U.S. Navy Orders 12 MH-60R Helicopters for South Korean Navy

An MH-60R Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 74, on the flight deck of the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) Nov. 24, 2013, in the Gulf of Oman. *U.S. NAVY / Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lorenzo J. Burleson*

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered 12 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from Lockheed Martin for the South Korean navy through Foreign Military Sales program.

The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $447.2 million firm fixed-price order for the production and delivery of 12 MH-60R aircraft for the government of the Republic of Korea, an April 12 Defense Department announcement said.

The sale of MH-60Rs to South Korea was approved by the U.S. State Department in August 2020. The sale “will improve the Republic of Korea Navy’s capability to perform anti-surface and antisubmarine warfare missions, along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay,” the release said. “The Republic of Korea will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. The Republic of Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters and support into its armed forces.”

In addition to the U.S. Navy, the MH-60R has been operated or ordered by six other nations: Australia (24), Denmark (9), Saudi Arabia (10), India (24), Greece (4) and South Korea (12).