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In a significant boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, Sikorsky and global training and simulation leader CAE are partnering to equip Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters with cutting-edge digital magnetic anomaly detection technology.
The system, known as CAE MAD-XR (Magnetic Anomaly Detection – Extended Role), will provide both the Royal Australian Navy and United States Navy with an advanced capability to passively detect and track submarines beneath the ocean surface. Designed and built by CAE, the lightweight sensor system is being integrated into the helicopters’ primary mission computer by Sikorsky.
“Operators of the MH-60R now have the option to significantly enhance their anti-submarine warfare capabilities using a compact, removable device that detects disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field caused by large metallic objects underwater,” said Tish Rourke, vice president of Sikorsky Maritime Systems.
“Thanks to recent upgrades to mission computer software, this non-acoustic digital MAD sensor can be installed in any operational MH-60R aircraft and can operate independently or in coordination with existing systems like sonobuoys and long-range dipping sonar,” Rourke added.
The MAD-XR system, weighing under nine kilograms, including all cabling and mounting hardware, consists of sensitive magnetometers and a processing unit. Once installed within the tail cone of an MH-60R without requiring permanent modifications, the system alerts the crew via audio cues when a contact is detected, while a display provides range and contact details. The system can be rapidly transferred between aircraft depending on operational requirements.
France Hébert, president of CAE’s Defence & Security Canada Division and global operations lead, described the MAD-XR as “a cutting-edge solution to detect and track submarines and other underwater threats,” adding that CAE is “proud to support its integration onto the MH-60R maritime helicopter, ensuring superior performance in demanding operational environments”.
The digital MAD capability has been the result of close collaboration between Sikorsky, CAE, the Royal Australian Navy and the US Navy. In early 2024, the US Navy released upgraded software and hardware enabling MH-60R platforms to accept the new sensor suite as part of its biennial technology refresh cycle.
In September 2024, Sikorsky was awarded a US$21 million (approximately AU$31.5 million) contract by the US Navy to deliver 28 digital MAD kits, including 20 for the Royal Australian Navy, six for the US Navy, and two for US Navy Reserve evaluation. Deliveries are expected to be completed by May 2026, with contract options available for a further 48 kits through 2026.
Cliff Kyle, general manager of Sikorsky Australia, welcomed the announcement, noting Australia’s leading role in deploying the capability. “We commend the Royal Australian Navy for being the first MH-60R operator to install this digital MAD capability,” Kyle said. “Sikorsky Australia’s workforce is proud to contribute to fielding and sustaining this critical new technology, further enhancing the lethality of the Seahawk fleet.”
The CAE MAD-XR system marks a generational leap from the legacy AN/ASQ-81 MAD sensor used on older SH-60B Seahawks. That system, which weighed over 40 kilograms and required an external boom and cable reel, has now been replaced by a compact internal system that delivers enhanced capability with a smaller logistics footprint.
The announcement underlines Australia’s growing emphasis on submarine detection in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific, as the Royal Australian Navy continues to evolve its fleet with leading-edge technology.
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