Lockheed Martin to provide avionics cockpits for Saudi Arabian MH-60R military helicopters

Helicopter avionics experts at Lockheed Martin Corp. will provide cockpit avionics for 10 MH-60R Seahawk multimission military helicopters under terms of a $117.2 million contract modification.

Officials of the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training segment in Owego, N.Y., to build and deliver 10 MH-60R mission avionics systems and common cockpits for the government of Saudi Arabia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

The MH-60R, also operated by the U.S. Navy, is the latest version of the Sikorsky Seahawk. It is based on the U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter, as well as on a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The multimission helicopter has sophisticated sensors, and is designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, operating from frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers.

Its avionics include the Enhanced Advanced Flight Control System with naval modules and coupled hover capability, as well as four our 8-by-10-inch color multifunction mission displays that are sunlight readable and night-vision device capable. The MH-60R cockpit has secure VHF/UHF communications; an inertial navigation system; satellite communications; data link; and accommodation for forward-looking infrared sensors and night-vision goggles. The MH-60R uses many sensors, including the ASE package, MTS-FLIR, the AN/APS-147 multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, an advanced airborne fleet data link, and an airborne active sonar. The helicopter includes instrumentation based on the MH-60S glass cockpit, and uses digital monitors instead of an array of gauges and dials.

Lockheed Martin will do the work in multiple U.S. locations and Ciudad Real, Spain, and should be finished by April 2019.

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training online at www.lockheedmartin.com/us/mst.