RAN MH-60R First Flight, First of 24

Romeo's first flight


04 Jul 2013

The first of 24 Australian MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters, "01"has successfully completed its first test flight.

Project AIR 9000 Phase 8, the Seahawk Romeo helicopter program, reached a significant milestone on June 26, 2013.
Carrying the tail number N48-001, Australia's first Seahawk Romeo completed its initial test flight at Sikorsky's production facility in Stratford, Connecticut, USA.
The helicopter successfully passed a range of tests during the 1 hour and 20 minute sortie including controllability, engine performance, vibration analysis and navigation. A second sortie later that day completed the 'Contractor Flight Acceptance' phase.
The helicopter will now be fitted with its highly capable mission systems and sensors at Lockheed Martin's facility in Owego, New York.

The first two MH-60R helicopters are scheduled to be handed over to the Royal Australian Navy in December 2013.

Defence (Pic): Note no radar, RAWS etc,...just a airframe

Gordy

Attached Image

Thanks Gordy,

I've updated the N48 MH-60R Seahawk Page to reflect the first flight.

Cheers


BC

(IMG:http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/albums/MH-60R-Seahawk/IMG_6431RCS.jpg)

How good is your eye sight? ,..the Bu No is there too on your pic
168514?
Best
Gordy

Hi Gordy,

The Bu Number is prety close there at 168814.

At the photo's angle, that second "8" does look a bit like a "5".

We have the complete list of Serial, Bu, Production No, Code etc or our N-48 MH-60R Page.

:D

BC

(IMG:http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/albums/MH-60R-Seahawk/IMG_6419RCS.sized.jpg)

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2013 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on July 1, 2013 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of up to 100 MK 54 All-Up-Round Torpedoes and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $83 million.

The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of 100 MK 54 All-Up-Round Torpedoes, 13 MK 54 Exercise Sections, 13 MK 54 Exercise Fuel Tanks, 5 Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes, support and test equipment for Maintenance Facility upgrade to MK 695 Mod 1 capability, spare and repair parts, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
Australia is an important ally in the Western Pacific that contributes significantly to ensuring peace and stability in the region. Australia’s efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations have made a significant impact on regional, political and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests.

Australia will use the MK 54 torpedo on its MH-60R helicopters and intends to use the torpedo on a planned purchase of the P-8A Increment 2 Maritime Patrol and Response aircraft. Australia, which currently has MK 54 torpedoes in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional torpedoes into its armed forces. LM Picture

Here's the latest pic of Romeo one,..all equipped now.



Attached Image

Wot no Hellfire missiles on order.... :angry: :lol:

suspect the fuel tanks are part of the mk54 torpedo and not the auxilary fuel tanks as carried by the helicopters externally

This post has been edited by Grumpy Cobra on Nov 3 2013, 12:14 PM

Actually they are already here, Grumpy...we're using some of the Army ARH stock initially until they sort out the model best for littoral warfare. We could also use the already owned Penguins if we paid for the clearance and mounts.

Imagine using a AGM-142 off one of these, :blink: though the weight could be a problem,.....not the amount of rounds held. Greeks were to buy them at one stage in 2010. Would put a big hole in the sea as well as the ship!!!

We just ordered some 4100 rounds of 155mm LG Round kits for our M777's.

Best
Gordy

RAN Penguins sold to Kiwis as I recall.

Australia’s SH-2G Seasprite Helos: (Mis)Fortune Down Under Apr 21, 2013

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/austra...-project-03338/

This post has been edited by Luig on Nov 4 2013, 09:45 AM

So,..when the contract was cancelled , the Penguins went USA to Kaman with the SH-2Gs?

I don't think so, initially that is, as this was a separate contract with Norway. The RAN still wanted to hang them off the S-70Bs or the later MH-60Rs.

Per details on the MH-60R, the ability to use the AGM-119 (Penguin) is listed.

The MH-60R’s airframe is effectively a clone of the SH- 60B’s but uses new materials that are more corrosion resistant, more reliable and easier to maintain and repair.


Mission Electronic Systems.


• Flight System and Equipment
The “all-glass” cockpit, provided by Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Sensors, has four full colour displays for the flight crew with full integration of selectable data provided using an open architecture, scaleable, COTS equipment, digital processing system. Equipment provided for the flight crew includes:
o Standard aircraft instrumentation
o Dual embedded Litton INS/GPS (N-G)
o Link 16 TADIL, ARC-210 radios for voice , UHF/VHF and satellite communications, with communications management being supplied by Telephonics
o Own sensor video and cues
o C-Band data link for bi-directional streaming of situational data between helicopter and its host ship (Harris)
o Common Programmable Keysets
• Mission Systems for Primary Roles
o AN/APS 147 multimode X-band 360 deg surface search radar with inverse SAR, reportedly capable of periscope and small target detection. (Telephonics).
o AN/AQS-22 Active/Passive LF dipping sonar (ALFS), capable of very deep and shallow water operation. (Rebadged Thales Underwater Systems (TUS) FLASH Folding Light Acoustic Sensor). Raytheon/TUS teamed for this program.
o AN/AAS -44 IR/Laser multi-spectral targeting system (Raytheon)
o 25 Sonobuoys , active, passive, directional, carried externally.
o Organic Airborne Mine Counter Measures (OAMCM). A major capability that controls the following systems:
• Sonar Mine Detection
• Airborne laser mine detection (of shallow floating or moored mines)
• AN/AQS-235 Airborne mine neutralisation of above mines
• Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep of above mines
• Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance Sweep of above mines
• Weapons
o AGM-119 Penguin Anti-ship(AS) missile (2)
o AGM-114 Hellfire 11 AS missile (8)
o Crew-served pintle-mounted machine gun (7.63mm or 0.5 in calibre)
• ASE
o Decision Support System – automatically identifies threats and initiates CM. Reduces crew workload.
o AN/ALQ-201 ESM. Simultaneous Situational Awareness and Threat Warning, 360deg coverage, passive location with AOA
o AN/ALQ-144 IRCM missile threat warner (?)
o AN/ALE-39 Chaff/ Flare dispenser

Does it seems that there is still the requirement to "reach out past 8kms and smack em down" ?

Back to some background: Sept 2013New Zealand is negotiating with Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence Systems to purchase Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 anti-ship missiles from Australia, according to sources.

This follows confirmation by an Australian Department of Defence (DoD) spokesperson to IHS Jane's that the Australian-owned missiles are being marketed for sale, with unspecified conditions, by Kongsberg, the weapon's manufacturer.

"The DoD is aware that New Zealand is exploring options to procure some of the Australian stock," the spokesperson added.
A Kongsberg official told IHS Jane's in London on 12 September that the company hoped to sign a contract for Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 anti-ship missiles for the Royal New Zealand Navy's (RNZN's) new Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters by the end of the year, but did not disclose from where the missiles would be sourced.


Source: http://www.janes.com/article/27425/sources...enguin-missiles


So they seem to be still held in Oz by DOD at that time. There are in excess of 100 rounds (I think 124 <_< )

Best
Gordy