Photo Credit – Alan Flett
On the 8th of October 2021, the US Government approved the sale of an additional 13 Sikorsky MH-60R (Romeo) Seahawk multi-role helicopters for use by the Royal Australian Navy. This order, which includes a replacement aircraft to cover the loss of one Romeo in the Philippine Sea on 14 Oct 21, raises the number of MH-60R helicopters to 36.
Although the package includes spares, mission equipment, weapons launchers, training, and support (estimated to cost in the order of USD985 million), many of the aircraft are expected to fill the transport, Search and rescue, vertical replenishment and communications roles.
