenance are an integral part of operating the helicopter, so they’re covered. A weapon or other switch-in item is not integral. The MH-60S’ AMCM mine countermeasures set is an example of switch-in optional gear – though modifying the helicopters to be able to accept the AMCM components is covered, because that aspect is integral. The exception is the MH-60R’s ALFS dipping sonar system, which we do cover separately. It’s normally inseparable from the MH-60R, but a proposed variant could make it a removable option. Note that for some integral items, like the MTS surveillance and targeting turrets, it isn’t always possible to connect every order with the MH-60.

Unless otherwise specified, all contracts are managed by US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD. The exception is new helicopters, which are now being bought under a multi-year joint contract managed by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at Redstone Arsenal, AL.

FY 2012

MH-60R w. ALFS
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April 5/12: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $1.05 billion contract modification, finalizing the MH-60R/ MH-60S’ 2012-2016 mission avionics system/ common cockpit advance acquisition contract to a firm-fixed-price, multiyear contract. These mission avionics systems and common cockpits will equip MH-60R production lots 10-14, and MH-60S production lots 14-17, with integrated logistic support provided alongside. A number of buys had already occurred under this contract for MH-60R Lots 10-11, and MH-60S Lots 14-15.
Work will be performed in Owego, NY (58%); Farmingdale, NY (25%); Woodland Hills, CA (4%); Ciudad Real, Spain (3%); East Syracuse, NY (2%); Victor, NY (2%); Everett, WA (1%); Stratford, CT (1%); St. Charles, MO (1%); Lewisville, Texas (1%); Bennington, VT (1%); and other locations inside the United States (1%). Work is expected to be completed in June 2018. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-11-C-0020).

March 15/12: Rockwell Collins, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, IA received a $6.5 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, exercising an option to provide AN/ARC-210V electronic radio and ancillary equipment: 48 RT-1990C/ARC receiver-transmitters for the MH-60R, and 28 RT-1990C/ARC receiver-transmitters for MH-60S.

Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, IA, and is expected to be complete in September 2013. US Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-C-0069).

March 13/12: Australia. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT received a $27.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for the “advanced procurement funding services in support of the Royal Australia Navy MH-60R program.” Work will be performed in Stratford, CT, with an estimated completion date of Dec 13/12. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Dec 29/11: Australia. Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $103.5 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for Australia. It covers common cockpit and mission avionics to equip 24 MH-60R helicopters for the Royal Australian Navy, including non-recurring engineering, program support, and associated efforts required for the production and delivery. See also Dec 2/11 entry; the combined value is $188.6 million (abut A$ 185 million).

Work will be performed in Owego, NY (95%), Farmingdale, NY (4%), and various locations throughout the United States (1%). Work is expected to be completed in July 2018. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD, is the contracting activity (N00019-09-G-0005).

Dec 28/11: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $24 million firm-fixed-price advance acquisition contract modification. They’ll provide FY 2012 long-lead material and “end of life components” (spares) for MH-60S Production Lot 14 and MH-60R Lot 10 common cockpits, and specialized MH-60R Lot 10 mission electronics.

Work will be performed in Owego, NY (57%); Farmingdale, NY (26%); Woodland Hills, CA (4%); Ciudad Real, Spain (3%); East Syracuse, NY (2%); Victor, NY (2%); Everett, WA (1%); Stratford, CT (1%); St. Charles, MO (1%); Lewisville, TX (1%); Bennington, VT (1%); and various locations throughout the United States (1%), and is expected to be complete in February 2012 (N00019-11-C-0020).

Dec 14/11: AVET Trainer. The first US Navy MH-60S Aircrew Virtual Environmental Trainer (AVET) is installed and ready at NAS North Island near San Diego, CA. The Navy has had “TOFT” simulators for pilots since Oct 6/06, but this is a stand-alone, reconfigurable, full-motion simulator to train aerial gunnery, search and rescue, cargo replenishment, confined area landings, and emergency procedures for the MH-60S and HH-60H.

Binghamton Simulator Company in Binghamton, NY developed AVET under Navy SBIR funding, working with experts from PMA-205 and the US Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL. Its big difference from other simulators is that instead of a large, expensive screen, it uses a strap-on helmet mounted visor for each student. This allows multiple students to train on cooperative tasks like these, while enjoying full 360 degree simulation, at an affordable cost. The longer-term goal will network AVET trainers with pilot TOFTs, allowing full-crew mission rehearsals that don’t have to fly expensive helicopters. US NAVAIR.

Dec 14/11: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $72.2 million firm-fixed-price advance acquisition contract modification. They’ll provide FY 2013 long-lead material and associated efforts for MH-60S Production Lot 15 and MH-60R Lot 11 common cockpits, and specialized MH-60R Lot 11 mission electronics.

Work will be performed in Owego, NY (57%); Farmingdale, NY (26%); Woodland Hills, CA (4%); Ciudad Real, Spain (3%); East Syracuse, NY (2%); Victor, NY (2%); Everett, WA (1%); Stratford, CT (1%); St. Charles, MO (1%); Lewisville, TX (1%); Bennington, VT (1%); and various locations throughout the United States (1%). Work is expected to be complete in December 2012 (N00019-11-C-0020).

Dec 12/11: Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Portsmouth, RI receives a $10.4 million firm-fixed-price delivery order to integrate an improved ALFS sonar Digital Transducer Assembly into MH-60Rs, as Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) 6515-E-022, Part II.

Work will include engineering, highly accelerated life test, and integrated logistics services. Work will be performed in Brest, France (64%), and Portsmouth, RI (36%), and is expected to be complete in October 2012 (N00019-08-G-0013).

