Aussie Seahawk starts LHD trials
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has begun flight trials of the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter off the coast of Queensland.
The trials, involving the Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel HMAS Adelaide, will ascertain safe operating limits for the MH-60R in various sea states and wind speeds, by day and at night.
Capt Jonathan Ley, commanding officer of HMAS Adelaide, said: ‘The results will provide a new standard of operational capability, informing how navy can employ the MH-60R and LHD together in the future to increase both lethality in combat, and responsiveness during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief tasks.’
The MH-60R is regarded by the RAN as its next-generation ASW and ASuW helicopter. Some 24 of these helicopters are in service.
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