Sikorsky Completes Flight Testing of First Greek MH-60R Seahawks
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, announced on February 7 that the first three of seven MH-60R Seahawk (Romeo) helicopters ordered by the Hellenic Navy have completed integrated mission systems and sensor testing in early December 2023. According to the company, these tests confirmed that each MH-60R aircraft is an efficient and effective air weapon system capable of carrying out anti-submarine and surface warfare missions from land or sea vehicles.
“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 U.S. Navy to continue sustaining and upgrading this proven weapon system for maximum threat deterrence and operational capability,” said Sikorsky President Paul Lemmo.
In 2019, Greece first requested to purchase seven MH-60R Seahawk Multi-Mission Helicopters with an estimated value of $600 million from the US government through Foreign Military Sales. In addition to helicopters, the request from the Athens government includes a number of additional equipment, such as: APS-153 (V) Multi-Mode Radar (7 installed, 3 spares), T700 GE-401 C Engine (14 installed, 4 spares), Airborne Low Frequency System (ALFS) (7 units), AN/AAS-44C(V) multispectral targeting system (7 installed, 3 spares), Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (14 installed, 4 spares), 1,000 AN/SSQ-36/53/62 sonobuoys, AGM-114 M36-E9 Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM) (2 units), AGM-114Q Hellfire Training Missile (4 units), APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System) laser guided rockets (100 units), MK 54 torpedoes (30 units), 7.62x51mm M240 machine gun (12 units), 12.7x99mm GAU-21 machine gun (12 units), AN/AVS-9 night vision devices (24 units), AN/ARC-210 RT-1990A radios with communications security (14 installed and 4 spares), AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system (8 installed and 2 spares).
Following approval by the US State Department and Congress, the US Department of Defense signed two separate contracts with Lockheed Martin for Greece in July 2020 for four helicopters and three in April 2021. The company will transfer the first three helicopters, which have completed integrated mission system and sensor tests, to the US Navy for delivery to Greece in 2024. Delivery of the remaining four aircraft will be completed in 2025.
These new helicopters will be assigned to the 2nd Helicopter Squadron of the Greek Naval Helicopter Command, which is stationed at Kotroni Naval Air Station. This fleet currently operates 11 S-70B SEAHAWK helicopters, which Greece purchased directly from Sikorsky between 1994 and 2005.