US Navy orders support from Lockheed Martin for MH-60S Seahawk helicopter Block 3 upgrade
An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter lifts off of the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, May 2022. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin McTaggart)
Lockheed Martin will add capabilities to bring Block 1 Seahawk helicopters to the Block 3 armed configuration.
Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems is providing non-recurring engineering for retrofit upgrades of the Block 1 MH-60S Seahawk helicopters operated by the USN.
Under a new $11.63 million order announced on 25 July, Lockheed Martin will add ‘additional capabilities to reach parity with Block 3 aircraft’, the DoD noted.
It added: ‘These efforts include the design and develop of retrofit kits, preparation and delivery of associated technical directives, and validation/verification (Val/Ver) of the installations and instructions.’
Work will be performed in Owego, New York, and is expected to be completed in July 2024.
Block 1 Seahawks are configured for fleet logistics operations such as cargo and passenger transport, while Block 3 entails a tactical moving map display, forward-looking IR system with laser designator, crew-served side 20mm machine guns, dual-sided Hellfire air-to‑surface missiles and defensive electronic countermeasures.
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine]()
Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
-
![Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook]()
Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
-
![Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter]()
Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
-
![Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters]()
Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
-
![DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest]()
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
