Fri, Aug 01, 2008
Heads For Deployment With Carrier Strike Group
Lockheed Martin recently completed its initial deliveries of
aircraft to the US Navy's first operational MH-60R helicopter
maritime strike squadron, the HSM-71 Raptors, ensuring the squadron
is ready for its deployment with an aircraft carrier strike group.
The San Diego-based pilot and crew departed with the aircraft July
24 for the three-day journey home from Owego, NY.
Lockheed Martin is the prime air weapons systems integrator for
the MH-60R, the Navy's most advanced submarine hunting and surface
warfare helicopter. The team has integrated and delivered 11
aircraft to HSM-71.
Cmdr. Michael Nortier, HSM-71 commanding officer, personally
accepted delivery of the squadron's final MH-60R helicopter after
addressing industry and government team members in the hangar.
"The new systems and sensors on the MH-60R have expanded the
support the helicopter community can provide to the Navy by an
order of magnitude," said Cmdr. Nortier. "The visual presentations
this technology provides enable us to deploy quickly and
effectively, putting our people where they need to be exactly when
they need to be there."
The HSM-71 squadron will deploy with the USS John C. Stennis
aircraft carrier strike group next year. It will be the first time
the MH-60R will take the leading aircraft role in anti-submarine
warfare.
The MH-60R replaces the Navy's current fleet of SH-60B and
SH-60F Seahawk helicopters and is designed primarily for
anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. Secondary missions include
search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire
support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation
and communications and data relay.
In August 2007, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.065
billion multi-year contract to integrate an additional 139 MH-60R
helicopters with advanced mission systems and avionics.
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