Lockheed Martin to Modify Three MH-60R helicopters to India Configuration

Lockheed Martin is awarded an $18.1 million (INR 135.5 crore) U.S. government contract to modify three Lot 14 MH-60R helicopters to the initial India configuration in support of the MH-60R modification program for the government of India.

Work will be performed in Owego, New York (95%); and Stratford, Connecticut (5%), and is expected to be completed by March 2022, a Pentagon release said Tuesday.

In March 2020, the US Federal contracting website, beta.sam.gov, had issued a notice that it will contract Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (LM RMS) for the modification. “The Government is procuring the work required to be performed by Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (LM RMS) located in Owego, NY to develop, integrate and install an India MH-60R System Configuration (SC) C18-03.x on Lot 14 USN [U.S. Navy] Government Furnished aircraft.  This will include modification of an existing Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) MH-60R SC18-03 baseline and will create an Initial India baseline,” the notice read.

India has signed a contract with the U.S. government to procure 24 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ maritime multi-mission helicopters for the Navy. The $2.6 billion (INR 18,608 crore) deal was signed on February 25, 2020 on the sidelines of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to India.

The Indian Navy will receive three new (undelivered) MH-60R helicopters formerly meant for the U.S. Navy by the end of 2020.

On May 14, the company won $904.8 million to deliver 21 of these helicopters to India and three for the U.S. Navy. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $791.7 million were obligated at time of award which is the value of the Indian contract.

Each helicopter will cost about $100-109 million (around INR 760 crore) which includes accessories, spare parts, tech support and the cost of establishing maintenance facilities for the new type of helicopter.

Built by Lockheed Martin, this helicopter is a naval version of Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant modifications are the folding main rotor and a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.

The MH-60R is capable of being deployed aboard any air-capable frigate, destroyer, cruiser, fast combat support ship, amphibious assault ship, or aircraft carrier. The Seahawk can handle anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), naval special warfare (NSW) insertion, search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR), vertical replenishment (VERTREP), and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).