Multi Role Helicopters (MRH) to be inducted into Indian Navy

[kstriya]

Check out this

The requirement for MRH is 123 helicopters.
Out of that the Indian Navy has purchased 24 MH-60R.
What are your thoughts on the rest of the order?
Which helicopter would the Navy go with?

This should give you some idea

 

[Rikbo88]

Thank you for clarification. I do not think comparing a mature but obsolete systems of S-70b with a new system with cutting edge technology is useful. That’s very akin to saying F-35 is worse than F-16 because of technical difficulties.

MH-60R is basically an upgrade of HH-60/S-70, not a clean sheet design.

SH-60F (S-70b) had its mission systems designed by IBM of Owego (not Sikorsky) that was later taken over by Lockheed. So Sikorsky was never the mission system specialist.

Yes, MH-60R has had issues with its MTS tracker, Mk-54 torpedo integration with weapon control system and classified issues with ARPDD. But none of these can take away the exceptional capacity of the newer systems, the data links, glass cockpit with night vision, ability to launch Mk54 torpedos and most importantly- full interoperability with USN assets with a click of a button.

It seems that you have an emotional connection with Sikorsky product and for a good reason. I understand. Lockheed project management can be a disaster. Also, S-70 (SH-60) was a powerful, reliable and very successful model.

But the bottom line is that no country today will buy an old system. Australians, Koreans and Saudis are all moving to new MH-60R, despite welknown teething problems. All good things come to an end. Will read your articles soon. Thank you

You again are misinformed and not understanding the S-70B. The latest generation, the -7, is an all glass cockpit design with a federated architecture consisting of Flight Management, Mission Management, Weapons Management computing resources and an Automated Flight Control System. The SH-60 is not the S70B. And yes, Sikorsky, in conjunction with Rockwell Collins whose hardware we utilized and partnered with for systems and software development, integrated and fielded this state of the art cockpit. And yes, I do have an emotional and professional attachment to that aircraft since I spent a large part of my career on the S70B and predecessor naval aircraft. At the time of my retirement in 2012, it was as good and in my opinion, better, than any other ASW/ ASuW helicopter currently fielded. I suggest you go educate yourself on the Sikorsky naval hawk line so you can speak in a more informed manner.

 

[Rikbo88]

Actually Indian Navy is getting the Norwegian Naval Strike Missile(NSM) along with the 24 MH-60R it has ordered.
Don't know the exact quantity.
India will then be the first country to operate the NSM on a rotary platform.

Thats awesome. Kongsberg is an excellent company that puts out a great product. If I could offer one piece of advice to the IN it would be to be sure they buy an NSM simulator for their lab integration. When Sikorsky integrated the Penguin onto the S70B they bought a Penguin Missile Simulator so Sikorsky could have a representative system to integrate with in their integration lab. It was an invaluable resource when developing the mission software to integrate with the Penguin. Kongsberg did an excellent job in designing and building it.

 

[Wisemarko]

You again are misinformed and not understanding the S-70B. The latest generation, the -7, is an all glass cockpit design with a federated architecture consisting of Flight Management, Mission Management, Weapons Management computing resources and an Automated Flight Control System. The SH-60 is not the S70B. And yes, Sikorsky, in conjunction with Rockwell Collins whose hardware we utilized and partnered with for systems and software development, integrated and fielded this state of the art cockpit. And yes, I do have an emotional and professional attachment to that aircraft since I spent a large part of my career on the S70B and predecessor naval aircraft. At the time of my retirement in 2012, it was as good and in my opinion, better, than any other ASW/ ASuW helicopter currently fielded. I suggest you go educate yourself on the Sikorsky naval hawk line so you can speak in a more informed manner.

I think need here is for you to stop comparing 2012 technology that is out of production and outdated with a product that is going to be indicted in 2024! You are serious?! You want customer to buy 2012 version? Just because you worked on it?! Damn.

Yes, windows XP was great, I loved it too but not using it and definitely will not be installing it on a computer I buy next year.
(I am sure I will find someone who would say XP is still the best Windows OS.)

Living in the past is detrimental. Move on. It seems they didn’t treat you well at LM.

I am very familiar with USN equipment so next time refrain from questioning my knowledge and ponder more on your predicament.

