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Originally Posted by AT3Weins David Axe | July 28, 2006
The Navy has received the first four of around 250 advanced helicopters worth $2.5 billion that will replace hundreds of Reagan-era aircraft and change the way it fights on, above and under the sea. Multi-role Helicopter Squadron 41, based at Naval Air Station North Island near San Diego, Calif., accepted four Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawks in January. Read the full article here |
They sound like a good bit of kit Mike, although slightly compromised by keeping the twin engines and quite cramped chassis of the exisisting Blackhawk/Seahawk liniage.
http://www.sikorsky.com/details/1,,C...ETI816,00.html 
Whilst this makes good sense logistically for parts interchangability with existing aircraft (rotors, engines etc). The aircraft itself however will never be as good a made to measure system built from the ground up.
It's nice to see that the Royal Navies Fleet Air Arm has now been given a perfect helo for all of the roles that your new bird is intended for, they had for too long been 'making do' with various modifications of the Sea King and Sea Lynx families - with a small grey area of overlap between each type.
Our new bird the EH-101 Merlin (a modifed version the US-101 is also to replace your Presidents Black Hawk as his new VIP helo, it has also been selected by the by the Marnine Corps to be the new Marine One, the US Coast Guard and Navy are also considerering different versions):
(Photo taken by me!)
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/eh101.htm 
Navy
08-03-2006, 09:05
Navy Gets New High-Tech Choppers 
Non sibi sed patriae 
