"Delivery
and first flight of an Australian MH-60R aircraft in late June occurred
only two years after contract signature, some six months ahead of the
original schedule approved by the Australian Government in 2011,"
said Captain Scott Lockey, project director at the Defence Materiel
Organisation (DMO), which is procuring 24 MH-60R anti-submarine and
anti-surface warfare helicopters for the Royal Australian Navy. "This
is a magnificent outcome for our program."
During a ceremony July 23 near the Seahawk production line at Sikorsky's
Stratford, Conn., facility to mark the June 29 initial delivery, representatives
of the U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Navy, the DMO and mission systems
integrator Lockheed Martin heard Capt. Lockey speak to Sikorsky's workforce
via video.
"From the technicians on the production floor, to the test pilots
on the flight line, to the senior executives, everyone who has touched
the Australian Romeo program in any way should be proud of the role
you have played," he said.
On July 24, the first Royal Australian Navy MH-60R aircraft arrived
at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Training in Owego, N.Y., for
the second phase of aircraft completion — installation of the
digital cockpit and integrated mission systems and sensors.
Added Capt. Lockey: "The Romeo will be a significant contributor
to maritime security in our region, and will provide the Royal Australian
Navy with the most capable anti-surface and anti-submarine helicopter
available today. I know that the efforts of the U.S. Navy, Sikorsky
and other industry partners will ensure that the Romeo maintains superiority
in its primary roles throughout its life."
Sikorsky has three additional MH-60R aircraft for the Royal Australian
Navy in various stages of assembly at its Seahawk completion line in
Stratford. Those aircraft will be handed over to the U.S. Navy in August
and September 2013 for completion by Lockheed Martin in early 2014.
The DMO is expected to take delivery of all 24 completed MH-60R aircraft
by late 2016 via the U.S. Government's Foreign Military Sales program.
"The efficiencies of a multi-year H-60 helicopter contract with
the U.S. Government, and close collaboration with the U.S. Navy and
Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation, have enabled us to begin
assembling Australia's MH-60R aircraft ahead of schedule," said
Dave Zack, Sikorsky's Director of Maritime Helicopter Programs. "The
men and women of Sikorsky are honored to continue supporting the Australian
Defence Force with advanced capability Seahawk helicopters."
The Australian Defence Force currently operates 16 S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters
acquired in the 1980s. The first Australian MH-60R helicopter is the
168th Romeo model produced by Sikorsky since deliveries to the U.S.
Navy began in 2006. The first Australian Romeo also is the 401st MH-60
Seahawk helicopter delivered to the U.S. Navy since Sikorsky began deliveries
of MH-60S (Sierra) helicopters in 2001.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader
in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies
Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology
products and support services to the aerospace and building systems
industries.
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