The MH-60 Sierra Armed Helicopter Weapons System (AHWS) was previewed in a ceremony at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md. Capt. Paul Grosklags, PMA-299 program manager, hosted the Dec. 8 event to give naval aviation leadership its first glimpse of the system hardware.

“What you see behind me is a real aircraft with real hardware; no PowerPoint slides, no shapes, no mass models, no empty black boxes, it’s the real stuff,” said Grosklags. “I can tell you the fleet is ready for the capability represented by this aircraft now. This is all they want to talk about.”

The MH-60S helicopter is a multi-mission platform the Navy will use to replace the HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. Representing the third block of spiral development for the U.S. Navy's MH-60S program, the Armed Helo will provide future expeditionary strike group commanders with robust capability in the areas of organic combat search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, surface warfare and carrier plane guard/SAR.

“This is a risk reduction test configuration – critical to keeping the program on schedule - a win-win for the fleet while driving costs down,” said Grosklags.

Weapon capabilities include eight hellfire missiles, carried on external weapon system wings and the AN/AAS-44C forward looking infrared system. Additionally, the mission kit will give the crew capability to fire FN-Herstal’s laser-sighted 7.62 mm guns from the port and starboard cabin windows and laser-sighted GAU-21, 0.50 caliber guns from the port and starboard cabin doors.

The MH-60S AHWS adapts key features of the MH-60R helicopter, including the Integrated Self Defense suite, which consists of the APR-39(A)V2 Radar Warning System, AAR-47V2 Missile Warning System, ALQ-144V6 Infrared Counter Measure System, and the ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Set.

Floor armor, developed by Ballistic Protective Systems, combined with this combat proven combination ensures a high level of survivability across a wide spectrum of threat environments.

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two One (HX-21) Patuxent River, Md., will perform captive carriage and jettison testing for hellfire missiles as well as evaluate the integration of a commercial-off-the-shelf digital map system and a digital video recorder based video recording system, both developed by Vertical-Flight, Systems, Test, Analysis and Research.

The mission computer and software, provided by Lockheed Martin System Integration, will bring all capabilities together as an integrated system. The MH-60S AHWS mission computer will be identical to that of the MH-60R, further reducing integration time and program costs.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation will install the first two AHWS mission kits. The MH-60S AHWS will complete a rigorous test program until summer of 2006 and achieve initial operational capability in the fall of 2006.

“We must bring this Armed Helo effort in on schedule, otherwise I will be explaining why not, to a very disappointed fleet customer who is counting on this capability,” stated Grosklags.

One hundred twenty-six armed helicopter systems will be provided to the fleet.

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Capt. Paul Grosklags, PMA-299 program manager, hosted the Dec. 8 MH-60 Sierra Armed Helicopter Weapons System preview event.

The MH-60S helicopter in the Armed Helo configuration will provide future expeditionary strike group commanders with capability in the areas of organic combat search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, surface warfare and carrier plane guard/SAR.