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The Royal Australian Navy and industry partner Sikorsky Australia have successfully completed the 50th periodic maintenance interval across the Navy’s fleet of MH-60R Romeo Seahawk helicopters, a major milestone for critical naval capability.
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Delivered on 1 December, the milestone marks a major milestone and reinforces the collaborative partnership between industry and Defence to successfully maintain and sustain the Seahawk fleet.
Commodore Anthony Savage, Director General Navy Aviation, Aircrew Training and Commons, acknowledged the importance of the defence industry in achieving this milestone for the Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk fleet.
“Defence is proud of its longstanding industry partnerships, which are critical to ensuring our important operational capabilities are in top condition for Australian Defence Force warfighters,” CDRE Savage said.
Sikorsky Australia general manager Cliff Kyle reinforced the sentiment of CDRE Savage, saying: “Our 200-plus strong workforce is proud to work alongside the Royal Australia Navy to maintain the Seahawks – we have an incredible partnership. As a team, we are privileged to be entrusted with the responsibility to maintain Australia’s formidable frontline naval aviation warfare asset.”
Sikorsky Australia is the Royal Australian Navy’s industry partner for delivering comprehensive deep-maintenance services and intermediate-level maintenance support for the Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk fleet.
Mr Kyle added: “The conduct of the PMI is a highly specialised activity with the full teardown and inspection of the aircraft being conducted over a six-month period. The goal of the PMI is to ensure the aircraft is delivered back to the Navy in pristine condition to ensure it meets the rigorous requirements of operational service.”
The RAN Romeo helicopters provide an anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capability while also supporting the execution of vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay missions.
The platforms are equipped with advanced combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo.
Australia committed to an expansion of its Romeo fleet in September 2022, when then prime minister Scott Morrison announced an additional 12 helicopters would be acquired under a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement with the US Navy worth over $2.5 billion, with delivery expected between mid-2025 and mid-2026.
Mr Kyle added: “With the Seahawk fleet set to increase from 2025, we are looking forward to expanding support to the Royal Australian Navy and continuing to grow sovereign industrial capability in our platform stewardship role for the MH-60R.”
The helicopters are largely military off-the-shelf built by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin and were acquired through the FMS process from the US Navy. The Navy will have the capacity to provide at least eight warships with a combat helicopter at the same time, including Anzac Class frigates and the Hobart Class air warfare destroyers.