 

[Rikbo88]

I think need here is for you to stop comparing 2012 technology that is out of production and outdated with a product that is going to be indicted in 2024! You are serious?! You want customer to buy 2012 version? Just because you worked on it?! Damn.

Yes, windows XP was great, I loved it too but not using it and definitely will not be installing it on a computer I buy next year.
(I am sure I will find someone who would say XP is still the best Windows OS.)

Living in the past is detrimental. Move on. It seems they didn’t treat you well at LM.

I am very familiar with USN equipment so next time refrain from questioning my knowledge and ponder more on your predicament.

You still don’t get it. The 60R cockpit is the same as was fielded back in 2012 and the 70B cockpit was still significantly superior. Yes, the 70B is no longer produced, but it is still in service with the Turkish Navy and Singapore Navy. And, yes after 8 years there would be obsolescence issues to deal with. Doesn’t change the fact that a federated architecture is better choice for international customers who will need to modify the avionics and mission systems they buy to meet their own unique needs. Do you even know the difference between a federated architecture and a centralized architecture? How you come to the conclusion that I want someone to buy the 70B product just because I worked on it shows how really stupid you are. I have 28 years of experience in avionics and mission system/software development and integration. 33 years if you include my work on the Boeing 757/767 flight management system. What have you got? I will waste no more time on someone who does not know what they are talking about.

 

[WolfPack86]

#IndianNavy MH-60R will come with an excellent weapon package. 1) AGM-114 Hellfire 2) Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) rockets 3) MK 54 torpedoes 4) M-240D Crew Served guns 5) GAU-21 Crew Served guns And in future, possible 6) Naval Strike Missiles

 

[WolfPack86]

US to deliver sub-hunting helicopters early next year
Ajay Banerjee


Tribune News Service


New Delhi, July 27


The delivery of US-made submarine hunting helicopter, MH 60-R, will commence early next year. The deal for 24 copters was announced in February. These will form the front-end of tracking the growing presence of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean.



William L Blair, Vice-President and Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India, told The Tribune, “The sale is under the foreign military sales route. The US is working to accelerate the delivery timing. We will be able to do it and intend to start deliveries early next year.”


On being asked whether India has an urgency to get the copters due to the ongoing tension with China and resultant pressure in the Indian Ocean, Blair said, “I share the same sense of urgency. The contract was signed in February. This will be a record speed for delivery.”


US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a joint press conference this year to announce the copter deal.


Militarily, an anti-submarine warfare-capable helicopter like MH 60-R, with its sea-dunking sonars, is a preferred platform for detecting a submarine. The Indian requirements comprise spare engines, specific missiles and Mk-54 torpedoes among others.

Blair added that his company was looking to move the wing assembly of its famous F-16 fighter jets to Hyderabad. “We have started tooling (at the plant) and later this year we should be on track,” he added.


On progress, Kurt Knust, who heads the F-21 fighter jet programme for Lockheed Martin, said, “We have done desktop analysis on 400 companies and on-ground analysis with 200 companies.” The F-21, a single-engine jet, is in the race for the 114 jet tender of the IAF.

US to deliver sub-hunting helicopters early next year

The delivery of US-made submarine hunting helicopter, MH 60-R, will commence early next year. The deal for 24 copters was announced in February. These will form the front-end of tracking the growing presence of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean.

www.tribuneindia.com

 

[WolfPack86]

Helicopter Romeo | US Deal | Rafale | Indian Navy

 

[WolfPack86]

Lockheed to supply low frequency sonars for Danish and Indian MH-60R Seahawks helicopter

