U.S. Navy Advances MH-60 Sea Hawk Modernisation With Industry Partners

Navy Advances MH-60 Sea Hawk Modernisation With Industry Partners

Image: Navy Seaman Tomas Zuelke via U.S. DoW

The U.S. Navy has named the industry performers set to begin Phase 1 of a statement of work collaboration for its MH-60 Sea Hawk tailorable open systems architecture prototype project, as per a recent press statement.

Joint Modernisation Effort

The H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopter programme office leads the initiative alongside the Royal Australian Navy. The project will modernise MH-60 avionics and mission system architecture while resolving obsolescence issues across the fleet. Officials designed the effort to deliver a cost-effective platform that adapts quickly to emerging threats and supports MH-60 sustainment through 2050.

Industry Roles Confirmed

Using an other transaction authority agreement through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, the government identified partners across three roles. Sierra Nevada Corp will design physical and structural integration for the MH-60S variant. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems takes on the same task for the MH-60R variant.

Rockwell Collins Inc. and Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems will serve as segment lead integrators, handling hardware and software architecture, interface management, and system-level integration for the flight critical avionics segment and digital backbone system. Technology Security Associates Inc. will support the government’s assessment of how integrators implement a modular open systems approach, including open system verification demonstrations.

Next Steps

These identifications do not constitute formal contract awards, which depend on successful negotiation of Phase 1 statements of work. Phase 1 covers preliminary design, digital engineering environment setup, and baseline aircraft characterisation. Phase 2 will focus on prototype development and verification.

The MH-60R conducts antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and command and control missions. The MH-60S handles antisurface warfare, combat search and rescue, special warfare support, and airborne mine countermeasures.

Learn more on The U.S. DoW website

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