Profile: MH-60R Seahawk

The MH-60R Seahawk, also known locally as Romeo, is the dedicated Naval variant of the Black Hawk helicopter. The Royal Australian Navy took delivery of 24 Seahawks between 2016 and 2019, and in May 2022, the federal government placed an order for 12 additional Romeos to replace Navy’s troubled Taipan fleet. Deliveries for this next tranche of Romeos are expected to begin in 2025.

The MH-60R Seahawk primarily conducts Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) tasks, as it can detect and track submarines and surface ships, and attack with torpedoes and missiles. The helicopter is also used for search and rescue, vertical replenishment, medical evacuation and insertion and extraction of special forces purposes.

Compared with Black Hawks, key modifications of the Seahawk fleet include foldable main rotors and hinged tails, to aid storage aboard naval aircraft carriers. The Seahawk is also specially modified for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, as well as emergency services capabilities, and is capable of externally holding anti-ship or air-to-surface missiles, along with Mk.46 or Mk.50 torpedoes.