The navy’s newest helicopter crews for the Seahawk Romeos have achieved a significant milestone, passing 1000 flight hours in the MH-60R aircraft.
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The crews from New Squadron 725 (NUSQN 725), which are still undergoing training on the new aircraft in the US, clicked over the achievement without fanfare but with considerable style during an exercise flying as a dip gang against a Peruvian Type 209 submarine, one of 11 operations conducted last weekend.
The first two Romeos are expected back in Australia at HMAS Albatross in coming weeks, with the first Romeo flight planned for November.
The Romeos are set to be the RAN’s next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, and the cornerstone of the navy’s aviation combat capability.
Squadron crews have been undertaking a variety of training operations, including anti-submarine exercises launching Mk 54 torpedos and Hellfire missiles.
Squadron commanding officer Commander David Frost said every sailor and officer of NUSQN 725 should be proud of the milestone.
“It's great to see young maintainers and aviators so keen and focused on warfare training,” he said.
“To launch into a local exercise including six US Navy Romeo squadrons, three P3 and P8 Squadrons, two visiting US Navy Carrier Groups and a live submarine is an opportunity not lost on any of us.”
NUSQN 725 will end its operations in Jacksonville in December.
