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, network capabilities, weapon systems, avionics, communications, and navigation systems as well as integration of modern precision guided air-to-ground missiles, fixed-forward and crew-served weapons, the Sensor Operator Console, and data-fusion capability. The program is also evaluating Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) and making incremental improvements to various airframe, flight safety, and mission-planning systems. The program will continue development of architecture to support integration of secure, over-the-horizon communications in addition to modern en route navigation and terminal approach systems. 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 performance. FY 2024 budget request funds the following: 1. System Configuration (SC) capability increases, including fuel management and safety, Advanced Offboard Electronic Warfare (AOEW), Modernized Tactical Networks (to include Network Enabled Weapons, Concurrent Multi-netting, and Tactical Targeting Network Technology messages), Common Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), Radar Hardware and Software enhancements in support of Minotaur Family of Systems (MFoS), and Air Vehicle, Mission Systems and Avionics DMSMS solutions, to include MH-60 Displays, Embedded Global Positioning System(GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS), Radar technical refresh, and Advanced Flight Control Computer obsolescence redesign. Obsolescence issues are expected to impact MH-60R readiness/availability beginning in FY27. FY24 also commences development of Next Generation Naval Mission Planning System (NGNMPS) Mission Planning tool development and integration for enhanced MH-60 Mission Planning. 2. Development of critical aircraft survivability equipment upgrades, including the platform design for the integration of Common ASE/Distributed Aperture Infrared Counter Measures (DAIRCM) and initial investigation of a Passive Detection modern Radar Warning Receiver (RWR). Common ASE substantially improves the survivability of MH-60 aircraft, significantly enhancing the defense of high value units and enabling operations in high threat scenarios. Passive Detection/modern RWR will provide increased survivability and enable the MH-60 aircraft to be an Electronic Warfare Support Measures (ESM) node to provide threat awareness and targeting data to the Fleet. 3. Integration of Tactical Networking to enable over-the-horizon targeting, enhance target sorting, and serve as a force multiplier in network enabled weapon engagements. 4. DMSMS engineering, replacement part development, and qualification testing for known and forecasted Avionics, Mission Systems, Air Vehicle systems and other obsolete parts. These DMSMS solutions will provide considerations for cost reduction and improvement in reliability and performance. The obsolescence solutions will align with the Future Capabilities Roadmap to minimize duplication and align the mid-life upgrade configuration changes with the needed solutions. Major DMSMS/Obsolescence items include Pilot, Co-pilot, and Aircrew Displays and Automatic Flight Control Computer. 5. Radar Hardware and Software refreshment will enable the MH-60R to input into MFoS capabilities and integrated third-party applications will provide enhanced Battlespace Awareness and enriched over-the-horizon targeting support through improved national and tactical sensor integration via common data exchanges via enhanced Tactical Data Networks in support of Distributed Maritime Operations concepts. 6. Developmental activities including capability studies, interoperability studies, and open hardware and software architectures definition in support of MH-60 mid life upgrades. 7. Development and integration of the MH-60 Next Generation Mission Planning System.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 1707_0604216N_5_1319_PB_2024
Related Documents
- Root: Multi-Mission Helicopter Upgrade Dev
- Child Accomplishment: Avionics H/W and S/W Development
- Child Accomplishment: Engineering and Logistics
- Child Accomplishment: Test and Evaluation
- Child Cost Item: 63c33c923553ac45153cdbf8281030d4
- Child Cost Item: f57b877e88d7d76b5e3ddf7b9f4d82c1
- Child Cost Item: 5b9875fac8989bcd3cdf2313df5f0834
- Child Cost Item: 59ca6bf9b115228590f103832efa26eb
- Child Cost Item: e4b44b456d096174c2d4892d04be02da
- Child Cost Item: 8a649002452255e201aa1abea1f051c0
- Child Cost Item: 925e0aaafc922acb0884553945722e44
- Child Cost Item: 97ab4c49025f943240ed397e4d68bf1f
- Child Cost Item: 6059fc8a8cd48c2ab6daedf64acdcfe0
- Child Cost Item: 2f38f88958d383996723a5b31961c9a0
- Child Cost Item: 7949d058bf2eae4ee789fe9049213129
- Child Cost Item: 42c81d9ed417f611f3c969d74a8f2fc9
- Child Cost Item: 967cf2fc30f3cae56ee0275f89af7e90
- Child Cost Item: 0271c0c00eb016277435de87dd12d892
- Child Cost Item: cac7b68346afe07413dd081687c33ba1
- Child Cost Item: 04c7eedfe6a0eb6d6fc2ff0fe0aa1a87
- Child Cost Item: 40d59d3ec716d471a42f7a5cddf4db9a
- Child Cost Item: 21a00172a466cbe2ccc2b388161aa626
- Child Cost Item: 2a2ff8869aefd1bd7007dfd788333727
- Child Cost Item: d6c9c8e16f96ae4f66db222196a05725
- Child Cost Item: 181b9ac39b2829d1d9dc14c714926af5
- Child Cost Item: f3b5f62e90150f16957f7ab6cc2078c9
- Child Cost Item: 52f0b24bb94839c1589468af3138eaae
- Child Cost Item: 7775d1fd3c20fc54e47f46e5094c2753
- Child Cost Item: 218e6839dcfbc263f8af1e097e335a1d
- Child Cost Item: 26048ea39a02ed1f91a22dafb4205a0b
- Child Cost Item: 94b1d33c2b1e603788a27cd65825bf69
- Child Cost Item: 93697fd634dd114a4d51b8337fcbcabc
- Child Cost Item: 631e6e45514b59b2d1d50bab775f725d
- Child Cost Item: 302ec156841b91ddc17734ad1553206f
- Child Cost Item: a5db360e5d34f1b505537e172302adc9
- Child Cost Item: bb3677ab436fb6fb05dd4e30267af1d5