The US Navy has officially taken delivery of its 350th MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, marking a major production milestone for Lockheed Martin. The aircraft was handed over from the company’s Owego, New York manufacturing facility and assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 (HSM-41), a key training unit within the US Pacific Fleet.
HSM-41 plays a central role in preparing naval pilots and aircrew to operate the MH-60R, which has served as the US Navy’s primary rotary-wing platform for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) missions since 2010. The squadron ensures combat readiness across carrier strike groups and maritime patrol operations.
Designed as a multi-mission naval helicopter, the MH-60R integrates an open-architecture avionics system, advanced radar and sonar sensors, electronic support measures, secure data links, and a diverse weapons package. Its armament includes AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and MK 54 lightweight torpedoes, allowing it to counter both surface and subsurface threats.
The helicopter entered operational service in 2006 and has been actively employed in recent years, including engagements against hostile drones in the Gulf of Aden and armed Houthi skiffs in the Red Sea. Built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, the MH-60R is expected to remain in frontline US Navy service through the 2050s. Beyond the United States, the Seahawk is operated or ordered by allied nations such as Australia, India, Greece, and Spain, underscoring its global relevance.
