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ment for Sea King 42/42A helicopters that were
decommissioned in the nineties. The Indian
Navy’s rotorcraft fleet presently comprises of
British built Sea King Mk42B/C helicopters,
Russian Kamov Ka-28 and Ka-31 helicopters
and obsolescent Chetak helicopters (licence- [ AIR SYSTEMS ]
built Aerospatiale Alouette IIIs) built by state
owned airframer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
(HAL). The Navy also operates indigenously
built Dhruv helicopters. The Ka-28 anti-subma-
rine warfare (ASW) helicopters are receiving a
Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) and deliveries are to
commence this year and conclude by July 2021.
Upgraded Ka-28’s will also receive western
weapons and sensors, dramatically upgrading
the capability of the co-axial rotor helicopter.
The last of the Navy’s upgraded Ka-31 airborne
picket helicopters is expected to be delivered
this year. The first two out of nine upgraded
Ka-31’s were delivered in June 2015. The Ka-31
is fitted with a powerful retractable on-board
radar early warning system for radar protec-
tion of air and sea space, the early detection
of ships or low-flying aerial targets (winged
missiles, helicopters, planes). Ka-31s are fitted Maritime Operational Helicopter (MOH) Batch 2 Request for
with sensors that identify detected targets, Proposal under an FMS procurement. Including the U.S. Navy, over
captures details regarding their location and 300 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters are operational worldwide with
trajectory and then transfers information on the more than 600,000 accumulated flight hours. Sikorsky quotes a
radar situation to vessels and command posts cost per flight hour of less than USD5000 for the MH-60R.

Prepared for the Future In February, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems was
The MH-60R Romeo is the US Navy’s primary awarded a US$2.3 billion H-60 Seahawk Performance Based
ASW/ ASuW weapon system for open ocean Logistics (PBL) contract by U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command
and littoral zones and is slated to remain in Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS). This is NAVSUP WSS’
operational service till 2050. The MH-60R’s fourth PBL contract with LMRMS since 2004. The latest contract
primary mission areas include Anti-Submarine is slated to run for a five-year period, with an option to extend for
two years (Feb. 2020 to Jan. 2027). This PBL contract provides
supply support for the MH-60R/S helicopters and will cover almost
a thousand individual items comprised of Weapon Replaceable
Assemblies (WRAs) and Shop Replaceable Assemblies (SRAs),
including the main rotor blade, main gearbox and the Airborne
Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS). A new addition to the PBL contract
is the ALFS which allows for rapid search rate, longer detection
range over a wider area and is high performing in both deep and
shallow water.

The Seahawk PBL will support the US Navy, nine Foreign Military
Sales partners and the US Coast Guard and will increase reliabil-
Warfare and Surface Warfare. Secondary mis- ity and availability of H-60 components, as well as the potential
sion areas include Search and Rescue, Vertical to improve Mean Time Between Depot Demand (MTBDD). By
Replenishment, Naval Surface Fire Support, decreasing the MTBDD, parts will be available sooner and reduce
logistics support, personnel transport, Medical the number of backorders to the fleet. NAVSUP WSS H-60
Evacuation, and Very High Frequency/Ultra Integrated Weapon Systems Team has also been awarded the
High Frequency Link Communication Relay. It 2019 Secretary of Defence PBL award for innovative sustainment
replaces the U.S. Navy’s aging SH-60B and solutions that yield improved lethality. The Seahawk PBL is sup-
SH-60F helicopters, which were inducted in ported from three Fleet Readiness Centers: Southeast, East and
1983 and 1986 respectively. Lockheed Martin Southwest, along with Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division
is also offering the MH-60R for South Korea’s Keyport and Tobyhanna Army Depot.

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