TX091 MH-60R for Maritime Defence Force？

日本の海上自衛隊もMH-60R数機ほしいですね。

オーストラリア軍が購入（改造）に至る経緯をまとめてみました。

Australia’s MH-60R Maritime Helicopters

October 24/22: Unique Configuration 

ロッキードは、4960万ドルのモディフィケーション（改造）契約を獲得しました。この契約は、12機のMH-60Rをオーストラリア政府向けに、標準的な対外軍事販売形態のMH-60Rから独自の形態にするための非経常（Non-recurring）エンジニアリングと追加/削除作業を提供するものです。さらに、このモディフィケーション（改造）は12機のオーストラリア独自の改造キットと10機の全地球測位システム慣性航法システムのスペアを調達します。作業はニューヨーク、コネティカット、アラバマで行われる予定です。2026年12月に完了予定です。

オーストラリアのAIR9000プロジェクトは、24機の近代的な海軍ヘリコプターを購入することを目的としていました。このプロジェクトは、11億豪ドルを投じてSH-2G「スーパーシースプライト」を11機購入する計画でしたが、その失敗を踏まえてのことでした。販売とサポートの総額が30億豪ドル以上ということで、非常に切望された受注でした。

最終選考に残ったのは、オーストラリアにルーツを持つ、おなじみのシコルスキー社のMH-2G。シコルスキー社のMH-60Rは、RANの既存の対潜ヘリS-70Bを近代化したものであり、オーストラリア陸軍は実用ヘリS-70Aを運用しています。一方、2006年の数十億円の受注により、ヨーロッパのNH90-TH（以下、MRH-90）が陸軍の将来のヘリコプターとなり、一部のMRH-90は海軍の実用ヘリとしても使われることになりました。NHI/EurocopterのNH90-NFH海軍型は、そのような基盤の上に成り立っているのです。では、なぜMH-60Rはオーストラリアに輸出されることになったのでしょうか。

Australia’s Winner

「MRH-90」の問題、「NH90 TTH」の開発の遅れ、オーストラリアの主要な同盟国とのMH-60Rの相互運用性の利点、そしてMH-60Rのリスクの低い既運用機であることが、そのバランスをとることになりました。豪州のMH-60Rは、米海軍の標準的な設計で、唯一の違いは塗装と、「機密」とされる4つのアビオニクス・ボックスへの改ざん防止措置の追加です。

オーストラリア国防総省は、24機の艦隊について次のように述べています。

「この中には、アンザック級フリゲート艦（8隻）と新型航空駆逐艦（3隻）が含まれます。残りはニューサウスウェールズ州ノウラのHMASアルバトロスを拠点とし、定期メンテナンスと訓練サイクルの様々な段階に入る予定です。」

艦船のメンテナンスと訓練、そして配備のサイクルが定期的に繰り返されるため、オーストラリアはこれらの艦船を一度にすべて海に出すことはありません。また、訓練や就役の段階になると、ヘリコプターは艦船間でローテーションされるため、一部のヘリコプターを残してフルカバーすることが可能です。しかし、4隻の改良型アデレード級がこれに加わらない限り、この決定は、豪州の高価な改良型フリゲートFFG-7にどのように海軍ヘリコプタを装備するかという問題を提起することになります。一つの選択肢として、既存の S-70B-2 を改修するか、より多くの S-70B を少数の運用艦にローテーションすることで、ある種のサービス延長プログラムを実施することが考えられます。

RANは現在、4機のMH-60RをRAN725飛行隊として、フロリダ州ジャクソンビルの米海軍MH-60R飛行隊3機と一緒に飛行させています。オーストラリアの乗組員や整備員は、そこで運用や戦術の訓練を受け、2014年末に機体とともにオーストラリアに帰還します。その後、ニューサウスウェールズ州ノウラの飛行場で訓練飛行隊となり、2015年8月にオーストラリア海軍全体の初期運用能力を確保する予定です。

オーストラリアへの納入は2016年まで続きます。より大規模なRAN 816飛行隊は、ニューサウスウェールズ州ノウラを本拠地としながら、オーストラリアの艦船からMH-60Rを飛行させることになります。

Contracts & Key Events

MH-60Rをアップグレードするに至った経緯　（2022年10月の時点で）：防衛環境の変化に伴なって進化せざるを得ない防御力、攻撃力）

May 11/22: 12 More Australia has announced  plans to acquire 12 more MH-60R naval helicopters and 29 AH-64E attack helicopters. The MH-60R contract will include a 13th aircraft to replace one that was lost in 2021. All will be based at HMAS Albatross. Boeing says it welcomes Australia’s decision as the AH-64E Apache provides Australia with a low-risk, fully-integrated, battle-proven capability.

October 11/21: DoS Clearance Australia has been given  clearance by the US State Department to purchase 12 MH-60R naval helicopters. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency says in Transmittal No 21-61 that the Foreign Military Sales package is worth up to $985 million.

July 5/21: FMC Lockheed Martin won a $28.2 million contract modification , which exercises an option to procure mission computers (MC) and flight management computers (FMC) retrofit kits to upgrade the MH-60R/S aircraft. The quantities are as follows: 205 Generation 3i/5i MCs to upgrade from Generation III/V/VI, to include 187 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, five for the government of Saudi Arabia and four for the government of Denmark; 200 Generation 3i/5i FMCs to upgrade from Generation III/V FMCs, to include 182 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, five for the government of Saudi Arabia and four for the government of Denmark. Additionally, this modification procures 153 wiring kits to include 136 for the Navy, nine for the government of Australia, four for the government of Denmark, and four for the government of Saudi Arabia. Work will take place in New York and Florida. Estimated completion will be in March 2024.