Dec 2/11: Lockheed Martin MS2 in Owego, NY receives an $85.1 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for work at both ends of the MH-60R Mission Avionics Systems and common cockpit life-cycle. It includes both long-lead materials to begin building cockpits, and “end-of-life components” so the Australians have enough of certain items to support their 24 Royal Australian Navy MH-60Rs.

Work will be performed in Farmingdale, NY (53%); Owego, NY (32%); Ciudad Real, Spain (5%); Victor, NY (4%); St. Charles, MO (3%); Lewisville, TX (1%); Windsor Locks, CT (1%); and various locations throughout the United States (1%). Work is expected to be complete in March 2012. US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages the contract, as the agent of their Foreign Military Sale client (N00019-11-C-0020).

Nov 4/11: MH-60R Lite. Australian Defence Magazine reports that Lockheed Martin is self-funding development of an “MH-60R Lite” variant, which would make the ALFS dipping sonar a removable option. That would improve its range, and increase cabin space from 3 people to 8, at the expense of limiting its anti-submarine capability without ALFS. Lockheed Martin is even contemplating a version that also removes the sonobuoy launcher and acoustic processors, leaving a helicopter with just surface attack, search and rescue, and utility helicopter capabilities. It would really be more of an MH-60S+, with an advanced maritime radar and other electronics improvements.

Australia is already set to buy standard MH-60Rs, but Denmark has reportedly been briefed on the project (vid. Sept 8/09, Dec 2/10 entries). They bought AW101 helicopters for the search and rescue role, but a September 2008 Parliamentary report [PDF] confirmed that availability problems had left the Danes without the full SAR capabilities they need. They’re also looking to replace a handful of Lynx maritime helicopters, and an MH-60R with removable dipping sonar might solve both problems.

FY 2011

Thai MH-60S
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Sept 29/11: Raytheon in McKinney, TX receives a $9.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for 10 MH-60S multispectral targeting systems. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX, and is expected to be complete by October 2013. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division in Crane, IN (N00164-11-C-JQ34).

Sept 29/11: Lockheed Martin MS2 in Owego, NY receives an $8.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for one-time efforts required to fix part obsolescence issues in the MH-60R/S with solutions that have the right form, fit, and function. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in November 2013 (N00019-06-C-0098).

Sept 27/11: Lockheed Martin MS2 in Owego, NY receives a $26.8 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for the procurement of 699 newly designed “point and click operator system interface kits”, and 123 pointing devices, in support of the MH-60R/S helicopter fleet. The contract includes installation, and NAVAIR confirms to DID that the operator-system interface (OSI) is being updated for all MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters.

Work will be performed in Owego, NY (61.1%); Austin, TX (20%); and Everett, WA (18.9%), and is expected to be complete in February 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-11-C-0048).

Sept 27/11:Lockheed Martin Corp. in Owego, NY receives a $9 million firm-fixed-price contract for specialized test equipment necessary to perform depot-level repairs to the ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures Receiver Processor System. The AN/ALQ-210 ESM picks up incoming radar and electronic signals, and helps the helicopter backtrack to their emitters; it is deployed on the MH-60R.

Work will be performed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL, and is expected to be completed in June 2014. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 by the US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ (N68335-11-C-0403).

Sept 22/11: Qatar MH-60Rs? The US DSCA announces [PDF] Qatar’s official request to buy up to 6 MH-60R Seahawk naval warfare helicopters, 13 T-700 GE 401C Engines (12 installed and 1 spare), plus communication equipment, support equipment, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, and other U.S. government and contractor support. The estimated cost is up to $750 million.

The MH-60R helicopters will supplement and eventually replace the Qatar Air Force’s aging Westland Sea King maritime patrol helicopters, whose main concern is currently Iran’s Russian-built Kilo Class diesel-electric attack submarines.

The prime contractors will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, CT (helicopter), Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY (mission systems) and General Electric in Lynn, MA (engines). If the notice turns into a contract, require the assignment of 10 contractor representatives to Qatar on an intermittent basis over the life of the case, to support delivery of the MH-60R helicopters and provide support and equipment familiarization.

Aug 8/11: Sikorsky loads a pair of MH-60S Seahawk helicopters for shipment to Thailand, who is the type’s first export customer thanks to a 2007 order.

Aug 4/11: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $30 million delivery order modification for additional Phase 2 efforts in support of the MH-60R situational awareness technology insertion (SATI) engineering, manufacturing, and development. Work will be performed in Owego, NY (95%), and Melbourne, FL (5%), and is expected to be complete in February 2014. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11 (N00019-09-G-0005).

Discussions with Lockheed Martin shed additional light on this award, which completes SATI’s pre-development portion. SATI upgrades the current Gen III Flight Management Computers and Mission Computers to Gen V, and adds a new Integrated Digital Map, and upgrades to the existing IFF interrogator.

July 1/11: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $14.1 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for one-time engineering efforts to add a Mode 5 Interrogator Subsystem into the MH-60R Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination System. Work will be performed in Farmingdale, NY (68%), and Owego, NY (32%), and is expected to be complete in November 2012. This contract was not competitively procured, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (N00019-11-C-0068).

