Hot new helicopter/rotorcraft news

[ChuckMK23]

No pics unfortunately. Had to check my phone into secure storage before being admitted to the sim/academic spaces.

 

[Gatordev]

Saw this yesterday. It doesn't say "who" the 350th Romeo is for, though. I thought the domestic lots were complete. If so, I'd guess this is another Indian aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Delivers 350th MH-60R Helicopter to U.S. Navy

OWEGO, N.Y., Jan. 13, 2026 – In a recent ceremony, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered its 350th MH-60R "Romeo" helicopter to the United States Navy. The aircraft was delivered to HSM-41, the...

news.lockheedmartin.com

 

[ChuckMK23]

Saw this yesterday. It doesn't say "who" the 350th Romeo is for, though. I thought the domestic lots were complete. If so, I'd guess this is another Indian aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Delivers 350th MH-60R Helicopter to U.S. Navy

OWEGO, N.Y., Jan. 13, 2026 – In a recent ceremony, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered its 350th MH-60R "Romeo" helicopter to the United States Navy. The aircraft was delivered to HSM-41, the...

news.lockheedmartin.com

For these FMS operators, who helps them develop tactics to operate these machines? Are there dedicated folks in the HSM community that do that?

 

[phrogdriver]

For these FMS operators, who helps them develop tactics to operate these machines? Are there dedicated folks in the HSM community that do that?

FMS cases are always "total package." They'll include the aircraft, spares, and training. Sometimes that's them paying for slots in the relevant USG schools, like the FRS. When Japan bought the V-22, they got slots in VMMT-204, and they paid for the additional IPs needed, some of whom were contract pilots. Other times, the prime contractor will be tasked to provide training in country. Bell is hiring former Marine H-1 pilots to spend a couple years in the Czech Republic teaching them Y/Zs.

The USG wants to see these countries succeed, and at least until 11 months ago, FMS was a way to solidify alliances and relationships. The DoD works with these countries to help them mature their capabilities with slots at more advanced schools, even apart from the contracted stand-up training.

 

[Lawman]

For these FMS operators, who helps them develop tactics to operate these machines? Are there dedicated folks in the HSM community that do that?

For and example the Polish, years on before they even got their first aircraft, we’ve been assisting them with all levels and echelons.

That’s crew mixed flights with the local Army unit in the expected aircraft. That’s simulator and gunnery training program discussions and us using the rotational units to proof ranges. We’ve sent Observer Coach Trainers to their staff exercises to learn how to plan and fight these new capabilities, etc.

And now you have the NET team on ground which the lowest time guy in that organization is a retired 3k hour Army aviator. So they’re getting lot of help to get comfortable fast.

 

[IKE]

Saw this yesterday. It doesn't say "who" the 350th Romeo is for, though. I thought the domestic lots were complete. If so, I'd guess this is another Indian aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Delivers 350th MH-60R Helicopter to U.S. Navy

OWEGO, N.Y., Jan. 13, 2026 – In a recent ceremony, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered its 350th MH-60R "Romeo" helicopter to the United States Navy. The aircraft was delivered to HSM-41, the...

news.lockheedmartin.com

IDK which FMS case got the 350th, but you've got India, Australia Lot 2, and at least one Scandinavian country coming.

 

[Gatordev]

For these FMS operators, who helps them develop tactics to operate these machines?

Nobody. Tactics are not sold with the package. A country can bring it's own experience and tactics with them. For all but one of the HSM cases I worked on, it was showing how the system works (and explaining how MDR and PRD works for acoustics and letting the customer figure out how geometry can be applied).

Are there dedicated folks in the HSM community that do that?

It's a complicated answer. Some of it depends on throughput, some of it depends on how many countries are trying to get through, and some of it depends on the delicacies of international relations.

There was a semi-independent training det at Mayport for a while, but that customer completed the contract. There is currently a training det in San Diego that two countries have used to date. Other countries have slid into the regular in-house RAG pipeline. It really depends on a lot of factors.

IDK which FMS case got the 350th, but you've got India,

Gotcha. They've already started training the second batch of Indians, so I would have thought they would have their aircraft at -41 already. But I'm out of the loop now.

 

[Meyerkord]

VerticalMag says it was delivered to HSM-41. Not sure if that’s the final destination

Lockheed Martin delivers 350th MH-60R helicopter to U.S. Navy

The aircraft was delivered to HSM-41, the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Maritime Strike Fleet Replacement Squadron.

verticalmag.com

 

[Meyerkord]

Attention, attention

ChuckMK23 flies an MH-60S! After a couple of decades + of not touching the controls of a Helo.

Actually not the actual aircraft, but I got a 1.0 in the MH-60S sim. Sat left seat with a young CAT 1 on a practice sim and hogged a good portion of the stick time. Did a bunch of pattern work. Did an dual engine flameout full auto and an ILS. Also SE running landing.

Some of the buttonology intuitive, but a lot, not so much. I found the basic collective brake trigger, Force trim, and coolie hat all straightforward. I kept mashing the wrong buttons on the cyclic and found myself paging through various MFD displays or how the HSI was presented or going in and out of hover symbology.

True ILS, some limited RNAV Enroute capability but no RNAV approach that I saw. It was all fascinating. Highly complex and certainly tons of capabilities. The Sierra NATOPS is over 1,000 pages. Ugh.

But overall....It. Was. A. Blast.

Also got a tour of HSC-2, and the East Coast HSC Weapons school. Briefly met the skipper of the Weapons School in the cabin gunnery M240 sim! Got to shoot the M240 in the cabin sim with helmet and cool VR goggles. I sank a fictitious dhao with my awesome weapon skills. The back breaking ergonomics of the cabin and gunner positions really were highlighted to me. VA disability city!

I am grateful for the access. Also excited to see all the fresh faced Cat I folks studying away. Oh to do it all again!

View attachment 44379

This is awesome! Glad you had a good time. We’ll have you tracking submarines in the back of a Romeo in no time.

 

[ChuckMK23]

A couple of inside baseball tidbits I picked up on:

The counter/anti mine system on the Sierra is really struggling.

The helmet mounted cueing/HUD/reticle on the Sierra is having issues with the HGU-56/P helmet.

A new design helmet for Helos, based on the next gen fixed Wing helmet, is being studied.