Australia To Buy 24 Naval Combat Helicopters For Over A$3B

Australia plans to buy 24 Lockheed Martin Corp. and Sikorsky manufactured naval combat helicopters for more than A$3 billion to replace existing Seahawk helicopters, the government said Thursday.

A key feature of the new MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters will be the ability to fire Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and launch the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo, earning the Australian navy capacity to have eight warships with a combat helicopter at the same time, the government said.

"Their job is to hunt and kill submarines," said defense materiel minister Jason Claire in a press conference. He said the helicopters have a proven record in the U.S. navy, which operates around 100 of the Romeo helicopters, and the helicopters will also be deployed in anti-piracy operations.

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