Discussions with Lockheed Martin shed additional light on this award. ARPDD upgrades the existing AN/APS-147 radar’s hardware and software, to automatically discriminate between periscopes and other small surface objects. The upgraded MH-60R radar with the ARPDD capability is designated as an AN/APS-153. As noted above, Mode 5 is a form of automated “identification, friend or foe” technology. The helicopter transponders already include IFF Mode 5, but the helicopters’ radar-linked IFF interrogator system is also getting an upgrade. With submarines test-firing anti-aircraft missiles from torpedo tubes (vid. IDAS), creating a 2-way threat, IFF for ASW machines could become even more useful.

June 27/11: CAE USA, Inc. in Tampa, FL receives a $32.1 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for 2 MH-60R tactical operational flight trainer (TOFT) advanced simulators, including install and test.

Work will be performed in Tampa, FL (42%); Lexington Park, MD (35%); Salt Lake City, UT (9%); Huappauge, NY (5%); San Francisco, CA (4%); Montreal, Canada (2%); Huntsville, AL (2%); and Leesburg, VA (1%), and is expected to be complete in October 2013. US Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division in Orlando, L manages this contract (N61340-11-C-0006).

June 16/11: MH-60R for RAN. The MH-60R beats the NH90-NFH for Australia’s 24-helicopter, A$3+ billion (over $3.16 billion) AIR 9000, Phase 8 helicopter competition, even though Australia had switched from H-60/S-70 Army helicopters to the NH90-TTH several years ago. A combination of problems with its “MRH-90s,” slow NH90 TTH development, MH-60R naval interoperability benefits, and the MH-60R’s low-risk operational status tipped the balance.

Read “MH-60R Wins Australia’s Maritime Helicopter Competition” for full coverage.

Australia
March 03/11: Sikorsky signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Trakka Corp. in Melbourne, Australia. Searchlights are Trakka’s specialty, and they are integrated into a highly efficient pan and tilt gymbal, allowing slewing up to 60 degrees per second. Internal filtering allows the searchlight to choose the appropriate light spectrum for the mission, while precision optical elements and a low power light source deliver a more intense and efficient on-target beam than conventional reflector-type searchlights.
This MoU goes beyond just Australia or its naval helicopter competition, to cover H-60 Black Hawk and Seahawk helicopters generally. Trakka develops and manufactures aviation searchlight products in its AS9100 certified facility in Australia, but it also has operations in Scottsdale, AZ to support its U.S. customers, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard. Sikorsky.

March 1/11: Raytheon announces a $50 million contract to deliver 50 AAS-44C (V) Multi-Spectral Targeting System surveillance and targeting turrets, for use on the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2011 and end in 2012.

Feb 28/11: Goodrich subsidiary Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. in Vergennes, VT recieves a $7.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for the procurement of 42 MH-60R/S integrated mechanical diagnostic and health usage monitoring system (HUMS) units, 42 data transfer units, and 18 retrofit kits. HUMS systems use embedded sensors to capture data about the performance of key mechanisms, and some can even predict likely failures. Their adoption can make maintenance approaches more efficient, pinpoint hidden design & manufacturing issues, and lead to redesigns for reliability.

Work will be performed in Vergennes, VT, and is expected to be completed in September 2012. $3.2 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11 (N00019-06-C-0298). See also Goodrich’s Rotary HUMS Product Sheet [PDF].

Feb 25/11: L-3 Communication Systems in Salt Lake City, UT receives a $32 million fixed-price-incentive contract modification, exercising to exercise an option for MH-60R Hawklink datalink hardware, incl. 6 AN/SRQ-4(Ku) radio terminal sets for small surface combatant ships, and 52 AN/ARQ-59 radio terminal sets. See the MH-60R section for more details re: Hawklink.

Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, UT, and is expected to be complete in June 2012. The US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD manages this contract (N00019-09-C-0059).

Feb 25/11: Lockheed Martin has issued a Request For Information to Australian firms to supply MH-60R weapons pylons, with selections expected by the end of 2011. The RFI is issued under the auspices of a recently signed Global Supply Chain (GSC) Deed, giving Australian companies new opportunities to compete for subcontracts on a range of Lockheed Martin products and services. Lockheed Martin’s naval helicopter program head, George Barton:

“Growth in orders for the MH-60R has resulted in an urgent need for an expanded supply base, and Australian industry has a depth of capability that would be an ideal supplement to our dedicated supplier base.”
The pylons are just the 1st opportunity, and tie into the billion-dollar naval helicopter competition there, featuring the MH-60R vs. the NH90-NFH. Lockheed Martin.

Feb 14/11: The 111th Congress’ failure has left the military without a FY 2011 budget. As the next 112th session takes up that challenge, the Pentagon releases its official FY 2012 budget request on schedule.

The FY 2012 request would spend a total of $1.532 billion buy 24 MH-60Rs ($1.018 billion) and 18 MH-60S helicopters ($513.5 million). Those helicopter numbers and mix match the FY 2011 budget, but the amounts are less.

Feb 2/11: MH-60R Australia? The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Australia’s formal request to buy a 10-year Through-Life-Support (TLS) contract for 24 MH-60R helicopters at an estimated cost of up to $1.6 billion. With the ADF’s MRH-90 program facing difficulties and receiving increased scrutiny, the support offer caps what amounts to a $3.7 billion maximum (A$ 3.66 billion) offer for 24 MH-60Rs, plus 10 years of support (vid. July 20/10), to set against the NH90 NFH in Australia’s SEA 8000, Phase 8 competition. Read “MH-60R Wins Australia’s Maritime Helicopter Competition” for full coverage.

Jan 19/11: CAE USA, Inc. in Tampa, FL receives a $43.5 million firm-fixed-price contract to design, build, install and test 1 MH-60R Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT) and one MH-60R/S Tactical Operational Flight Trainer.

