At a ceremony recently held at the Owego plant in New York, Lockheed Martin completed the delivery of the 350th MH-60R “Romeo” helicopter to the U.S. Navy. The aircraft was assigned to squadron HSM-41, the unit responsible for training pilots and aircrew for the Pacific Fleet’s aviation component. This new milestone marks the continued progress of the MH-60R production program, a model that since its introduction into service has become one of the cornerstones of U.S. naval aviation.
The Sikorsky MH-60R, derived from the SH-60 Seahawk family, has established itself as the U.S. Navy’s primary anti-submarine and surface warfare (ASW/SUW) platform. Its design combines advanced mission systems, a multimode radar, acoustic sensors, electronic support measures, tactical data links, and the ability to employ a wide range of weapons, including Mk 54 torpedoes and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. This integration provides notable flexibility to perform maritime patrol missions, surface support, and protection of embarked carrier strike groups.
In this regard, Lockheed Martin Vice President of Naval Systems Ali Ruwaih stated that “the delivery of the 350th helicopter represents a significant achievement for the entire Lockheed Martin team and for our partners in the Navy. The MH-60R will continue to be an essential asset in anti-submarine and surface operations, maintaining its relevance over the coming decades thanks to its capacity for evolution and integration of new technologies.”
In recent years, the model has accumulated an extensive operational record across various scenarios. In recent missions, an MH-60R successfully shot down a hostile drone during a patrol in the Gulf of Aden and took part in operations against Houthi vessels in the Red Sea, where it contributed to ensuring the security of maritime routes. It has also participated in multinational exercises such as Resolute Hunter, integrating with surface units from different navies and reaffirming its role in international cooperation in anti-submarine warfare tasks.
Despite its well-recognized performance, last October the U.S. Navy recorded the loss of an MH-60R during the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in the Pacific. In the same operation, an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter also suffered an accident. Both aircraft were recovered weeks later by specialized salvage teams in a joint operation by Task Forces 73 and 75. The wreckage was transported to naval facilities for technical analysis as part of the investigation aimed at determining the causes of the incidents.
With more than one million flight hours accumulated and in service with the navies of Australia, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, India, Greece, and South Korea—soon to be joined by Spain and Norway—the MH-60R maintains its position as one of the most widely used platforms in modern maritime operations. Its continued relevance, beyond technological developments and emerging threats, reflects the endurance of a design lineage that has successfully adapted to the changing needs of contemporary naval warfare.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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