Dimensions
Folded Length
12.5m
Folded Height
4.1m
Wheelbase
4.7m
Rotor Diameter
16.4m
Tail Rotor Diameter
3.3m
Take-Off Weight
10,206kg
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Gross Weight
10,170kg
Full specifications
The Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopter is the newest aircraft in the US Navy's fleet. It is replacing SH-60B and SH-60F helicopters and combines the capabilities of these aircraft.
"The Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopter is the newest aircraft in the US Navy's fleet."
The helicopter is equipped for a range of missions including: anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), naval gunfire support (NGFS), surveillance, communications relay, logistics support, personnel transfer and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). For vertical replenishment missions the helicopter is fitted with a 2,721.55kg (6,000lb) cargo hook. Lockheed Martin, Owego, is the mission systems integrator.
The maiden flight of the MH-60R took place in July 2001. The first low-rate initial production (LRIP) helicopters were remanufactured SH-60Bs but following MH-60Rs are all new-build.
The first new production MH-60R helicopter was delivered in August 2005. Operational evaluation (OPEVAL) was completed in October 2005 and full-rate production approved in April 2006.
Production levels are planned to increase to up to 30 helicopters a month. The US Navy expects to operate 252 MH-60R helicopters by 2015.
In October 2007, the US Navy established the first of five MH-60R squadrons, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, San Diego.
In March 2008, the MH-60R conducted first 'at sea' operations from USS Preble (DDG-88) Aegis destroyer. First operational deployment of the helicopter is scheduled for January 2009 with the USS Stennis carrier group.
The helicopter operates from frigates, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious ships and aircraft carriers and is suitable for intense littoral warfare operations for handling numerous contacts in confined spaces, and for open-water operations.
MH-60 cockpit
The MH-60 helicopter is fitted with dual controls and accommodates the pilot and co-pilot / tactical mission officer. The sensor operator station is installed in the cabin.
The MH-60R helicopter shares the same MH-60 multi-function digital glass cockpit as the MH-60S helicopter. The MH-60 common cockpit has been designed and supplied by the Owego Helo Systems division of Lockheed Martin Systems Integration at Owego New York.
The fully integrated glass cockpit is equipped with four 8in × 10in (20.3cm × 25.4cm) full-colour multi-function mission and flight displays that are night-vision goggle compatible and sunlight readable. The pilots and aircrew have common programmable keysets, a mass memory unit, mission and flight management computers and MH-60R dedicated operational software.
The navigation suite includes a Northrop Grumman (Litton) LN-100G dual embedded global positioning system and inertial navigation system. Telephonics Corp. supplies the communication management system.
The helicopter is equipped with a fully digital communications suite, with Link 16, ARC-210 radios for voice, UHF / VHF and satellite communications and a Harris Hawklink Ku-band datalink.
Weapons
For anti-surface warfare missions, the helicopter can be equipped with a range of weapons on the four weapons stations, including Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire anti-surface missiles.
For anti-submarine warfare, the MH-60R can carry up to three ATK mk50 or mk46 active / passive lightweight torpedoes.
For self-defence, a pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun is fitted.
Countermeasures
The helicopter is fitted with a Lockheed Martin AN/ALQ-210 electronic support measures system (ESM). Electronic warfare systems include the ATK AN/AAR-47 missile warner, laser warning system, BAE Systems AN/ALQ-144 infrared jammer and BAE Systems AN/ALE-39 chaff and flare decoy dispenser.
Sensors
For anti-submarine warfare missions the helicopter is equipped with a sonobuoy launcher and a Raytheon AN/AQS-22 advanced airborne low-frequency (ALFS) dipping sonar.
"The US Navy expects to
have 252
MH-60R helicopters in operation by 2015."
The MH-60R is fitted with the Raytheon AN/AAS-44 detecting / tracking system, which includes forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and laser rangefinder.
The helicopter's radar is the Telephonics AN/APS-147 multi-mode radar which has inverse synthetic aperture (ISAR) imaging and periscope and small target detection capability. Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract in July 2008 to develop a new radar system, the automatic radar periscope detection and discrimination (ARPDD) system, to be delivered from 2013.
Survivability
The MH-60R is constructed with tolerance to small arms fire and medium calibre high-explosive projectiles. The flight controls have dual redundancy and ballistically hardened flight controls. The fuel tank is self-sealing. The helicopter is fitted with energy-absorbing landing gear and load-limiting crew seats.
The upper controls and hub are ballistically tolerant and the rotor blades are tolerant against 23mm rounds. The tail rotor has redundant failsafe controls. In the event of a 20/20/10G impact crash the helicopter's high mass components are retained within the frame.
The modular transmission system is fitted with fail safe lubrication. The hydraulics and electrical systems are triple redundant.
Turboshaft engines
The helicopter is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines rated at 1,342kW. The internal self-sealing fuel tanks have a capacity of 2,230l.
An MH-60R helicopter of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Four One (HSM-41) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) during a flight off the coast of San Diego in April 2006.
MH-60R helicopter taxis to its flightline at the Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado Island, San Diego.
Training cockpit in a MH-60R Tactical Operation Flight Trainer (TOFT) simulator at HSM 41.
The MH-60R in flight off the coast of San Diego in April 2005. USS Comstock (LSD 45) can be seen background right.
Naval Air System Command (NAVAIR) MH-60R helicopters conducting Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS) trials at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) near Andros Island, Bahamas.
MH-60R helicopter in Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM 71) being serviced.
MH-60R of the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four Nine
(HSL-49), picks up cargo from USS Ford (FFG 54) frigate during a vertical replenishment with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) carrier.
MH-60R firing Hellfire missile.