Work will be performed in Tampa, FL (42%); Lexington Park, MD (35%); Salt Lake City, UT (9%); Hauppauge, NY (5%); San Francisco, CA (4%); Montreal, Canada (2%); Huntsville, AL (2%); and Leesburg, VA (1%), and is expected to be complete in June 2014. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 by the US Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL (N61340-11-C-0006).

Jan 5/11: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $72.6 million advance acquisition contract for long lead materials and support associated with the manufacture and delivery of 24 mission avionics systems and common cockpits for the Production Lot 10 MH-60R helicopters, and 18 common cockpits for the Production Lot 14 MH-60S helicopters, under a Multi-Year II advanced acquisition contract. This contract also buys end-of-life components for the MH-60R and MH-60S, so the Navy will have adequate stocks.

Work will be performed in Farmingdale, NY (48%); Owego, NY (26%); Woodland Hills, CA (13%); Ciudad Real, Spain (6%); Horseheads, NY (2%); Lewisville, TX (2%); Bennington, VT (1%); Windsor Locks, CT (1%); and various locations throughout the United States (1%), and is expected to be complete in December 2011. Funding is provided by FY 2011 Aviation Procurement Navy funds, and this contract was not competitively procured by US Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-11-C-0020).

As of January 2011, Lockheed Martin and partner Sikorsky Aircraft have delivered more than 85 MH-60R helicopters [Source].

Dec 29/10: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $33.6 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to incorporate the automatic radar periscope detection and discrimination radar into 6 MH-60R full rate production aircraft, moving this improvement from the system development phase to the production phase. This upgraded version of the MH-60R’s Telephonics AN/APS-147 radar offers 8 times the processing power of the previous model, along with the new radar mode. $24,694,108 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11.

Work will be performed in Farmingdale, NY (86%), and Owego, NY (14%), and is expected to be complete in December 2013 (N00019-06-C-0098).

Dec 29/10: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $37.7 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to supply common cockpits for MH-60S Production Lot 13 and MH-60R Production Lot 9 helicopters, plus common cockpit components and spares in support of the overall MH-60R and MH-60S helicopter programs.

Work will be performed in Owego, NY (58.8%); Salt Lake City, UT (13.9%); Farmingdale, NY (12.7%); Grand Rapids, MI (4.7%); Woodland Hills, CA (3.7%); Lewisville, TX (2.9%); Windsor Locks, CT (2.2%); Middletown, CT (0.6%); and Butler, NJ (0.5%), and is expected to be complete in April 2013 (N00019-06-C-0098).

Dec 20/10: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, NY receives a $35 million cost-plus-incentive-fee delivery order for one-time efforts in support of the MH-60R’s “situational awareness technology insertion” pre-engineering, manufacturing and development. Work will be performed in Owego, NY (86%); Farmingdale, NY (11%); and Melbourne, FL (3%). Work is expected to be complete in October 2012, but all contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/11 (N00019-09-G-0005, #4030).

A subsequent Lockheed Martin release clarifies: SATI is an 8-component package of upgrades and improvements to the helicopter’s flight management system, including a new integrated digital map and an Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) system upgrade.

Dec 2/10: MH-60R Denmark. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Denmark’s request to buy 12 MH-60Rs, 27 T-700 GE 401C Engines (24 installed and 3 spares), plus communication equipment, support equipment, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, and U.S. government and contractor support.

The estimated cost is up to $2.0 billion, and the prime contractors will be Sikorsky in Stratford, CT; Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY; General Electric in Lynn, MA; and the Raytheon Corporation in Portsmouth, RI. If a contract is signed, implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 10 contractor representatives to Denmark on an intermittent basis over the life of the case to support delivery of the MH-60R helicopters and provide support and equipment familiarization.

That’s an extraordinarily high ceiling price, unless very long term support contracts are also involved. The Romeos seem destined to replace Denmark’s 8 remaining Super Lynx helicopters in various roles, including “homeland defense and protect critical infrastructure.” The Danish Lynx fleet is getting quite old, and 3 helicopters have already been decommissioned.

Oct 14/10: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors in Owego, N.Y received a $10 million firm-fixed-price contract for specialized test equipment required to perform depot-level repairs to the MH-60 common cockpit avionics suite, including artisan training, 2 operator control panels, and 1 universal power supply tester.

Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in January 2013. This contract was not competitively procured, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1 (N68335-11-C-0050).

FY 2010

VERTREP from
T-AOE 6 to CG 72
(click to view full)
Sept 21/10: JMPS. Lockheed Martin announces a $10 million contract to add the Navy/USAF Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) to the MH-60 family by 2012. The firm’s Owego, NY employees will spend 30 months developing a “unique planning component” software module configured to JMPS, which must also contain unique information about the MH-60R and MH-60S, and their mission types. Once the module is delivered, tests will be conducted at Naval Air Weapons Station Point Mugu, CA and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD.

The idea is that missions are planned on a laptop, ten loaded into the Common Cockpit system via a memory card. The software modules will be loaded onto a planning system laptop that allows MH-60 pilots to select preconfigured mission plans, compile weather data, maps, navigational routes, targeting data, and enter their helicopter’s chosen weapons and sensors. The finished mission profile is transferred to a memory card and uploaded to the helicopter. Once airborne, the aircraft’s avionics will know what mission they’re assigned, the intended route and navigation waypoints, the communications frequencies, available weapons and sensors, and other critical information.

