U.S. Navy delivers two maritime helicopters to Thai Navy as part of first MH-60 Foreign Military Sale

Thailand made history last fall when the Royal Thai Navy became the first foreign country to receive the U.S. Navy’s MH-60S maritime helicopter through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program.  

“MH-60S ‘Sierra’ helicopters have proven to be highly reliable utility aircraft for the U.S. Navy fleet,” said Michael Sears, the U.S. Navy’s international H-60 deputy program manager. “We are honored to provide Thailand with the same capability, along with pilot and maintainer training, spares and logistical support.”

The Thai government submitted a request to the United States for the purchase of two MH-60 Sierra helicopters, each featuring Lockheed Martin’s Common Cockpit integrated into the Sikorsky-made airframe. Once the request was approved, Lockheed Martin’s MH-60 team in Owego, N.Y., incorporated a new communications radio and an air traffic control upgrade into the two aircraft.

The Royal Thai Navy is adding the MH-60S aircraft to its search and rescue fleet as part of a fleet modernization plan. Thailand has expressed interest in purchasing additional MH-60S aircraft from the U.S. Navy.

The MH-60S helicopter features extensive airframe commonality and shares the same Lockheed Martin Common Cockpit™ avionic suite with the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R ‘Romeo’ anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopter. To date, the two multi-role aircraft have logged 450,000 flight hours with the digital cockpit, which helps pilots easily perform a range of maritime missions.

This has been a busy time for the MH-60 program. Denmark recently down selected the MH-60 Seahawk as one of two possibilities for the country’s combat helicopter competition. The MH-60 team is also involved with an opportunity in South Korea.

Last June, Lockheed Martin delivered the 100^th MH-60R to the U.S. Navy. A week earlier, Australia selected the MH-60R to fulfill its Defence Force’s requirement for a fleet of 24 new-generation, multi-role naval combat aircraft. Australia will acquire the helicopters through the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program. Sikorsky also celebrated the production of 300 MH-60 multi-mission helicopters for the U.S. Navy in late April.