The third and fourth MH-60R “Romeo” helicopters take flight
from the Lockheed Martin facility in Owego, N.Y., to join the Royal
Australian Navy’s (RAN) first pair of helicopters training at
Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida.
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On Jan.
24, the U.S. Navy officially delivered two Romeos to the RAN, marking
a significant milestone for the international alliance between the U.S.
and Australia. The advanced, proven helicopters are currently the cornerstone
of the U.S. Navy’s anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare (ASW/ASuW)
operations, and the RAN will benefit from the next-generation capabilities
with a fleet of 24 Romeos.
“The first time we pack a punch now using the Hellfire missile
that we've never had before,” said RAN Commanding Officer of NUSQN
725, Commander David Frost, at the Jan. 24 delivery ceremony. “It's
been a capability gap that we're now going to be able to fill with this
aircraft. It's an aircraft that's jam-packed with sensors the likes
of which we've never seen and the US Navy are still coming to grips
with. It's an incredible aircraft.”
The entire fleet of 24 aircraft will be delivered to the RAN by 2017. |