July 21/10: Aviation Week Ares reports that future MH-60R helicopters may abandon their current sonobuoy launchers:

“U.S. Navy program manager for H-60, Capt. Dean Peters…. said the aircraft’s Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) worked so well during last year’s deployment of the aircraft there “was not much need for the [sonobuoy] launcher.” The potential exists, he says, to “take out the sonobuoy launcher,” and launch fewer buoys using a different type of launch system. The goal is reduce the amount of cabin space taken up by the launcher…. ALFS provides so much range that it might be wise to have another helicopter prosecute the mission and “have the sonar remain in the dip.”.... We’re evaluating other options to free up space and reduce cost.”
July 9/10: MH-60R Australia? The US DSCA announces [PDF] Australia’s formal request to buy 24 MH-60R Seahawk Multi-Mission Helicopters and related equipment, for up to $2.1 billion.

DSCA requests are not contracts, and in this case, it may not even indicate intent. The MH-60R is competing against the NH90 NFH in Australia, and it isn’t unusual for countries to submit requests during competitions, in order to ensure that the American equipment has full export clearances. Read “MH-60R Wins Australia’s Maritime Helicopter Competition” for full coverage.

June 11/10: Lockheed Martin MS2 in Owego, NY received a $12.7 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0098) for MH-60R/MH-60S common cockpit provisioned items. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in July 2012.

June 8/10: Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors (MS2) in Owego, NY received a $9 million firm-fixed-price delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-09-G-0005) for services in support of the MH-60R Common Data Link (CDL) Hawklink upgrade.

Services to be provided include production support; first article inspection test; generation of engineering change proposals to incorporate CDL Hawklink into the MH-60R; product test verification supporting an MH-60R fleet release; and on-aircraft production validation testing. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in December 2011.

April 28/10: Australia RFP. Australia issues its formal solicitation for “AIR 9000, Phase 8” to buy naval helicopters: either the NH90 NFH or the MH-60R, with a decision expected in 2011. Ministerial release.

April 1/10: The Pentagon releases its April 2010 Selected Acquisitions Report, covering major program changes up to December 2009. The MH-60R is included, because the planned number is going up:

“MH-60R – Program costs increased $2,101.6 million (+17.3%) from $12,139.4 million to $14,241.0 million, due primarily to a quantity increase of 46 helicopters from 254 to 300 helicopters (+$1,385.4 million) and associated schedule, engineering, and estimating allocations* (+$171.6 million), and increases in other support costs and initial spares associated with the quantity increase (+$257.3 million). There was an additional increase due to a revised cost estimate for 23 additional airborne low frequency sonars (+$282.8 million).”
March 23/10: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CoT receives an $18.2 million firm-fixed-price modification to a previously issued delivery order under a basic ordering agreement (N00019-08-G-0010). NAVAIR is buying 36 integrated self defense (ISD) mission kits and 33 weapons kits for the MH-60S.

Work will be performed in Tallassee, AL (76.1%); Coxsackie, NY (17.6%); Wichita, KS (4.3%); Valencia, CA (1%); and at various locations across the U.S. (1%) and is expected to be complete in January 2012. $1,487,432 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

March 15/10: L-3 Communications Corp. in Salt Lake City, UT receives a $37.5 million modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive contract (N00019-09-C-0059), exercising an option related to the Hawklink sub-program.

The Navy will buy 11 AN/SRQ-4 (Ku) radio terminal sets for ship small surface combatants, and 51 AN/ARQ-59 RTS for the MH-60R aircraft, including technical data. These upgraded Ku-band systems will extend existing Hawklink connectivity from small surface combatants to the aircraft carrier, and increase data rates between MH-60Rs and surface combatants. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, UT, and is expected to be complete in March 2013.

Feb 25/10: Australia. Australia formally announces Project AIR 9000 Phase 8, which will be a competition between the MH-60R Seahawk and the NH90-NFH. Australia currently operates S-70 Seahawks as naval helicopters, but it also chose the NH90-TTH to replace its Army Blackhawks. In the end, the MH-60R won.

Jan 19/10: A $600.7 million firm-fixed-price contract, funding Program Year 4 for the US Navy under the current multi-year H-60 contract. The order funds 42 helicopters: 18 MH-60S Seahawks (Lot 12 production), 24 MH-60R Seahawks (Lot 8 production); plus tooling, program systems management, and technical publications.

Work is to be performed in Stratford, CT, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid solicited with one bid received (W5RGZ-08-C-0003).

Jan 6/10: Australia’s Daily Telegraph reports that Australia’s Labor Party government has rejected a DoD request to approve a $4 billion “rapid acquisition” of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, plus related equipment including training weapons, etc. The buy would have been an emergency replacement for the long-running, ill-starred, and canceled SH-2G Super Seasprite program.

Instead, successful lobbying by Eurocopter will force a competition between Sikorsky’s MH-60R, in service with the US Navy, and the European NH90 NFH variant, which is expected to be ready for service some time around 2011-2012.

Dec 30/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego in Owego, NY, which has just been amalgameted with Maritime Systems and Sensors in an internal Lockheed Martin reorganization, received an $82 million firm-fixed-price modification to finalize a previous contract to deliver MH-60 common cockpits for MH-60S Lot 12 and MH-60R Lot 8 production. This modification also provides for long lead materials that need to arrive early, in order to support timely production of MH-60S Lot 13 and MH-60R Lot 9 common cockpit kits.

Work will be performed in Owego, NY (58.8%); Salt Lake City, UT (13.9%); Farmingdale, NY (12.7%); Grand Rapids, MI (4.7%); Woodland Hills, CA (3.7%); Lewisville, TX (2.9%); Windsor Locks, CT (2.2%); Middletown, CT (0.6%); and Butler, NJ (0.5%). Work is expected to be complete in July 2012 (N00019-06-C-0098).

