Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Shipboard multi-role helicopter

Power Plant:

(S-70B-2)

Two 1,417 kw (1,900 shp) General Electric T-700-GE-401C turboshafts

Specifications:

Armament:

Anti-submarine torpedoes and depth charges

History:

In February 1978 a contract was signed by Sikorsky to build a series of helicopters to meet the US Navy’s LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose system) helicopter requirement, the type being designed to fulfil both the anti-submarine warfare role, and the anti-ship surveillance and targeting role.  The first of five prototypes (known as the YSH-60B – serial 161169) made its initial flight on 12 December 1979, and the first production aircraft was flown on 11 February 1983.

The SH-60 series was produced in considerable numbers for the US Navy (as the Seahawk), the USAF, the US Army, the National Guard, and Army Reserve units (as the Blackhawk and Night Hawk etc), and many have been sold on the world market.  Initially known as the S-70L, after entering production the designation was changed to S-70B for naval variants, S-70C for commercial machines, and S-70A for land-based models. S-70 was the manufacturer’s designation, whereas in US military service it was known as the SH-60.

To meet US Navy mission requirements, the S-70B had to carry an avionics package weighing 907 kg (2,000 lb), increased fuel capacity, an expanded automatic flight control system, sonobuoy launcher, weapons pylons, and rescue hoist.  It also had automatic rotor blade folding, rear fuselage and tail folding, a rotor brake, relocated tailwheel to shorten the wheelbase, and a flotation system. In addition, extra corrosion protection was provided, and the up-rated engines had to be modified for marine operations.  Two torpedo pylons were fitted, one of these being capable of taking a 4,541 litre (999 Imp gal) fuel tank, extending endurance to 4½ hours.  Crew comprised a pilot, tactical coordinator, and sensor operators.

On 9 October 1984 the Australian Government announced it had made an in-principle decision to buy eight S-70-B2 Seahawks, with an option on a further four, to operate from the RAN FFG-class frigates.  Negotiations continued with a view to the participation of Australian industry. Subsequently contracts were let by Sikorsky with Australian industry.  The Australian machine, the S-70B-2, was derived from the US Navy’s SH-60F, a variant of the SH-60B Seahawk, which itself was developed from the UH-60A (or S-70A) of the US Army.  The requirement of the RAN was for an over-the-horizon targeting, anti-submarine warfare, machine, which was also capable of being used for fleet utility work.

The RAN ordered four FFG Adelaide-class guided missile frigates (HMASs Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, Darwin), this order later being increased by two (HMASs Melbourne and Newcastle), each being able to carry two helicopters.  Serials in the series N24 were allocated, aircraft in the first order becoming N24-001 to N24-008.  The first two US-assembled aircraft arrived in March 1988, the first of these having been tested in the US with the civil registration N7265H, flying for the first time on 4 December 1987.  In late 1985 the option for four aircraft was taken up, and in May 1986 further examples were ordered, bringing the total to sixteen (serials N24-001 to N24-016).  Whereas the US SH-60B LAMPS III Seahawk fed information to its parent ship via data-link, the Australian machines operated autonomously and had an on-board processing capability.  This information could then be transferred to surface vessels of the Australian fleet.  The second Australian machine was first flown in the US at Stratford, Connecticut on 8 June 1988 as N7265Y and was accepted by the RAN on 12 September 1989.

Following delivery of the first two from the US, the remaining 14 were assembled by Hawker de Havilland at Bankstown, NSW.  Finished in an overall light grey colour scheme, the type proved outstanding in its intended role.  First overseas deployment of the type was during 1990 when two (N24-005 and N24-008) were deployed on board HMASs Adelaide and Darwin when those ships joined the United Nations task force during the Gulf Crisis in August 1990.  These aircraft were supported by RAN Aerospatiale Squirrels and conducted surface surveillance of vessels suspected of running the United Nations blockade, being involved in the operations of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

The first two kits for Australian assembly (N24-003 and N24-004) arrived at Bankstown and production commenced in January 1988. However, due to the complexity of the program the contract was re-negotiated and these two aircraft were returned to the US for assembly. The next six, which were awaiting shipment to West Palm Beach in Florida, were returned to the manufacturer for completion. The second batch of aircraft for the RAN (N24-009 to N24-016), which were constructed at the Company’s West Palm Beach complex, were shipped to Australia and completed at the ASTA facility at Avalon, VIC, the first of these completed making its first flight on 8 June 1990 and becoming N24-010.  Sikorsky personnel were also involved in the assembly of some of the first batch at HMAS Albatross at Nowra, NSW.