July 2/20: Computers Lockheed Martin won a $12.9 million delivery order , which provides for the production and delivery of 62 Audio Management Computer-Lite computers to be used as spares in the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter in support of the Naval Supply Systems Command, the government Australia and Saudi Arabia and to support the development of the Operation Test Program Set for the Navy. Additionally, this order provides for the production and delivery of 33 flight management computers for installation on the Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter and 50 SP-103E circuit cards for retrofit computer upgrades. MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is considered to be the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter. The helicopter is equipped for a range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search-and-rescue (SAR), naval gunfire support (NGFS), surveillance, communications relay, logistics support and personnel transfer, and vertical replenishment. Work will take place in New York and expected completion will be by August 2023.

June 3/20: Retrofits Lockheed Martin won a $37.8 million order , which provides for retrofits from the Generation III, V and VI Mission Computer configuration to the Generation 3i and 5i MC configuration on the MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopter (186 for the Navy, seven for the government of Australia, five for the government of Denmark, and two for the government of Saudi Arabia). MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-mission helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. The rotorcraft replaces the SH-60B and SH-60F helicopters in the US Navy’s fleet and combines the capabilities of these aircraft. The MH-60R is also referred to as ‘Romeo’. The helo is equipped for a range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search-and-rescue, naval gunfire support, surveillance, communications relay, logistics support and personnel transfer, and vertical replenishment. Work will take place in New York and Florida. Estimated completion date is in May, 2023.

April 10/20: LHD Trials First-of-class flight trials for Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) MH-60R ‘Romeo‘ maritime multirole helicopters aboard landing helicopter dock (LHD) vessel HMAS Adelaide will begin shortly, the RAN announced  on April 7. The trials, which will take place off the Queensland coast, will determine the safe operating limits of the Lockheed Martin-made anti-submarine- and anti-surface warfare-capable helicopters aboard the 27,500 tonne LHD in a range of sea states and wind speeds at both day and night. They will also include aviation facilities assessments, equipment calibration, and evaluation of the interface between a particular helicopter type and class of ship.

February 4/20: Maintenance Lockheed Martin won a $185.9 million contract , which provides program management, various levels of maintenance, training and logistics support to sustain the operational capability of 24 Royal Australian Navy MH-60 Romeo aircraft. The Australian Navy became the second operator of of the MH-60R Romeo helicopter in 2013. Its acquisition program was structured in such a way to allow it to have a say on what new capabilities are added. The Australian MH-60R is equipped with a highly sophisticated combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo. The primary missions of the Romeo is anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. Secondary missions include search and rescue, logistics support, personnel transport and medical evacuation. Lockheed Martin will perform work in Australia as well a New York, Connecticut and Florida. Estimated completion will be in January 2024.

December 7/17: Final Flight The last S-70B-2 Seahawk operated by the Royal Australian Navy has flown its last flight  as the service completes its transition to the Sikorsky MH-60R. 24 models of the new anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopter have been delivered since 2014 and are operated by the 725 Sqn from Nowra, New South Wales. The last Seahawk was flown to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where it will be preserved. The departing model was used during operations in the Middle East from the 1990-1991 Gulf War onwards.

August 3/16: Australia has taken delivery  of their last MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Replacing the older S-70B-2 Seahawks, the MH-60Rs now complete a requirement for a fleet of 24 next-generation, multi-role naval combat aircraft. The cost of the replacement is believed to be in excess of $2.2 billion.

July 30/14: Testing & Deliveries. The Australians fire their 1st Hellfire missile from the new helicopter, and also update their delivery status and plans.

The RAN has 4 MH-60Rs; the first pair were accepted in the United States in December 2013, and the second pair were accepted in February 2014. They’re currently flying as RAN 725 Squadron, alongside 3 full US Navy MH-60R squadrons in Jacksonville, FL. Australian crews and maintenance personnel are trained in operations and tactics there, until they return to Australia with their machines at the end of 2014. They’ll become the training squadron at the air station in Nowra, New South Wales, and deliveries to Australia will continue until 2016. The larger RAN 816 Squadron will fly the MH-60Rs from Australian ships, while using Nowra as its home base. Sources: Australia DoD, “Hellfire missile firing a first for new Navy helicopters”.

May 13/14: Sensors. Australia’s new MH-60Rs of NUSQN 725 “commence dipping operations” with the new AQS-22 ALFS sonar off of Jacksonville, FL, as part of their training. NUSQN 725 will begin a phased return to the Fleet Air Arm’s home base at HMAS Albatross (Nowra Airport, SSW of Sydney) in October 2014, and current plans involve a full return of all members by Christmas. Sources: RAN Navy Daily, “Romeos packing a new punch”.

March 28/14: Sensors. Lockheed Martin Corp. in Owego, NY receives $13.1 million firm-fixed-price delivery order for 19 radar receiver processors, used in support of Australia’s MH-60R buy.

All funds are committed immediately. Work will be performed at Owego NY (56%) and Syracuse NY (44%), and work is expected to be complete by March 2017. This was a non-competitive requirement in accordance with FAR 6.302.1 by US NAVSUP Weapons System Support in Philadelphia PA (SPRPA1-09-G-002Y).

Best regards,
Shoichi Sugiyama, Ph.D.