Dec 24/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY received a maximum $68.3 million sole-source firm-fixed-price contract for receiver transmitters and processors. The date of performance completion is December 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency, Philadelphia issued the contract (N00019-06-C-0098).

Dec 23/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY received a $10 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to develop, integrate and test modifications for the audio management computer and embedded GPS/inertial navigation system in the MH-60R and MH-60S common cockpit.

These efforts address electronics obsolescence issues, which are common given an electronics industry whose product lifecycles are 5-7 years, vs. military platforms’ 30-50 years. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be completed in February 2012. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year (N00019-04-C-0028).

Dec 18/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego in Owego, NY receives a $10 million firm-fixed-price delivery order to incorporate Joint Mission Planning Systems v1.2 into MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in July 2012. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/09 (N00019-09-G-0005).

Dec 9/09: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CoT received an $11.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for incorporation of recurring costs associated with Navy MH-60S Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs). ECP 4003 covers night vision device compatible rotor head lights, and ECP 4035 covers active vibration control installation. Work is to be performed at Stratford, CT, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited and one bid received by U.S. Army Contracting Command, AMCOM Contracting Center at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Dec 8/09: Lockheed Martin announces a $14.75 million U.S. Navy contract to integrate the high definition SAU 07000 Ship Air Upgrade interface. This is a digital messaging interface that will improve the MH-60R’s Hawklink communications system to make full use of the Ku band, as opposed to the C-band limitations of current MH-60Rs and SH-60Bs.

Developed jointly by US NAVAIR and NAVSEA, the SAU 07000 interface will be integrated into ship combat systems, including Aegis-equipped ships. SAU 07000-equipped MH-60R aircraft will remain backward compatible with the legacy C-band message interface to support naval ships that have not yet upgraded. See June 12/09 and May 28/08 entries for more contracts and background concerning Hawklink Ku-band improvements.

To date, Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin have delivered 48 MH-60Rs, which are deployed in 4 squadrons. Ku band-capable MH-60Rs are scheduled for deployment as part of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group in 2012.

Nov 23/09: Telephonics, a subsidiary of Griffon, received a $6.9 million contract from Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego to supply test equipment for diagnosis and repair of the MH-60R/S helicopters’ communication systems. The equipment will be delivered to the US Navy’s Fleet Resource Center Southwest, which plans to have the test capability operational in early 2011. The contract also includes training Navy personnel in the repair of the communication systems and operation of the equipment.

Oct 23/09: The Australian reports that the country’s military chiefs have recommended the MH-60R as Australia’s next anti-submarine helicopter, citing it as a cheaper and lower risk solution compared with the NH90 NFH, with better allied interoperability. Australia would be looking to buy 24 helicopters for service by 2014, per its 2009 Defence White Paper.

Read “MH-60R Wins Australia’s Maritime Helicopter Competition” for full coverage.

Oct 4/09: Aviation Week quotes Lockheed Martin VP of rotary wing programs as saying that the MH-60R is in flight trials with India, with Australia, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia also evaluating the Romeo’s capabilities.

FY 2009

MH-60S from USS JFK
(click to view full)
Sept 25/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration – Owego in Owego, NY received a $14.75 million firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-09-G-0005) for non-recurring engineering support to complete the design, development, integration and test of an unspecified MH-60R upgrades. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in April 2012.

Sept 24/09: Raytheon Systems Co. in McKinney, TX received an $11.7 million firm-fixed-price order for multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS) and associated line items in support of the US Navy’s MH-60R/S helicopters. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX and is expected to be complete by February 2011. The order under the existing Basic Ordering Agreement was awarded on a sole source basis by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane in Crane, IN (N00164-06-G-8555).

Sept 24/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, in NY received a $6.4 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0028) for additional MH-60R/S common cockpit components. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in April 2010.

Sept 18/09: Raytheon in McKinney, TX received a $44.3 million firm-fixed-price job order for 62 U.S. Navy H-60 helicopter configuration multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS). The MTS turrets will be installed on U.S. Navy MH-60R and MH-60S models. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be complete by November 2011. The job order was awarded on a sole source basis by the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane IN (N00164-06-G-8555).

Sept 17/09: A $24.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for 2 MH-60S “overseas contingency operation” (supplemental budget funding) aircraft for the US Navy. Work is to be performed in Stratford, CT with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12 (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Sept 15/09: The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division in Crane, IN awards a set of firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts with a maximum value of $14 million, to 6 firms. The firms will compete for delivery orders for various types of MH-60S/R and V-22 gun mount components, along with bore sight kits. Work is expected to be completed by September 2014. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities websites, with 14 proposals being received. Contractors include:

Guardian Technology Group in Crawfordsville, IN (N00164-09-D-JN14)
Northside Machine Company in Dugger, IN (N00164-09-D-JN60);
MCD Machine Inc. in Bloomington, IN (N00164-09-D-JN61)
C&S Machine in Plainville, IN (N00164-09-D-JN62)
Precision Laser Services, Inc. in Fort Wayne, IN (N00164-09-D-JN63)
Colbert Mfg, Co., Inc in Lavergn, TN (N00164-09-D-JN64)
Sept 15/09: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc., DBA Goodrich Fuel and Utility Systems in Vergennes, VT received a $14.7 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0298) for various integrated mechanical diagnostics system kits and parts in support of MH-60R/S helicopters. Work will be performed in Vergennes, VT, and is expected to be complete in December 2010.

