Contract awarded for RoKN MH-60R Seahawks

On 12 April 2021, Lockheed Martin Corp., was awarded a USD 447 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for the production and delivery of twelve MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Daehan Minguk Haegu (Republic of Korea Navy).

All work is expected to be completed in December 2024. In December 2020, the South Korea Defense Acquisition Programme Administration reported that the Seahawk had been chosen. The US made helicopter was favoured over the Leonardo AW159 Wildcat.

The sale of the MH-60R Seahawk will improve South Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) capabilities and will enhance interoperability with US Naval forces. Interesting detail is that in February 2020, the US president Donald Trump urged the South Korean government to give preference to US made helicopters over UK made helicopters.

Photo (just illustrative): MCSN Aja B. Jackson/US Navy