Multi-Mission Helicopter Upgrade Development

Mission — Multi-Mission Helicopter Upgrade Dev source

This Program Element funds the development and improvement of MH-60R/S systems. The MH-60R provides persistent distributed, integrated, and maneuverable capabilities in the support of the Navy's Fleet Design and Distributed Maritime Operations concepts through its primary missions: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance & Targeting (ISR&T), Antisubmarine Warfare, Surface Warfare (SUW), Electronic Warfare, Command and Control, and Non-Combat Operations. Secondary missions include: Amphibious Warfare, Air Warfare, Health Services, Fleet Support - Operations, Logistics, and Naval Special Warfare (NSW). Primary missions of the MH-60S include Combat Logistics, SUW, NSW, Combat Search and Rescue, and Airborne Mine Countermeasures. Additional missions include ISR&T, Search and Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance and Defense Support for Civil Authorities.

Mission — MH-60 Development source

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 and development of federated systems to rapidly field new capabilities. The MH-60R/S program is pursuing capability studies on open hardware and software architectures, avionics, mission systems, and air-vehicle performance. FY 2026 budget request funds the following: 1. System Configuration (SC) capability increases, Modernized Tactical Networks (to include Enhanced Throughput (ET) and Tactical Targeting Network Technology (TTNT) (i.e. mesh networks)), 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) (EGI), Radar technical refresh, and Advanced Flight Control Computer (AFCC) obsolescence redesign. 2. Integration of Link 16 Advanced Capabilities, Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) Concurrent Multi Network (CMN)-4, and Tactical Networks (i.e. mesh network) to enable over-the-horizon targeting, enhance target sorting, and serve as a force multiplier in network enabled and long range maritime targeting weapon engagements. 3. DMSMS engineering, replacement part development, and qualification testing for known and forecasted Avionics (Displays), Mission Systems (sensors, i.e. passive detection/modern Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Air Vehicle systems (AFCC), survivability 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 block upgrade configuration changes with the needed solutions. 4. Radar Hardware and Software refreshment will enable the MH-60R to input into MFoS capabilities. 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 through enhanced Tactical Networks in support of Distributed Maritime Operations concepts. 5. Developmental activities including capability studies, interoperability studies, and open hardware and software architectures definition in support of MH-60 mid-life block upgrades. 6. Continued development and integration of the MH-60 Collaborative Mission Planning Continuum (CMPC). 7. Continued development of federated systems that address the rapidly evolving threat environment.

Mission — Congressional Adds source

FY 2025 Congressional Capability Upgrade funding of $5.000 million will fund the development, integration and testing of the proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) Skyhook System and the Kraken 18 Communication Pod as federated systems onto the MH-60.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)