Sept 8/09: Lockheed Martin and Terma A/S announce a Memorandum of Understanding to offer the MH-60R to the Danish Government, in the wake of a June 2009 authorization to procure new ship-based helicopters for Royal Danish Navy vessels. Lockheed Martin isn’t the MH-60R’s manufacturer, but they are the systems integrator. Lockheed and Terma have a long history of collaboration on Danish defense projects, including the F-16, C-130 and F-35 programs. Lockheed Martin release.

The MH-60R has yet to receive an export order. Expected Danish competitors include the NH90 NFH ordered by Denmark’s neighbors in Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands. AgustaWestland’s Lynx/Super Lynx helicopters are already in service with Danish vessels, and its AW 159 Future Lynx SMCR is another expected competitor.

July 30/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY received a maximum $25.2 million firm-fixed-price, sole source contract for multi-mode radar and common cockpit system parts.

There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is May 2012. US Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Operations in Philadelphia, PA manage this contract (N00383-06-G-016F-THZ1).

July 22/09: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announces South Korea’s request for a squadron of 8 MH-60S Airborne Mine Counter-Measures systems, at an estimated cost of $1 billion. The specific request includes:

8 MH-60S helicopters with associated Airborne Mine Countermeasure (AMCM) Sensors
16 T700-GE-401C engines
8 AN/AQS-20A Towed Sonar systems
8 AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems (ALMDS)
8 AN/ASQ-235 Airborne Mine Neutralization Systems (AMNS)
8 AN/ALQ-220 Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep Systems (OASIS)
8 AN/AWS-2 Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance Systems (RAMICS cannons)
Plus test and support equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, and other forms of support.
Korea already uses the related H-92 Superhawk as its Presidential helicopter, and H-60 Black Hawk helicopters for VIP transport, utility transport, and search and rescue duties. Implementation of this proposed sale will require temporary travel for U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Republic of Korea for in-country training. The principal contractors will be:

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, CT (MH-60S, incl. GE engines)
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY (AMCM overall)
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Tucson, AZ (AQS-20A, AMNS)
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in McKinney, TX
Northrop Grumman Corporation in Melbourne, FL (ALMDS, RAMICS)
ITT Corporation in Panama City, FL (OASIS)
Concurrent Technologies Corp. for-profit affiliate Enterprise Ventures Corporation in Johnstown, PA.
DID called EVC to ask about this contract, but did not receive a response. EVC’s parent firm is closely linked to Rep. John Murtha [D-PA], and has been a frequent recipient of Congressional earmarks. CTC has also been involved in current and past investigations, as a client of The PMA Group, and for its partial charitable status.

June 19/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY a $13.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for Specialized Test Equipment used to perform depot level repairs to the MH-60 family’s Common Cockpit Avionics Suite: 1 Audio Management Computer, 1 Relay Assembly, 1 Flight Management Computer, 1 Mission Computer, and the Communication Systems Controller testers.

Work will be performed in San Diego, CA (50%); Owego, NY (25%); and Farmingdale, NY (25%), and is expected to be completed in October 2010. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ (N68335-09-C-0149).

June 12/09: L-3 Communications Corp.’s Communications Systems group in West, Salt Lake City, UT received a $59.8 million fixed-price-incentive contract for 9 SRQ-4(Ku) radio terminal sets for ship small surface combatants and 45 ARQ-58 RTSs for the MH-60R aircraft, including technical data. These upgraded Ku-Band systems will extend existing Hawklink connectivity from small surface combatants to the aircraft carrier and increase data rates between MH-60R to surface combatants; see May 28/08 entry for more.

Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, UT, and is expected to be complete in June 2012. This contract was competitively procured under an electronic request for proposals, and 2 offers were received by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD (N00019-09-C-0059).

May 29/09: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT received a $7.9 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for 22 Armed Helo Weapons System Fixed Provision Armament Retrofit Kits. Removable Mission Equipment will includes an Integrated Self Defense Countermeasures Dispensing System, Forward Looking Infrared, Armor, and various weapons. They will be delivered under the existing Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-08-G-0010), and used to retrofit 22 MH-60S Block 2A aircraft to MH-60S Block 3A configuration.

Work will be performed in Stratford, CT (21.8%); Ontario, Calif., (13.1%); Ronkonkoma, NY (11.3%); Milford, CT (8.6%); Tallassee, AL (6.7%); Mineola, NY (5.9%); Wallingford, CT (5.4%); Sylmar, CA (5.3%); Vernon, CT (4.1%); Berlin, CT (3%); Orange, CT (2.7%); Coxsackie, NY (1.7%); Shelton, CT (1.2%); Yaphank, NY (1.1%); Tempe, AZ (1%); and at various locations across the United States (7.1%), and is expected to be complete in December 2011.

April 15/09: Griffon Corp. subsidiary Telephonics announces a $99.3 million follow-on order from Lockheed Martin for AN/APS-147 Multi Mode Radar System and subsystem spares. It appears to be connected to the March 18/09 order, which covers equipment for 30 MH-60Rs from production Lot 7.

See also Aug 15/07, Oct 8/07, and March 18/09 entries. This is part of a multi-year contract covering 139 MH-60R helicopters from 2007 through 2013.

April 6/09: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY received a $7.8 million modification to a previously awarded firm fixed price contract (N00019-04-C-0028) for 18 MH-60S helicopter Mission Computers, and components for MH-60R/S Common Cockpit Trainers. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in April 2010.

