Australia Seeks 12 MH-60R Maritime Helicopters Worth $985M

Australia wants to buy a dozen MH-60R maritime helicopters built by U.S. company Lockheed Martin and valued nearly $1 billion.

On October 8, the U.S. approved the Foreign Military Sale of MH-60Rs and related equipment to Australia, as per a Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) release.

The contract, if signed, will include T-700-GE-401C engines (24 installed, 6 spares); APS-153(V) Multi-Mode Radars (installed); AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems (installed); Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective

Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) (24 installed, 10 spares); Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS) – Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) (12 installed, 8 spares); GAU-61 Digital Rocket Launchers (aircraft provisions only); Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) (aircraft provisions only); AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (12 installed, 6 spares); AN/ALE-47 Chaff and Flare Dispenser, Electronic Countermeasures (12 installed, 6 spares); AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) Systems (installed); 24 M299 Missile Launchers; GAU-21 Crew Served Guns aircraft provisions (installed, includes aircraft adapter, ammunition bin, and other accessories); M240D Crew Served Gun Cradles (installed); and AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink Radio Terminals (12 installed, 6 spares).

Also included are AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 UHF/VHF radios with Communications Security (COMSEC); AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; KIV-78; KIV-6; KOV-21; KGV-135A; Advanced Data Transfer Systems (ADTS); Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) Training Simulators/Operational Machine Interface Assistants (ATS OMIA); spare engine containers; and related equipment and support.

This proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and

rescue, and communications relay.