Sikorsky tests completed - Four more to arrive in 2025, completing the Navy purchase.
The first three of seven MH-60R Seahawk (Romeo) helicopters will arrive in Greece within the first few months of 2024, Lockheed Martin announced on Wednesday.
The tests of the integrated mission and sensor systems of the three MH-60R Seahawk (Romeo) helicopters of the Greek Navy have been completed by Sikorsky, as the company announced today.
The statement added that the tests were completed in early December 2023 and validated that each helicopter was ready to perform all of its missions, anti-submarine or surface, operating from both ships and land.
“Commonality of these Hellenic Navy MH-60R Seahawk aircraft with 330 MH-60R and 250 MH-60S Seahawk aircraft, and with the global Black Hawk helicopter fleet, enables Sikorsky and the US Navy to continue sustaining and upgrading this proven weapon system for maximum threat deterrence and operational capability,” Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo said.
Greece is the seventh country to receive the US Navy MH-60R naval helicopter. In Europe, Denmark operates 9 MH-60Rs. In 2023, Spain and Norway ordered a total of 14 MH-60R helicopters.
Greece ordered the MH-60R helicopters in two phases. Four were ordered in July 2020 and three more in April 2021 through an intergovernmental Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US government.
The first three MH-60Rs are expected soon in Greece in early 2024 aboard US Navy transport aircraft.
The remaining four will arrive in 2025, completing the purchase of the Greek Navy.
The Navy's MH-60Rs will join the 11 existing S-70B/B6 Seahawks at the Navy's helicopter base in Kotroni.
Also known as Aegean Hawks, these helicopters were purchased directly from Sikorsky between 1994 and 2005.
Capabilities that Seahawk Helicopters will offer Greece
The MH-60 is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States 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 blades and a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.
Able to deploy aboard any air-capable frigate, destroyer, cruiser, fast combat support ship, expeditionary transfer dock, amphibious assault ship, littoral combat ship or aircraft carrier, the Seahawk can handle anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), naval special warfare (NSW) insertion, search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), vertical replenishment (VERTREP), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
Lockheed Martin’s announcement follows the decision by the US State Department to approve the sale of up to forty F-35 fighter jets and respective equipment to Greece in an $8.6 billion deal.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security of the United States by improving the air capabilities and interoperability of a NATO Ally that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the State Department commented in its respective announcement.
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