Three Greek frigates upgraded to carry S-70B

The Hellenic Navy has certified three of its nine Elli (Kortenaer)-class frigates for accepting the Sikorsky S-70B Aegean Hawk helicopter.
Work had been conducted at the Salamis Naval Base's Technical Directorate to strengthen the landing pads on HS Navarinon , HS Themistocles , and HS Nikiforos Fokas in order to handle a crash landing of the 10-tonne helicopter. The three frigates will be able to refuel the S-70B helicopters, but not able to house them in a hangar, as this would require extensive reworking of the superstructure.
Previously, the Greek Navy's S-70Bs were typically accommodated on board its four MEKO-200 HN-class frigates, and occasionally on board the large replenishment vessel HS Prometheus or the five Jason-class landing ships.
The Hellenic Navy's Helicopter Command has eight S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk and three S-70B Aegean Hawks in service, as well as eight Agusta Bell AB-212s.
janes

Indian Navy Selects Sikorsky’s S-70B SEAHAWK® Aircraft for Multi-role Helicopter Requirement​

India’s Navy has selected Sikorsky, to fulfill the service’s Multi-Role Helicopter requirement for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare (ASW/ASuW), among other maritime roles. Negotiations will now begin to procure 16 S-70B SEAHAWK® helicopters, with an option for eight additional aircraft, along with a complete logistics support and training program.
The proposed Indian Navy S-70B variant will include avionics and flexible open architecture Weapons Management Systems that integrate an advanced sonar, 360 degree search radar, modern air-to-surface missiles, and torpedoes for the ASW role. A blade and tail fold capability will facilitate shipboard storage.
The S-70B aircraft will also enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities to perform non-combat maritime roles, including search and rescue, utility and external cargo lift, surveillance and casualty evacuation.
sikorsky

India opts for Seahawk in navy's MRH tender

The Indian MoD has shortlisted Sikorky's S-70B for the navy's long-delayed Multi-Role Helicopter requirement
The decision follows a 'partial ban' imposed on Finmeccanica after the AW101 corruption scandal
India has chosen Sikorsky's S-70B Seahawk over the NH Industries (NHI) NH90 helicopter to fulfill the Indian Navy's (IN's) long-pending Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) programme.
The NH90 had been excluded from the bidding process because of its commercial links with Italian defence conglomerate Finmeccanica, which the MoD 'partially banned' from new tenders in July.
This limited proscription followed the 1 January termination of the contract for 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on alleged corruption charges that remain under investigation in India. Finmeccanica has denied any wrongdoing in the case.
Under this partial ban Finmeccanica and its subsidiaries or joint ventures are permitted to participate in ongoing defence contracts that were at an advanced stage of negotiation, but are prohibited from joining new tenders. NHI is 32% owned by AgustaWestland.
Only Sikorsky's MRH commercial bid, submitted in 2009-10 along with NHI's, will now be opened by the MoD later this month for a requirement pending since 2007-08. Thereafter, price negotiations for 16 platforms will be opened.
The S-70B ,under the terms of the tender, it will be customised for amphibious assault operations and replace the navy's ageing fleet of Sea King.
Field trials featuring the NH90 and the S-70B were completed in 2011.
janes

India expected to buy S-70B Sea Hawk Helicopter

India is expected to choose Sikorsky Aircraft's S-70B Sea Hawk helicopters at a 16-aircraft tender.
The decision could come during a high-profile visit to the United States by new Indian Prime Minister.
The Sikorsky deal would be one of several large U.S. arms purchases by India that are nearing completion, including over orders for AH-64D Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
reuters

