New helicopters, to maintain effectiveness, need a planned upgrade path - something that the Royal Australian Navy is addressing early. Older aircraft may swap owners, or get a new lease of life where none seemed to exist.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has now found a helicopter in the Sikorsky MH-60 Romeo that it is not only happy with, but wishes to ensure the capability is kept in step with the US Navy and is therefore taking measures for the fleet to be continually upgraded over the next decade.
On 31 August the US State Department’s Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the confirmation of a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) upgrade programme for the RAN’s 24 MH60Rs at an estimated cost of $360 million.
The RAN’s 725 Squadron based at HMAS Albatross, Nowra, New South Wales, is the training unit flying eleven of the MH-60Rs, while operational flying is the responsibility of 816 Squadron whose 17 aircraft primarily operate from the RAN’s Adelaide and Anzac class frigates in the anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare (ASW/ASuW) role. The helicopter’s weapons systems include Raytheon Mk.54 Lightweight Hybrid Torpedo and Lockheed-Martin AGM-114N Hellfire airto-ground missile.
The Australian Government acquired the MH-60R under the $2.34 billion Air 9000 Phase 8 programme with the intent that it be as close to US Navy MH-60Rs as such an FMS contract would allow. Aircrew and maintainers were sent to the US Navy training base, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in Florida for their conversion to type training. The RAN had operated the older Sikorsky S-70B-2 until its newer replacement arrived.
The wide ranging upgrades cover operational capability as well as any advances made to the training regime. This includes Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) for both the aircraft and associated training devices, classified software upgrades for Joint Mission Planning Systems (JMPS/MDLs), engineering and technical assistance (ETA/LTA) as well as other supply and logistical support.
Old to New - Part One
Denne historien er fra November 2017-utgaven av Asian Military Review.
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Denne historien er fra November 2017-utgaven av Asian Military Review.
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SMART MUNITIONS INCREASE MARKET SHARE
Top attack munitions are now widely developed for different artillery calibers with varied ranges.
NEXT GEN NVGS - A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT
Fused and enhanced night-vision technology will make the difference to soldiers fighting at night.
MILITARY ROTORCRAFT DEVELOPMENT - NO MORE ‘STOVEPIPES'
New rotorcraft are going to come with new abilities founded on open systems that provide easier upgrade paths and cheaper through life costs.
INDO PACIFIC UAV DIRECTORY 2021
The development of unmanned aerial vehicles is growing apace, especially in China. New longer range ISR platforms are also on the procurement list of several nations.
TIME TO RESET TRILATERAL RELATIONS
United States President Joe Biden has made it a top priority of his Administration to repair and re-energize global alliances during its first year in power. This is a necessary strategic and political calculus made in light of growing global security, public health, and environmental challenges that will require cooperation and multilateral contributions. President Trump’s ‘America first’ policy did much to undermine confidence in such relationships over his time in office.
SOCPAC KEEN TO SHARE JOINT DOCTRINE AND TRAINING
The return of Great Power competition means that US SOCPAC is more than ever seeking joint training opportunities with regional special forces.
MARINE ENGINE POWER - NOT JUST ABOUT KNOTS
Navies not only want more engine power, there are also coming under increasing pressure to become environmentally conscious.
AMPHIBIOUS FORCES
New amphibious concepts are re-shaping marine forces to break the A2AD defensive line.
SPACE V AIRBORNE ISR OR MIX AND MATCH
Owning satellite based ISR for military use is still an exclusive ‘club’, but airborne ISR still provides that most countries need.
SHIPBUILDING - A NUMBERS GAME
While experience grows among Indo-Pacific naval designers, order numbers remain crucial to keeping costs down and yards in business.