The type was attached to No 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross, this unit being commissioned on 23 July 1992, and 12 aircraft were in operational service at any one time, the remaining four being in storage. The type was regularly rotated in service.  Crew was a pilot, tactical co-ordinator and sensor operators.  With the over-the-horizon ability the aircraft was able to inform its ship of possible targets, the FFGs being able to launch Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles.

The Navy Seahawks, like the Australian Army Blackhawks, came to the fore in times of trouble in Australia, such as the devastating bushfires which raged on the eastern seaboard in recent years. They have been used in firefighting operations, being operated from RAAF Richmond, NSW, being able to carry 1,600 litre (352 Imp gal) water buckets suspended on the aircraft’s external hook. They have also been involved in rescues at other times, on one occasion rescuing a French yachtswoman during a round-the-world yacht race, and in 1998 rescuing crews from yachts hit by storms during the Sydney – Hobart yacht race.

The type underwent regular up-dates during its life, these including a forward-looking infrared system and up-dated electronic warfare equipment.  The RAN Seahawks comprised: N24-001 (c/n 70461 – code 870); N24-002 (c/n 70464 – code 871); N24-003 (c/n 70468 – code 872); N24-004 (c/n 70475 – code 873); N24-005 (c/n 70476 – code 874); N24-006 (c/n 70480 – code 875); N24-007 (c/n 70486 – code 876); N24-008 (c/n 70489 – code 877); N24-009 (c/n 70490 – code 878); N24-010 (c/n 70591 – code 879); N24-011 (c/n 70595 – code 880); N24-012 (c/n 70597 – code 882); N24-013 (c/n 70599 – code 882); N24-014 (c/n 70601 – code 883); N24-015 (c/n 70604 – code 884); and N24-016 (c/n 70609 – code 885).

By late 2012 the RAN had commenced to retire some of the older airframes but the type remained in service until the commencement of the introduction into service of the S-70R series in 2014.  The last flight by an Australian aircraft was when A24-003 was delivered to the Australian War Memorial on 4 December 2017 where it was initially placed in storage pending display.  This machine had been based on HMAS Stuart and was involved in an incident on 24 Aprl 2004 in the Persian Gulf.  On this occasion it rescued survivors from the USS Firebolt, a Cyclone Class patrol boat, which, when approaching an oil terminal in Iraq, capsized when an enemy dhow it was approaching exploded in an apparent suicide bombing, two members of the crew of the American vessel being killed.

Following retirement three examples were earmarked for museums, these being: N24-001 for the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra; N24-003 flown to Canberra for the Australian War Memorial; and N24-007 placed as a gate guard at HMAS Albatross, the RAN base at Nowra.  In early 2019 eleven of the RANs retired S-70Bs were acquired by a Newcastle based company, Flying Wombats Australia Pty Ltd, to be converted for civil use. One was placed on display at the Australian International Air Show at Avalon in late February – early March 2019.  As they were converted they were placed on the Australian Civil Aircraft Register, the first becoming VH-XHJ (c/n 70464 – ex N24-002) on 1 October 2019, and were operated by Skyline Aviation Group of Marks Point, on the NSW central coast.

In mid-2018 it was announced a retired Seahawk had been supplied by the US Navy to Australian Defence scientists to develop and test new fatigue testing technologies aimed at significantly reducing maintenance costs and improving aircraft availability.  Scientists and engineers developed a full-scale, structural fatigue test rig that could accurately replicate the load forces experienced by a helicopter in flight.  It was expected the trials would continue into 2022.

Two ex-US Navy SH-60Bs were obtained in late-2018 and were allocated serials in the MRH-90 Taipan series, becoming N48-091 and N48-092. These have been used in the technical training centre at HMAS Albatross, Nowra but not flown.