As the Minister mentions in his written statement, the four helicopters will be procured through a Foreign Military Sale and a government-to-government agreement.
The new MH-60Rs will allow the partial or complete withdrawal of the AgustaBell AB-212ASW platforms. The Hellenic Navy currently operates a fleet of 11 S-70B/B-6 Aegean Hawks and 7 AB-212ASW.
Initially, the plan was to procure only two MH-60Rs, but the latest statement brings their total number to four.
The MH-60R combines the features of the SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft. Its sensors package includes an MTS-FLIR, the AN/APS-147 multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, an advanced airborne fleet data link, and a more advanced airborne active low frequency sonar (ALFS). Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of new Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
