At a ceremony held on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Owego, N.Y., the U.S. Navy accepted the first MH-60R helicopter from Lockheed Martin to be delivered to the Royal Danish Air Force.
At a ceremony held on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Owego, N.Y., the U.S. Navy accepted the first MH-60R (Romeo) helicopter from Lockheed Martin to be delivered to the Royal Danish Air Force.
Representatives from the Royal Danish Air Force, the U.S. Navy, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin and employees, state and local government officials and other guests, were present at Lockheed Martin’s Building 080 Hangar for the unveiling ceremony.
Dan Spoor, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Aviation and Unmanned Systems, addresses the audience at the unveiling ceremony of the first MH-60R helicopter to be delivered to Denmark at Lockheed Martin on Thursday, Oct. 22.
The MH-60R is manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and equipped with advanced mission systems and sensors by Lockheed Martin. Already operational, the MH-60R is deployed as the primary U.S. Navy anti-submarine and anti-surface helicopter for open-ocean and littoral zones, with capabilities for secondary missions such as search and rescue, among other advanced features.
The helicopter will be subjected to a series of tests to validate Danish configuration modifications prior to acceptance by the Royal Danish Air Force. Acquiring nine total aircraft, the
The Owego Free Academy Jazz Band played the Danish and American National Anthems, as well as other music at the unveiling ceremony of the first MH-60R helicopter to be delivered to Denmark at Lockheed Martin on Thursday, Oct. 22. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
first will be delivered to Denmark in the second quarter of 2016 and the remainder by the end of 2018.
Denmark, the second international partner in the MH-60R program, follows the Royal Australian Navy who has received a total of 14 out of 24 aircraft from Lockheed Martin ahead of schedule, with the remaining ten to be delivered in 2016.
Dan Spoor, Lockheed Martin vice president of Aviation and Unmanned Systems shared, “We are honored to extend our international partnership with the Royal Danish Air Force.” Spoor
From left, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral CJ Jaynes and Craig Grubb, MH-60R program manager, pose in front of the first MH-60R helicopter to be delivered to Denmark at the unveiling ceremony at Lockheed Martin on Thursday, Oct. 22.
explained that the MH-60R helicopter addresses increasing threats in the world today, and that the capabilities and technology will protect our allies around the globe.
Stephanie Hill, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Ship and Aviation Systems, shared, “What an incredible day and nearly three years in the making,” and added, “Today is a celebration and the culmination of the dedication of everyone involved.”
Hill expressed the importance and value of the relationships and partnerships developed between Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy and also the future partnership with the Royal Danish Air Force.
Stephanie Hill, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Ship and Aviation Systems, addresses the audience at the unveiling ceremony of the first MH-60R helicopter to be delivered to Denmark at Lockheed Martin on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Rear Admiral CJ Jaynes, program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs, represented the U.S. Navy at the ceremony to accept the MH-60R aircraft bound for Denmark.
Jaynes commented, “Global mission is what brings us here today, and global and maritime security is critical. We’re proud to know these will be flying soon with the Royal Danish Air Force.”
Following the ceremony, Major General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, chief of Air Staff of Defence Command Denmark shared, “The MH-60R is a remarkable and reliable aircraft. With its increased abilities, it will also help us with search and rescue and surveillance, as we are heavily engaged all over the planet.”
During the ceremony and in a question and answer session afterwards, Spoor thanked and credited the dedicated employees at Lockheed Martin-Owego, about 500 of 2,600 total employees who committed thousands of hours, including summer weekends, to achieve completion of the MH-60R.
Major General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, chief of Air Staff of Defence Command Denmark, addresses the audience at the unveiling ceremony of the first MH-60R helicopter to be delivered to Denmark at Lockheed Martin on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Also at the unveiling ceremony, the Owego Free Academy jazz band performed both the Danish and U.S. National Anthems. Rev. Dr. Parrish L. Bridges, pastor of the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego delivered the invocation and Father Thomas Valenti of Blessed Trinity and St. Patrick Parish of Owego concluded the ceremony with a benediction.
