The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) MH-60R Seahawk fleet has reached more than 50,000 flight hours in ten years of operational service.
“The MH-60R’s decade-long service combined with 50,000 flight hours underscores the immense expertise and commitment of the Royal Australian Navy’s aircrew, our maintainers and logisticians, and sovereign supply chain partners,” Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Warren McDonald, commented.
“This milestone is a testament of the joint team’s sustained focus to deliver with excellence for the MH-60R Seahawk fleet, a world-class platform that brings unmatched anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities to Australia and navies globally.”
For more than 30 years, Sikorsky Australia has sustained the Royal Australian Navy’s Seahawks. Sikorsky Australia has established a sustainment and logistics facility at Albatross Aviation Technology Park, Nowra.
“The milestone is significant and exemplifies the longstanding and successful partnership between the Royal Australian Navy and Sikorsky Australia,” Sikorsky Australia’s General Manager, Cliff Kyle, reflected. “In partnership with the Royal Australian Navy, our workforce has delivered 60 Planned Maintenance Interval servicings on the Navy’s fleet of Seahawks at our Nowra facility, including the first-ever deep maintenance activity on a US Navy MH-60R Seahawk.”
In line with the new sustainment contract and Royal Australian Navy’s acquisition of 13 additional MH-60R aircraft, the workforce is expected to grow over the next five years.
“We share a common approach to the enterprise. Focussing on our job, to execute sustainment services to the highest standard for the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm, ensures aircraft can deploy and operate wherever they are needed. The Sikorsky Australia team are dedicated to the mission and feel privileged to work hand-in-hand with the Royal Australian Navy on sustaining the Seahawks,” Kyle added.