Royal Australian Navy takes delivery of new Seahawk 'Romeo' helicopters

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has taken delivery of its next generation of helicopters, two Seahawk "Romeos" designed for fighting submarines and other combat vessels.
The Navy has bought 24 of the new Seahawks, which are modelled on the Black Hawk helicopters used by the Army.
The first two rolled off the production line of US manufacturer Lockheed Martin in December and the rest are expected by the end of next year.
Instead of bringing the first few back home straight away, the RAN has sent its crews to the US naval base in Jacksonville, Florida, for training.
The US Navy has been flying the aircraft for more than five years.
The Australian crews will head home to their base at HMAS Albatross in Nowra with more of the choppers later this year for deployment on ANZAC (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) class frigates.
The aircraft are significantly more advanced than the older Bravo Seahawks they will replace. The new model can use the Hellfire missile and modern sensors.
The helicopters will be carrying out an anti-submarine, surface warfare role for the RAN.
Prior to the acquisition of the Romeo helicopters, the RAN had significant problems finding new helicopters capable of carrying missiles.
A fleet of Seasprites purchased by the Federal Government in 1997 were years late in delivery and plagued with expensive problems.
The helicopter's cockpits were too small for some pilots, and a number of software faults meant they were not safe to fly at night or in low visibility.
As the estimated losses topped, the scrapped the program in 2008, deciding instead to buy the Romeos.
au.news.yahoo.com

Royal Australian Navy Receives First Two MH-60R Helicopters

The Royal Australian Navy accepted the first two MH-60R helicopters from the U.S. Navy.
Manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft and provided with advanced mission systems and sensors by Lockheed Martin, the MH-60R is already operational and deploying as the primary U.S. Navy anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare system for open-ocean and littoral zones. The U.S. Navy answered the Australian Defence Force’s requirement for a fleet of 24 new-generation, multi-role naval combat aircraft with the proven MH-60R helicopters. The entire fleet will be delivered incrementally by the end of 2016.
In addition to the MH-60R's unmatched capability in its primary mission areas of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, it also has the capability for secondary missions such as search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation, and VHF/UHF/link communication relay
defense-studies

Túnez interesado en helicópteros Sea Hawk/ Sea Hawks to Tunisia

La Agencia Norteamericana de Cooperación y Seguridad (DSCA) notificó al Congreso el pasado 30 de Junio de una posible venta a Túnez de 12 helicópteros SH-60F Sea Hawk modernizados. Según la agencia, la venta mejoraría las capacidades navales de Túnez y la interoperabilidad con las Fuerzas Armadas de Estados Unidos.
Túnez opera actualmente once HH-3E Jolly Green Giants en el escuadrón nº 36 en la base de Bizerte-Karouba, que se presumen serían sustituídos por los SH-60F.
key.Aero
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The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on June 30 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Tunisia of 12 refurbished SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopters in a package worth some $282 million (€225 million).
This proposed sale would “enhance the modernisation of the Tunisian Air Force’s overwater search and rescue capability” says the DSCA and “enable continued interoperability with US Armed Forces and other coalition partners in the region”.
The Tunisian Republic Air Force (TRAF) currently operates around eleven HH-3E Jolly Green Giants with 36 Squadron at Bizerte-Karouba Air Base and it is assumed that these will be replaced by the newer SH-60Fs.
key.Aero

Se retrasa el sustituto del Seasprite de la Armada Australiana (RAN)

El plan de la Armada Australiana para reemplazar su flota de Kaman Sea Sprite ha sido paralizado por el gobierno, según Australian Daily Telegraph.
En 1997, se firmó con Kaman, la compra de 11 SH-2G(A) Seasprite, pero el modelo no cumple con todas las demandas exigidas por lo que la RAN ha solicitó al gobierno la rápida aprobación de la compra de 24 Sikorsky S-70 Sea Hawks. El gobierno insiste en la compra del NH90, 40 de los cuales se entregarán proximamente al ejército.

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Australian Seasprite replacement may take longer

A Royal Australian Navy (RAN) plan to quickly replace its cancelled fleet of Kaman Sea Sprite anti-submarine helicopters has been blocked by the government, which wants to see another competition to choose its successor, reports the Australian Daily Telegraph.
In 1997, the Australian government signed a A$667 million contract with Kaman to purchase eleven SH-2G(A) Super Sea Sprites, but the type’s inability to meet Australian airworthiness certification standards meant it never entered full operational service with the RAN, with the programme being cancelled on March 5, 2008.
The RAN wanted the government to approve a A$4 billion ‘rapid acquisition’ of 24 Sikorsky S-70 Sea Hawks, but this has been scuppered with the Australian cabinet insisting the NHIndustries NH90 should be considered – 40 are being delivered to the Australian Army for service entry by 2014 and the RAN is to have six to replace the maritime support Westland Sea Kings of 817 Squadron, based at Nowra in New South Wales.
The Australian government’s National Security Committee is expected to decide on a winner before the end of March, says the report.