A MH-60R Seahawk flies off the USS Jason Dunham practicing engaging fast-attack boats during an exercise. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Clay/USS Jason Dunham (DDG109)

Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin will receive $382 million for the production and delivery of eight MH-60R Seahawk helicopters with associated engineering and program support.

Navy fiscal 2018 aircraft procurement funding of $147 million will be obligated upon award, with the work expected to be performed through September 2020.


The MH-60R Seahawk is a naval derivative of the UH-60 Blackhawk medium-lift transport helicopter used by the Army and allied nations, operating from flight decks on aircraft carriers, surface combatants and logistics ships. It is designed primarily for anti-submarine and surface warfare operations

The Seahawk is also suitable for surveillance, data relay, combat search and rescue, forward target observation for naval fires and transporting cargo and personnel.

The MH-60 has replaced the legacy SH-60 Seahawk in U.S. service and carries more advanced sensors and fire control for anti-submarine operations. It can deploy sonobuoys and dipping sonar in order to detect, track and engage undersea targets and has a limited surface strike capability.

It can be armed with Mk 46 or Mk 54 anti-submarine torpedoes, laser-guided missiles like the Hellfire and door-mounted machine guns and has been widely exported to allied nations.