Common System For MH-60R and MH-60S
Lockheed Martin has delivered the
200th Common Cockpit avionics suite to the U.S. Navy's MH-60R and
MH-60S multimission helicopter programs. The avionics suite has
flown more than 250,000 flight hours aboard the two SEAHAWK
helicopter types since cockpit deliveries began in January
2000.
To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered 47 cockpits for the
MH-60R, the Navy's newest and most advanced anti-submarine and
anti-surface warfare helicopter. Another 153 cockpits have been
produced for the MH-60S, which currently performs ship-to-ship
vertical replenishment, protects the fleet with Hellfire
air-to-surface missiles, and eventually will perform mine clearance
operations.
"The suite's common avionics architecture meets the Navy's need
for a single cockpit that can talk to multiple weapons and sensor
systems aboard the MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters, and display the
integrated information," said Richard Holmberg, general manager of
Naval Helicopter Programs at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in
Owego, NY where the cockpit is designed and built. "This
commonality drives down total ownership costs by providing Navy
maintainers with a single logistic support infrastructure, and
enabling our development team to easily add mission capabilities
when needed."
The Common Cockpit avionics suite is designed to support
technological improvements for weapons, navigation and
communications systems. Recently, Lockheed Martin added a Link 16
communications data link by which aircrews can automatically
exchange tactical information with friendly ships and aircraft, and
coordinate a response to assigned targets and threats.
"The ability to add new mission technology to the Common
Cockpit(TM) avionics suite will continue to give our aircrews the
advantage during the 30-year life of these SEAHAWK aircraft in
defense of the Fleet," said Capt. Dean Peters, MH-60 Multi-Mission
Helicopter program manager. "The system has demonstrated very high
reliability during 10 years of operation in the maritime
environment."
The Lockheed Martin cockpit's mission and flight management
systems augment the very capable Sikorsky-built MH-60 SEAHAWK
aircraft. Aboard the MH-60R, the computing power automates many of
the tasks associated with locating, tracking and prosecuting
surface vessels and submarines. Four large 8 in. x 10 in. color
displays provide dual flight and mission instrumentation, enabling
the pilot and co-pilot to share workload.