The Saudi Press Agency has announced that the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) has launched the first MH-60R maritime helicopter.
RSNF Commander General Al-Ghufaili said that this type of aircraft has the latest military technology and is characterized by the high combat capabilities of surface and sub-surface wars, which enhances the capabilities of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces to meet all challenges and threats in the region and to contribute in partnership with the naval forces of other countries to enhance maritime security in the region.
For his part, President Daniel Schultz of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company has highly commended the partnership between the Saudi Royal Navy Forces and Lockheed Martin, expressing his happiness of the launch of the aircraft as one of the most reliable Helicopter aircraft in the industry.
Rear Admiral Francis D. Morley, director of the US Navy‘s International Cooperation Program, said the project was an opportunity to develop the strategic relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, in particular the historical relationship between the Saudi Navy and the US Navy.
The MH-60R SeaHawk helicopter is the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter. It is the most capable naval helicopter available today designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a sale of ten Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin MH-60R multi-mission helicopters in 2015 for an estimated cost of $1.9 billion under the U Foreign military sales program.
