Second Phase Project of Maritime Operation Helicopters with Engines Started

The Augusta Super Lynx (Mk 99) maritime operation helicopter, introduced and upgraded by the Navy since 1991

[Monthly Defense Times Editor-in-Chief An Seung-beom] The Navy's newly launched second acquisition project for maritime operation helicopters has been progressing rapidly since the preliminary research announcement in April 2021.

The first acquisition project was decided on December 15, 2020, to procure 12 MH-60R helicopters from the American Lockheed Martin Sikorsky company, and the FMS procedure, a U.S. government sales method, has begun. It is known that Lockheed Martin Sikorsky signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for $447 million.

The 12 MH-60R helicopters will be introduced and deployed by 2025.

The 24 helicopters to be acquired in the second maritime operation helicopter project aim to replace the existing 22 Lynx series helicopters. Although the second maritime operation helicopter project was initially planned to proceed over time, it shifted to rapid acquisition after canceling the upgrade project for the existing Super Lynx Mk.99A in December 2019.

Currently, the Naval Aviation Unit operates 22 helicopters, combining the Lynx introduced in 1990 and the Super Lynx introduced in 2000, and has deployed eight AW-159 maritime operation helicopters introduced in 2016 for operations.

This second maritime operation helicopter project will proceed by prioritizing the replacement of the aging 1990 Lynx helicopters, which are facing difficulties in follow-up logistics support. The Navy's position is that since 11 Lynx helicopters will begin to be retired from 2026, it is not urgent to start the project immediately.

The detailed acquisition procedures for the 12 MH-60R Seahawk maritime operation helicopters are underway, and the subsequent project is expected to conclude as a formal competition. It is anticipated that there will be virtually no companies participating in the second maritime operation helicopter project.

Meanwhile, whether the acquisition method for the second maritime operation helicopter project will proceed via overseas procurement or domestic development will be determined through procedures such as the Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee, but realistically, no model surpasses the MH-60R Seahawk in cost-performance. Public opinion is also favorable toward the MH-60R Seahawk maritime operation helicopter, so no disruptions are expected during the acquisition process.

As such, the MH-60R Seahawk maritime operation helicopter is emerging as the Navy's main model in the 2030s, which will lead to redrawing the fleet promotional C.G. for the Korean-style aircraft carrier.