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The Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter fleet has successfully surpassed 50,000 flight hours in the defence of Australia’s maritime interests.
Ten years ago, a new chapter in Australian naval aviation quietly began. The Royal Australian Navy’s first MH-60R Seahawk “Romeo” helicopter lifted off from HMAS Albatross in Nowra, ushering in a decade of transformation in how Australia protects its vast maritime approaches.
Fast forward to today, and that same fleet has now amassed more than 50,000 operational flight hours, a milestone that not only reflects the platform’s endurance but also the dedication of the people and partnerships that have kept it flying.
Sikorsky Australia, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, has been with the Royal Australian Navy every step of the way. For over 30 years, Sikorsky’s Australian arm has maintained the Navy’s Seahawks, evolving from a small support team operating out of borrowed hangar space to a cornerstone of Australia’s sovereign rotary-wing aviation industry.
Today, Sikorsky Australia employs over 200 personnel at its world-class sustainment and logistics hub at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park in Nowra, including 20 apprentices. The company works with a local supply chain of 60 Australian companies, fostering deep industry engagement and regional economic growth.
Sikorsky Australia general manager Cliff Kyle reflected on the journey, saying, “This milestone highlights the strength of our partnership with the Royal Australian Navy. From humble beginnings, with a small team working out of Fleet Air Arm hangars, to where we are now – delivering over 60 major maintenance events and completing the first-ever deep maintenance activity on a US Navy MH-60R outside the US – it’s been an incredible evolution.”
With the recent announcement of Australia acquiring 13 additional MH-60R helicopters as part of the AUKUS-aligned push for increased naval readiness, Sikorsky Australia’s workforce is expected to grow to approximately 300 personnel within five years.
Kyle noted that the sustainment program’s effectiveness ensures high aircraft availability rates and operational readiness, adding, “Our mission is clear: keep the aircraft flying, reliably and safely, wherever the Navy needs them. The team at Sikorsky Australia takes immense pride in contributing directly to the Fleet Air Arm’s ability to protect Australia’s maritime interests.”
The MH-60R Seahawk, developed by Sikorsky and equipped by Lockheed Martin, has become the world’s most capable maritime helicopter. As of 2023, the global fleet had surpassed 1 million flight hours, with a host of other key figures, including:
- More than 345 MH-60R aircraft are in service globally.
- Over 160 Seahawk variants operate within the Indo-Pacific region.
- The production line remains active, fulfilling new orders for South Korea (12), Greece (7), India (24), and Australia (13 additional units).
- The MH-60R achieves a 95–98 per cent availability rate for the US Navy, setting the benchmark in reliability.
The RAN’s investment in the MH-60R fleet and its close partnership with Sikorsky Australia ensures that the Navy remains equipped with cutting-edge capabilities to detect and defeat submarine threats, project maritime power and respond swiftly to regional contingencies.
As the Indo-Pacific becomes increasingly contested, the MH-60R fleet will remain a cornerstone of Australia’s maritime security posture – and a shining example of successful defence-industry collaboration.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
