NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The Royal Australian Navy formally accepted the first two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from the U.S. Navy in a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Owego, N.Y. facility on Dec. 10.

The Commonwealth of Australia chose the MH-60R Seahawk in June 2011 through foreign military sales (FMS) to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s 16 existing S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters.

"The Seahawk ‘Romeo’ is an evolutionary step forward from the Seahawk 'Classic' it replaces. The Romeo builds on the known and trusted Seahawk air vehicle, incorporating state-of-the-art sensors in an open architecture, integrated mission system. The Romeo is a potent maritime combat helicopter," said Rear Adm. Tony Dalton, who heads the Australian Defence Organisation's Helicopter Systems Division.  "We look forward to sharing in the U.S. Navy's ongoing technology upgrades and continuing to build upon the proven capabilities."

The U.S. Navy answered the Australian Defence Force's requirement for a fleet of 24 new-generation, multi-role naval combat aircraft with the proven MH-60R helicopters.  The entire fleet will be delivered incrementally by the end of 2016.

The MH-60R Seahawk is already operational and deploying as the primary U.S. Navy anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare system for open-ocean and littoral zones.  U.S. naval forces have found the Romeo platform to be an operationally effective and reliable first responder for all missions and contingencies encountered at sea around the world.

"The advanced anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities of the MH-60 Romeo are a game-changer in shifting the advantage from the submarine to the helicopter, which is essential in today's maritime security environment," said Rear Adm. CJ Jaynes, program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs, which oversees the U.S. Navy's H-60 program office.  "We are excited to extend our partnership with the Royal Australian Navy through the delivery of these advanced helicopters."

In addition to the MH-60R helicopter's unmatched capability in its primary mission areas of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, it also has the capability for secondary missions such as search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation, and VHF/UHF/link communication relay.

The U.S. Navy is supported in its MH-60R FMS efforts with the Royal Australian Navy by Team Romeo, which consists of MH-60R airframe manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft, mission systems integrator Lockheed Martin, engine manufacturer GE, sensor supplier Raytheon Corp., and training supplier CAE.

Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin have delivered 165 mission-ready MH-60R helicopters to the U.S. Navy since 2006.  The U.S. Navy is expected to procure a total of 280 MH-60R aircraft by 2017.