Lockheed Martin today delivered to the U.S. Navy the first new-production MH-60R helicopter fully integrated for its anti-submarine and surface warfare missions.

"More than 30 years after we first teamed with the Navy and Sikorsky to develop the LAMPS anti-submarine helicopter, Lockheed Martin today is honored to deliver the next-generation MH-60R weapons system," said Jeff Bantle, vice president and general manager of Multi-Mission Solutions for Lockheed Martin Systems Integration - Owego. "The sophisticated airborne sensors and electronics we have integrated and installed on board this first new-production MH-60R will provide the Navy with unparalleled surveillance capability of the waters around the fleet, and the ability to hunt enemy submarines and surface vessels."

Navy representatives attending the ceremony included: Rear Adm. William Shannon, past manager of the Multi-Mission Helicopter Program; Capt. Paul Grosklags, current manager of the Naval Air Systems Command's Multi-mission Helicopter Program Office (PMA-299); and Capt. Curt Chesnutt, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing. The wing took possession of the new aircraft during the delivery ceremony.

"Delivery of this helicopter fulfills the Navy's Master Helicopter Plan to reduce six helicopter types to two multi-mission aircraft, the MH-60S and now the MH-60R," said Capt. Grosklags. "The all-new airframe and integrated mission systems will give our pilots, aircrew and battle group commanders a tremendous new weapons system against emerging sub-surface and surface threats in both the shallow littoral and open ocean environments."

Also attending the ceremony were executives from aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Company; several major MH-60R subcontractors; and officials from the Defense Contract Management Agency, which oversees large Department of Defense acquisition programs.

As the Navy's next generation submarine hunter and surface attack helicopter, the MH-60R will replace the fleet's legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft, which currently share the roles. The MH-60R successfully completed Technical Evaluation in early 2005 and the Navy's five-month Operational Evaluation in the fall of 2005. The Navy is expected to order as many as 254 aircraft through 2015, with production quantities as high as 30 aircraft per year.

The term "new-production" refers to the all-new manufactured MH-60R airframe. Seven MH-60R aircraft, including four aircraft delivered to the Pacific Fleet's HSM-41 training squadron in December 2005, are remanufactured SH-60B airframes integrated with the next-generation mission systems.

Lockheed Martin is the mission systems integrator for the MH-60R, and also provides the digital Common Cockpit(TM) avionics suite, which is common to all MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters. Sikorsky designs and manufactures the MH-60R and MH-60S aircraft and is responsible for the mechanical and electrical modifications on the airframes.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin