Follow-On $952 Million Order To Develop, Integrate Helo
Systems
Lockheed Martin tells ANN the company recently received $951.7
million from the US Navy to produce and integrate mission systems
for the MH-60R helicopter over five years. This funding, in
combination with two advanced procurement contracts totaling $113.6
million, increases the total value of this multi-year contract to
$1.065 billion.
The multi-year contract provides for Lockheed Martin Systems
Integration of Owego, NY to integrate advanced electronic systems
into 139 multi-mission helicopters through 2013. The advanced
procurement contracts associated with this multi-year were awarded
in May 2006 and January 2006.
"We're extremely proud of our 35 years of service to the US
Navy," said Frank C. Meyer, President of Lockheed Martin Systems
Integration - Owego. "The mission systems on the MH-60R elevate the
US Navy's anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities to a
new level. This is an investment in technology that will bring
benefits to the Navy, its Sailors and our nation for years to
come."
"This multi-year contract allows the US Navy to lock in a price
and configuration for the helicopters that equates to an estimated
12 percent cost reduction compared to buying these integrated
systems over the same period on an annual schedule," said Richard
Holmberg, general manager for Naval Helicopter Programs at Lockheed
Martin.
Lockheed Martin is the prime air weapons systems integrator for
the MH-60R, the US Navy's most advanced submarine hunting and
surface warfare helicopter.
The MH-60R, replacing the Navy's current fleet of SH-60B and
SH-60F Seahawk helicopters, is designed primarily for
anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Secondary missions include
search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire
support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation
and communications and data relay.
Newly-developed mission systems integrated by Lockheed Martin
into the MH-60R combine and significantly improve the mission
capabilities of two currently deployed Navy helicopters. Among the
capabilities in the MH-60R is an acoustic sonar suite that provides
significantly increased range for detecting submarines, and a
multi-mode, long-range search radar that can automatically detect
and track an increased number of surface vessels. Along with
improving the mission systems, Lockheed Martin has also reduced the
time required to install and integrate the equipment.
"We've improved cycle time from six months to four months," said
Holmberg. "That means we're able to get these helicopters into the
fleet faster, and at a lower cost to the taxpayer."
Once integrated by Lockheed Martin, each MH-60R helicopter is
flown to the US Navy's training squadron, HSM-41, at Naval Air
Station North Island, San Diego, CA where pilots and crews learn to
operate the new aircraft. The first MH-60R operational squadron
will be the HSM-71 "Raptors," which stands up in October at North
Island, and makes its first deployment with an aircraft carrier
strike group in 2009.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
See All