Navy In flight: helicopter squadron gets new aircraft; learns tactics, maintenance techniques.

• Author: Axe, David
• Position: UPFRONT

NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif. -- The West Coast training squadron for the Navy MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter is slated to initiate its first student aviator on Oct. 1.

In January, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41 accepted four MH-60Rs, which were rebuilt from earlier SH-60Bs by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin.

The 500-strong squadron currently is developing tactics, operational schemes and maintenance procedures. Aviators fly the Romeo models alongside 10 older SH-60Bs. In the next four years it will replace them with 11 factory-fresh Romeos and supply five to seven West Coast squadrons with several dozen pilots apiece as they transition to the new helicopter.

The Navy is replacing about 250 antisubmarine warfare SH-60Bs and SH-60Fs with a similar number of new-build MH-60Rs under a $2.5 billion program.

The H-60 airframe is employed by the Navy under the model designations SH-60B (Bravo), SH-60F (Foxtrot), HH-60H (Hotel), MH-60S (Sierra) and MH-60R (Romeo).

The Romeo is equipped with new sensors and modern avionics, wired for weapons growth and designed for rapid reconfiguring for mine-warfare, humanitarian and even air-to-air missions countering low, slow-moving aircraft. It is intended to complement the MH-60S cargo helicopters and eventually replace the S-3B Viking antisubmarine warfare aircraft.

The Navy wants to only operate MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters in the future, rather than the seven models currently in use. The consolidation could save the service $1 billion annually, officials say.

"The future of naval aviation is Hornets and helicopters," says HSM-41 skipper Cmdr. J.C. Shaub. "We've finally been recognized as a force multiplier."

The MH-60R combines the capabilities from earlier Seahawk models. "The Romeo is a Foxtrot plus a Bravo plus a Hotel--all in one aircraft," says HSM-41 Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Nick Hunter.

The Romeo incorporates the Bravos surface search and sonobuoy capabilities with the dipping sonar of the SH-60F and the missile armament of the search-and-rescue HH-60H. This hybrid missions suite is installed in the same basic Seahawk airframe--which, according to HSM-41 Structural Mechanic Stephen Lind, is the "same, except there's an extra hydraulics system."

"The Romeo does everything the Bravo does ... but does it with more fidelity and better avionics," Shaub explains. "The HH-60B is based on 1970s black boxes. This airframe is developed with the latest and greatest stuff."

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