Lockheed Martin has received a five-year contract from the U.S. Navy in order to supply over 200 digital cockpits and integrated sensors and mission systems for the Navy MH-60S "Sierra" and MH-60R "Romeo" helicopters. The value of the contract is $1.05 billion.
According to Rear Adm. Paul Grosklags, Vice Commander of U.S. Naval Air Systems, the US Navy troops, who are operating more than 300 MH-60 Sierra and Romeo helicopters in the fleet, understand the importance of these aircraft to protect the ships from undersea and surface threats. This agreement symbolizes the commitment of the Navy to construct and field the sophisticated maritime helicopter fleet worldwide, he added.
This new contract has specifically included built-in sensors, mission systems and 162 cockpits for use in MH-60R "Romeo," which is an anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopter. It has financially supported 62 digital cockpits for completing the Navy's program of record for the Sierra aircraft that is utilized in search and rescue operations, and close-in defense of the Navy ships and resupply cargo from ship-to-ship.
Lockheed Martin's Mission Systems & Sensors business’ VP of aviation systems, Dan Spoor stated that this contract has ensured the on-time and continuous supply of MH-60S and MH-60R helicopter to the Navy fleet from the US.
The digital cockpit is supplied by Lockheed Martin to the MH-60S and MH-60R, and the sensors and mission systems are incorporated on the MH-60R helicopter in New York. Sikorsky Aircraft has specifically designed and built both the aircrafts.