Navy Holds Handover Ceremony for New MH-60R Maritime Operation Helicopter ... Conducts Anti-Submarine Operations

Handover Ceremony for New Seahawk Maritime Operation Helicopter Held
at the Navy Aviation Command's 62nd Air Squadron in Jinhae

On the morning of April 1, the Navy held a handover ceremony for the new maritime operation helicopter MH-60R at the 62nd Maritime Air Squadron in Jinhae, Gyeongnam.

The ceremony, presided over by Navy Chief of Staff Kim Kyung-ryul, was attended by over 100 participants, including key Navy commanders and personnel from the Jinhae region, officials from the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, as well as pilots and crew members assigned to the newly delivered MH-60R.

On March 31, one day before the delivery ceremony of the new maritime operation helicopter MH-60R, personnel of the Naval Aviation Command pledge to protect the maritime sovereignty of the Republic of Korea in front of the MH-60R at the 62nd Maritime Air Squadron in Jinhae, Gyeongnam.

Rear Admiral Cho Young-sang, Commander of the Naval Aviation Command, stated in his commemorative address, "The newly introduced MH-60R is a proven aircraft boasting the best performance among existing maritime operation helicopters. With its expanded detection range and enhanced attack capabilities, we will more firmly defend the maritime sovereignty of the Republic of Korea."

In his congratulatory remarks, Navy Chief of Staff Kim Kyung-ryul said, "From today, the Seahawk, which will be deployed for full-scale operations, will deliver devastating defeat to the enemy and overwhelming victory to our forces, thanks to its hawk-like superior detection and tracking abilities, armament, and rapid maneuverability. I hope you will ensure the rated performance and mission readiness of the aircraft through practical education and training, securing operational safety, and maintaining safe and thorough maintenance."

Chief of Staff Kim then held a calligraphy ceremony wishing for the safe flight of the MH-60R helicopter. Afterward, he gave the order for the first operational sortie, and Major Jeon Young-chae, the pilot, pledged, "I will carry out the mission entrusted to me for the defense of the Republic of Korea's maritime territory to perfection."

Kang Seong-kwon, Brigadier General and Head of the Aviation Program Division at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, who attended the ceremony, stated, "The new MH-60R maritime operation helicopter is capable of performing a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue operations. I hope that the MH-60R introduced today will make our seas even safer and serve as a foundation for further enhancing the Navy's aviation operational capabilities."

The new MH-60R maritime operation helicopter is equipped with advanced detection equipment and armament, allowing it to be deployed on ships for various missions, including maritime patrol, anti-surface operations, anti-submarine operations, and search and rescue missions. When equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks, it can fly for up to four hours, and it features high-performance surveillance and reconnaissance systems such as maritime radar, digital electro-optical (EO)/infrared (IR) equipment, and electronic warfare equipment (ESM).

In addition, thanks to the improved flight performance of the aircraft, it can conduct anti-submarine operations over an expanded area using acoustic equipment such as dipping sonar and sonobuoys. It is also armed with Hellfire anti-ship guided missiles and MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, and system integration is underway to enable it to carry the domestically produced Cheongsangeo lightweight torpedo.

The Navy plans to first deploy two MH-60R helicopters that have completed operational deployment, and then sequentially integrate the remaining units into service.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.