LAAD 2013: US Navy widens SH-60F sales push
The US Navy is placing fresh emphasis on the sales drive for refurbished SH-60F Seahawks as increasing numbers of the legacy aircraft are withdrawn from service.
Speaking at the LAAD 2013 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, Mike Sears, director of international programmes for the US Navy’s PMA299, told Shephard that 24 SH-60Fs were currently set aside for future Excess Defense Article (EDA) sales and that number would likely increase as replacement MH-60R/S squadrons are stood up.
The navy is in discussion with Spain, which previously purchased two SH-60Fs, about a possible future sale of more of the aircraft as an EDA purchase.
‘As the Romeos are being delivered to the fleet, the Foxtrots are being retired. The SH-60F is more of a utility aircraft – search and rescue, special warfare missions, and can be used for replenishment support, medevac. Similar roles to the Sierra [MH-60S] but at a price that might be more attractive to customers that are more financially constrained,’ Sears explained.
‘Even though it is an EDA aircraft, the navy would still be supporting the aircraft for a long period of time. It can be operated from all aviation-capable ships,’ he added.
The refurbished aircraft are being offered with new T700-GE-401C engines and largely have more than 6,000 hours of service life remaining from an original total of 14,000 hours. Sears noted that while the aircraft do not come with a radar system, these can be included in any sales package.
‘So from a navy PMA299 perspective - depending on who the customer is, and what their financial capabilities are - we can sell them a Romeo, we will look at the utility of the Sierra, and then for customers that can’t afford a new production aircraft there is the EDA market.’
Tunisia had placed a request for an FMS purchase of 12 of the EDA aircraft in 2010 but this never went ahead.
Meanwhile, Sears noted that Malaysia had added its name to the list of countries that have formally requested information on the MH-60R.The navy has already responded to interest from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE in the MH-60R. In India, beyond the current procurement that sees the S-70B as a contender for the 16-aircraft Multi Role Helicopter (MRH) requirement, there is a wider need for a follow-on Naval MRH, which could potentially be for as many as 120 aircraft.
The Brazilian Navy, which currently flies four S-70Bs, also has an outstanding requirement for more than 40 additional naval helicopters but has yet to articulate whether this will be more S-70Bs or could be another opening for the MH-60R.
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Military Thread V8, Ops Daulat 
Apr 18 2013, 12:53 PM
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