US Navy Accepts 1st MH-60R Helicopters for Royal Danish Air Force

October 22, 2015

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The U.S. Navy accepted the first two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters bound for Denmark at Lockheed Martin’s Owego facility October 22.

Prior to being delivered to the Royal Danish Air Force, the aircraft will be tested to validate unique Danish configuration modifications. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2016, and the full fleet will be delivered by 2018.

"We are excited to accept these aircraft bound for Denmark,” said Rear Adm. CJ Jaynes, program executive officer for air anti-submarine warfare, assault and special mission programs, which oversees the U.S. Navy's H-60 program office.  “The Romeo is the U.S. Navy's primary rotary anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare platform in operation and we’re proud to know these will be flying soon with the Royal Danish Air Force – our first Seahawks in Europe.”

The second U.S. foreign military sales (FMS) procurement for the MH-60R, Denmark is purchasing nine Seahawk helicopters. The first Seahawk FMS case was with Australia.  These partnerships offer many benefits, including interoperability improvement with our allies and coalition partners.  Additionally, FMS provides economic benefits for the DOD by helping to maintain the industrial base and job sustainment.

In addition to its primary mission of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, the MH-60R Seahawk performs search and rescue, troop transport, medical evacuation, ship-to-ship replenishment, and humanitarian relief operations.

The U.S. Navy currently has eight operational carrier air wing squadrons, seven expeditionary squadrons, two fleet replacement squadrons and two test and evaluation squadrons operating the current inventory of 202 MH-60R’s. The U.S. Navy is expected to procure a total of 280 MH-60R aircraft by July 2018.

Source : Naval Air Systems Command