Defense News: MH-60S Seahawk

Source: United States Navy

Description
The MH-60S replaced the aging fleet of H-46D helicopters, which led to significant reductions in costs per flight hour, mission aborts, component removals, and unscheduled maintenance actions. The MH-60S with its glass cockpit incorporates active matrix liquid crystal displays, used to facilitate pilot and co-pilot vertical and horizontal situation presentations. Another major design of the MH-60S is a “common cockpit,” which is shared with the MH-60R. This allows pilots to shift from one aircraft to another with minimal re-training.

Mission
The MH-60S Seahawk missions are anti-surface warfare, combat support, humanitarian disaster relief, combat search and rescue, aero medical evacuation, SPECWAR and organic airborne mine countermeasures.
 
Background
Program Status
ACAT: ACAT IC Program
Inventory: 256
Initial Operational Capabilities (IOC) date: August 2002
Operational Capabilities (FOC) date: 2016
 
General Characteristics
Primary Function:
Anti-Surface Warfare, Combat Support, Humanitarian
Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Systems
Date Deployed: 2002
Propulsion: 2-GE T700-GE-401 (C)
Length: 64 feet, 10 inches
Height: 17 feet
Weight: 14,430 pounds (empty), 23,500 pounds (max gross)
Airspeed: 180 knots (max)
Ceiling: 13,000 feet
Range: 245 Nautical Miles
Crew: Four