March 25/09: Lockheed Martin Integrated Defense Systems in Owego, NY receives a $56.6 million sole-source, firm-fixed-price retirements type long term contract. Lockheed Martin will repair and/or overhaul various weapons replaceable assemblies used to support the HM-60R/S helicopters.

Weapons replaceable assembly (WRA) is a generic term that includes all replaceable packages installed in an aircraft weapons system. A WRA is composed entirely of shop replaceable assemblies (SRAs), and does not include cable mounts, fuse boxes, or circuit breakers.

Work will be performed at Farmingdale, NY (60%); Phoenix, AZ (13%); Clearwater, FL (13%); and Salt Lake City, UT (14%), and work is expected to be complete by March 2014. The Naval Inventory Control Point is managing this contract (N00383-09-D-021F).

March 18/09: Griffon Corp. subsidiary Telephonics announces a $9.5 million order from Lockheed Martin to fund long-lead purchase of subsystem spares for the AN/APS-147 Multi-Mode Radar and its Identification Friend or Foe Interrogator System.

The award covers spares to support the U.S. Navy’s Lot 7 purchase of 30 MH-60R helicopters, for delivery beginning in 2012. The spares are part of a $1.065 billion multi-year contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in July 2007 to integrate the avionics and mission systems onto 139 MH-60R aircraft through 2013. See also April 14/09, Oct 8/07, and Aug 15/07 entries.

Feb 26/09: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT received a $16.5 million firm-fixed price modification, against a previously issued delivery order, under a Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-08-G-0010). That complicated contract structure will buy MH-60S Armed Helicopter Mission Kits: 33 Integrated Self Defense (ISD) Mission Kits, 30 Weapons Kits, and the B-Kit installation hardware.

Work will be performed in Tallassee, AL (76.1%); Coxsackie, NY (17.6%); Wichita, KS (4.3%); Valencia, CA (1%); and at various locations across the United States (1%), and is expected to be complete in April 2012.

Feb 3/09: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT received a $5.7 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity time and material contract (N00019-07-D-0005) for one-time engineering efforts. Work involves the planned retrofit of MH-60S aircraft 1-119, or all helicopters through Block 3A, to improve their capabilities.

Sikorsky will design and develop the retrofit kits; deliver 4 of them for 2 separate validation and verification tests; and prepare and deliver 2 routine action technical directives for the MH-60S Warfighter Operational Safety Improvement Program. Work will be performed in Stratford, CT (84.5%); Coronado, CA (12.2%); and Lexington, KY (3.3%), and is expected to be complete in June 2011.

Dec 24/08: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, CT receives an $85 million firm-fixed-price contract, exercising an option for 6 more MH-60R Helicopters. Work is to be performed in Stratford, CT, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12 (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Dec 23/08: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego in Owego, NY received a $45.1 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price multi-year contract (N00019-06-C-0098) to provide for end-of-life components, FY 2010 long-lead time items and associated efforts required for the production and delivery of Common Cockpit Kits. These kits will be used during MH-60S Lot XII and MH-60R Lot VIII production, in FY 2010. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in December 2009.

Dec 16/08: A $619.9 million firm-fixed-price contract the H-60 VII multi-year contract. The Navy is buying 24 MH-60R helicopters (Lot VII) and 18 MH-60S helicopters (Lot XI), plus tooling; Program Systems Management, and technical Publications.

Work will be performed in Stratford, CT with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/12. Since it’s done under a set multi-year contract, one bid was solicited and one bid was received (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).

Dec 16/08: Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY received a $37.5 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract for 49 common cockpit sets: 18 MH-60S, 30 MH-60R, and 1 MH-60R Trainer set. Work will be performed in Owego, NY, and is expected to be complete in April 2010 (N00019-04-C-0028).

Dec 12/08: Concurrent Technologies Corp. (CTC) in Johnstown, PA received a $10 million ceiling-priced contract to design, build, install and test the Navy MH-60S Helicopter Aircrew Carriage Stream, Tow, and Recovery System Trainer (CSTRS-T).

CSTRS is part of MH-60S AMCM helicopers, and is used to tow and retrieve items like sonars, decoys, and other components of the US Navy’s Organic Airborne Mine Countermeasures (OAMCM) program. Because the MH-60S is considerably smaller than the current MH-53E Sea Dragon, the challenge was to develop a small, modular system capable of accommodating both towed and non-towed sensor systems. CSTRS-T will be located at the Naval Station Norfolk, VA, where it will offer high fidelity simulation of the MH-60S helicopter’s interior for Helicopter Sea Combat Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS) and post-FRS aircrew training. The CSTRS-T will support training for CSTRS winch operators, and refresher training on normal, emergency, and degraded procedures.

Work will be performed in Johnston, PA and is expected to be complete in December 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $9.2 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL (N61339-09-C-0009).

Oct 16/08: A $15.2 million firm-fixed-price order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-08-G-0010) for MH-60S Armed Helicopter Mission Kits, which consist of the Integrated Self Defense Mission Kit (32); Weapons Kit (31); and the B-Kit installation hardware. The ISD Weapons Kit is comprised of the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Mission Kit and the External Weapons System (EWS) Wings Mission Kit.

Work will be performed in Tallassee, AL (76%); Coxsackie, NY (17.5%); Wichita, KS (4%); Valencia, CA (1%); Stratford, CT (7%); Ronkonkoma, NY (2%); and at various locations across the United States (6%) and is expected to be complete in April 2011.


SOURCE: DID[/PDF]