Modifying the MH-60S

has received a US Navy contract to complete the integration and flight testing of five airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) systems with the MH-60S multimission helicopter.

The contract establishes a new funding increment for an earlier award that focused on design engineering and partial AMCM systems integration.

Under this second phase contract, valued at $76.6 million, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY will finish linking the Lockheed Martin- designed AMCM Common Console with the two mine detection systems and the three mine neutralisation systems that comprise each AMCM suite.

The Common Console is the on-board control system that will allow the AMCM operator inside the helicopter to deploy and control each asset while performing mine countermeasures. Work is scheduled for completion by 2010.

In addition to hardware and software updates to the Common Console, Lockheed Martin will update the cockpit avionics software to enable the pilot to fly the correct flight pattern for the mine detection or neutralisation system the aircraft is carrying.

Lockheed Martin has designed the Common Console for the MH-60S AMCM mission, and also provides the Common Cockpit avionics suite, which is common to all MH-60R and MH-60S helicopters.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation designs and manufactures the MH-60R and MH-60S aircraft and is responsible for the mechanical and electrical modifications on the airframe.