Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, is awarded a $904,800,000 modification (P00011) to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-19-C-0013. This modification provides for the production and delivery of three MH-60R Seahawk maritime aircraft for the U.S. Navy and 21 MH-60Rs for the government of India and is expected to be complete by September 2024. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement funds in the amount of $113,100,000 and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $791,700,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
In August 2018, India’s Defence Ministry approved the purchase of 24 MH-60R helicopters to replace their fleet of Westland Sea Kings. In April 2019, US approved sale of 24 anti-submarine hunter helicopters to India including spare parts for US$2.6 bn. In February 2020, India became the latest country to add 24 MH-60Rs to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions. This agreement builds on an existing 30-year relationship between Lockheed Martin and the Indian armed forces. Lockheed Martin’s presence in India includes industrial involvement and programs like the S-92, C-130 and F-21.
Sikorsky declines to say what weapons and subsystems the Indian Navy’s MH-60Rs would have. However, the manufacturer says the equipment would enable anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, as well as special operations, search and rescue, utility, vertical replenishment, and command and control missions. The DSCA package includes the 24 helicopters as well as weapons, sensors, support equipment, and services that are consistent with a high-end ASW and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capability. Weapons include AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) rockets, Mk54 torpedoes, and two-types of crew served guns.
The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission U.S. Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant modifications are the folding main rotor and a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships. The U.S. Navy uses the H-60 airframe under the model designations SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, MH-60R, and MH-60S. The main operator of the MH-60R helicopter is the USN, which has 289 examples in its fleet. The Royal Danish Navy, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces fly the aircraft as well.