Lockheed Martin has won a $181.7 million to produce and deliver 39 AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonars (ALFS) to the USN and FMS customers, for integration into MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters. Under a $181.74 million contract modification from Naval Air Systems Command, announced on 4 August, 24 sonar systems will be provided to India and 7 ALFS to Denmark, in addition to 8 ALFS for the US Navy, into MH-60R Seahawk aircraft, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement today. India is buying a total of 24 helicopters under a $2.1 billion deal confirmed by the country in February this year. For the record, the Indian Navy MH-60R weapons package is expected to include Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile in its helicopter launched variant (known as NSM-HL). The contract award comes after the government of Denmark announced in April this year it had ordered torpedoes, ALFS and sonobuoys for its nine MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. All work under the contract is expected to be completed by December 2024. About the AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar : The AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS) is the primary undersea warfare (USW) sensor of the MH-60R multi-mission helicopter. This integrated dipping sonar system enables the MH-60R to accomplish the assigned ASW missions of submarine detection, tracking, localization and classification. It also performs missions relating to acoustic intercept, underwater communications and environmental data acquisition. The AN/AQS-22 is the only in-service dipping sonar with the multi-frequency operation. This capability enables the AN/AQS-22 to adapt its performance to varying environmental conditions. With a rapid search rate, the AN/AQS-22 identifies and neutralizes threats sooner, enabling it to cover a larger area. The AN/AQS-22 also permits a longer detection range over a wider area, reducing the number of helicopters required to perform active anti-submarine warfare (ASW) screening. About the MH-R helicopters: The MH-60Rs are in service with the navies of the United States, Australia and Denmark, and are used to perform search and rescue, troop transport, medical evacuation, ship-to-ship replenishment, and humanitarian relief operations, in addition to their primary mission of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. The U..S Navy is the main operator of the MH-60R with 289 units in its fleet. It is the primary anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare helicopter in the fleet. The MH-60R combines the features of the SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft. Its sensors package includes an MTS-FLIR, the AN/APS-147 multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, an advanced airborne fleet data link, and a more advanced airborne active Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS). Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of new Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

Lockheed to supply low frequency sonars for Danish and Indian MH-60R Seahawks helicopter

Lockheed Martin has won a $181.7 million to produce and deliver 39 AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonars (ALFS) to the USN and FMS customers, for integration into MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters. Under a $181.74 million contract modification from Naval Air Systems Command, announced...

www.defencenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Lockheed Martin to deepen offset engagement in India
Lockheed Martin is pursuing plans to expand offset-related engagement with Indian industry, the US corporation has said. The effort was highlighted at the company’s seventh annual suppliers’ conference in New Delhi, which was held for five days from late July.

Lockheed Martin said in a statement on 6 August that more than 200 Indian companies of all sizes participated in the event, which was co-hosted with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

During the conference, Lockheed Martin said it shared “new partnership opportunities” with Indian industry and that a “highlight” of these is future defence-offset work linked to the sale of 24 Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R multirole naval helicopters for the Indian Navy (IN).

The governments of India and the United States signed a deal – worth USD2.6 billion – for the sale of these helicopters through the US Foreign Military Sales mechanism in February 2020.

Lockheed Martin said, “There is an offset requirement for the [MH-60] programme, and so as part of that Lockheed Martin will put more indirect work over in India. The Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) team will work with capable Indian companies over the next seven [to] eight years and provide opportunities to the industry to integrate into the global supply chain”.

Lockheed Martin to deepen offset engagement in India

Lockheed Martin is pursuing plans to expand offset-related engagement with Indian industry, the US corporation has said. The effort was highlighted at the company’s...

www.janes.com

 

[Rikbo88]

It will be interesting to see how India likes the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route that this contract is executing under. My observation with involving the USN in these contracts has pros and cons. It adds another level of expense and and can cause delays due to the bureaucracy that is added. In my days with the S-70B those foreign contracts were direct commercial sales where the customer dealt directly with Sikorsky. Much easier and less delays in my opinion. But the customer has a lot more involvement during the contract. Some customers prefer not to get into the details of day to day contract execution. On the positive side, the USN will act to insure India has all the latest upgrades and fixes for their 60Rs. I personally don’t have a high opinion of FMS sales as I have seen where the value added by having the USN act to manage the contract is not worth the added cost.

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Defence Updates : MER On Super Sukhoi,3 MH-60R Delivery,Italy Make In India,Malabar Phase-II

 

[WolfPack86]

Romeo helicopter for Indian navy.

 

[WolfPack86]

First look at the
@IndianNavy
's first MH-60 Romeo, nicely timed with #NavyDay. This is among 3 airframes diverted from
@Sikorsky
's US Navy production lot. Our piece on what the Indian Romeos come armed with:

 

[WolfPack86]

First look at the
@IndianNavy
's first MH-60 Romeo, nicely timed with #NavyDay. This is among 3 airframes diverted from
@Sikorsky
's US Navy production lot. Our piece on what the Indian Romeos come armed with:

 

[WolfPack86]

Romeo helicopter for Indian navy

 

[Gessler]

@Rikbo88

How much space would be left in the 60R's passenger cabin once all Operator Work stations (for sonar etc) are accounted for? And is the sonobuoy launcher removable?

