MH-60 Development

Abstract

The MH-60R/S program pursues upgrades and enhancements that pace the rapidly evolving threat and improve safety-of-flight for its pilots and aircrew. These efforts include improvements to existing sensors, avionics, communications, and navigation systems to include Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), the Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS), the MH-60R radar equipped with Automatic Radar Periscope Detection and Discrimination (ARPDD), integration of the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (obsolescence follow-on for Hellfire), the Sensor Operator Console, and MH-60R data-fusion capability. The program is also making incremental improvements to various airframe, flight safety, and mission-planning systems. VOR/ILS, on schedule be installed on MH-60R aircraft commencing in FY 2019, adds precision approach and airways-navigation capability to the MH-60R, and it greatly expands crews' ability to navigate in adverse weather. MH-60R is the lead platform for integration of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) / Low Volume Terminal (LVT) Block Upgrade 2 (an FAA and NSA mandate). MH-60R/S research and development initiatives include the evaluation and validation of the platform's cybersecurity posture. The MH-60R/S program is pursuing capability studies on open hardware and software architectures, avionics, mission systems, and air-vehicle kinematic performance. The program is also pursuing efforts in support of the MH-60 Mid-Life Upgrade. The FY 2019 budget request funds the following efforts: System Configuration 20 which includes capability improvements including fuel management and integration of both the Advanced Offboard Electronic Warfare (AOEW) pod and MIDS/LVT Block Upgrade 2 terminal; development of Network Enabled Weapons capability which includes the integration of J11 and J12.6 series messages into the MH-60R/S Link-16 architecture. These messages enable the helicopter to provide in-flight target updates to Net Enabled Weapons, streamline target sorting, and expand over-the-horizon targeting capability for surface platforms; development of critical Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) upgrades, specifically, platform design for the integration of a common ASE architecture; and developmental activities including capability studies, interoperability studies, aircraft service life evaluations, and open hardware and software architectures definition in support of MH-60 Mid-Life Upgrade.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2019
Source ID
1707_0604216N_5_1319_PB_2019

Tags

Readers

  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems

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