Australian Navy MH-60R Romeo fleet marks 50,000 flying hours, 10 years’ service
The Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of MH-60R Romeo helicopters has reached a milestone of 50,000 flying hours and 10 years of service.
The MH-60R has proved a critical asset in the navy’s maritime operations, delivering surface and sub-surface warfare, surveillance, search and rescue, and utility support across a wide range of operational and training environments.
In June 2011, the Australian government gave approval for the navy to build a common fleet of 36 MH-60R maritime helicopters, replacing the S-70B-2 Seahawk.
The Australian Navy said that fleet commonality helps streamline logistics, training, and maintenance enabling the Fleet Air Arm to fly the MH-60R. When not deployed, MH-60R Seahawks operate from the naval air station HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales.
To mark the milestone for Australian Navy aviation and maritime capability, navy personnel gathered at Sikorsky Australia’s facility in Nowra, for a formal presentation and the unveiling of a commemorative artwork by Australian landscape and navy artist John Downton.
Commodore Anthony Savage, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group’s Director-General Naval Aviation, Aircrew Training and Commons said that the milestone would not have been possible without the decade of teamwork, trust and technical excellence between the Royal Australian Navy, United States Navy, the wider Defense enterprise and industry partners.
“Fifty-thousand flying hours is a remarkable achievement shared across the Defence Force,” Savage said.
“It reflects the strength of our partnership with the United States Navy and industry partners Sikorsky Australia, Lockheed Martin, CAE USA/CAE Australia and Asia Pacific Aerospace, and the many companies, large and small, across the MH-60R sustainment enterprise,” he added.
Designed and built to US Navy specifications, the ‘Romeo’ aircraft is rugged, powerful, and reliable. It has the ability to perform combat and maritime support spanning anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, vertical replenishment, passenger and cargo transfer, and search and rescue capability.
The Australian Defence Force currently has 23 MH-60Rs and expects an additional 13 to be delivered under Project SEA9100 by the end of 2026.
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The Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of MH-60R Romeo helicopters has reached a milestone of 50,000 flying hours and…
The post Australian Navy MH-60R Romeo fleet marks 50,000 flying hours, 10 years’ service appeared first on AeroTime.