I'm asking because I'm wondering if the 60R can also be used for SOF missions or Search & Rescue. I understand its the MH-60S version which is usually used for those roles in the USN, but wondering if the 60R can be repurposed as per mission needs to serve at least part of the capability set that 60S would provide. It's already got the hook-point where the rope would be attached so its a matter of internal space I reckon.

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Navy pilots to train on Anti-submarine helicopters in the US; MH-60R Seahawks to arrive soon
Soon a team of Indian Navy pilots and ground staff will leave for the US to be trained for the new helicopters the navy is expected to receive later this year. The Indian Navy is expected to receive the first batch of MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters from the US-based Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin later this year. Sources have told the Financial Express Online that, “A letter has been received from the US based company inviting the pilots and ground staff for training. The number of pilots and the ground crew has yet to be decided. The training was to take place last year. However, due to the global pandemic of Coronavirus and the subsequent shutdown delayed this process.

“Now, as the world is opening up gradually, the training process will start,” the sources added.

When are the MH-60R Seahawk helicopters arriving?


The first three out 24 MH-60R Seahawks are expected to be delivered between June – September, 2021. Will these be handed over to the Indian Embassy in the US and used for training of the pilots, is being worked out.

Sources who are familiar with the process confirmed “Some of these helicopters will be used for training before they fly to India. The original timeline for the delivery is expected to be followed.”

The whole process had to be put on hold due to the global shut down. The deal was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last year in February before the former US President Donald Trump’s visit to India.

This deal for 24 helicopters is through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for approximately $ 2.6 billion and is expected to help the Indian Navy to play a critical role in the Indian Ocean.

More about MH-60Rs `Romeos’ Helicopters

These are fourth-generation MH-60Rs `Romeos’ helicopters which the Indian Navy will get.

They will come loaded with torpedoes and missiles. These missiles can be used in anti-submarine roles. Though there is still no clarity on the off-sets, according to sources, there is a 30 per cent offset clause as well.

The package for India includes training, spares and air-to-ground weapons and support.

From the time the contract will be signed, in five years the delivery of 24 machines will be completed.

These machines which are going to replace the British Sea King helicopters received government approval in 2018 by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). As has been reported earlier, through a competitive process earlier 16 helicopters were to be procured and there was an optional clause for eight more. However that fell through and the deal was cancelled over the pricing and other issues.

Later a fresh tender was floated for 24 MH-60R helicopters. And, this was processed through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.

Eye in the Sky

Combined with the P8-I which the Indian Navy is already operating, the Indian Navy’s submarine hunting will grow stronger when combined with these helicopters and the Sea Guardian Drones which are also being operated by the navy.

Modifications

The first three helicopters which India will receive is going to be modified to the initial Indian configuration by the US based Lockheed Martin Company. According to an earlier statement which was issued by the Pentagon, the modification work will be carried out in Owego, New York; and Stratford, Connecticut, based facilities.

India will receive three new (undelivered) MH-60R helicopters which were meant for the US Navy and Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (LM RMS) will integrate and install an India MH-60R System Configuration USN Government Furnished aircraft.

The helicopter is a naval version of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family and the most significant modifications include the folding main rotor. And the modification will also include a hinged tail, this will reduce the footprint aboard ships.

These can handle not only anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW) operations, but they have the capability of being used in naval special warfare (NSW) insertion, vertical replenishment (VERTREP), search and rescue (SAR), as well as combat search and rescue (CSAR), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).

Indian Navy pilots to train on Anti-submarine helicopters in the US; MH-60R Seahawks to arrive soon

Soon a team of Indian Navy pilots and ground staff will leave for the US to be trained for the new helicopters the navy is expected to receive later this year. The Indian Navy is expected to receive the first batch of MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters from the US-based Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin...

www.defencenews.in

 

[Gessler]

 

[Gessler]

First 2 airframes (ex-USN) handed over