Curtiss-Wright to Help Lockheed Upgrade Navy Seahawk Helicopters’ Mission, Flight Management Computers

Lockheed Martin has awarded Curtiss-Wright a contract to provide its modular open system approach computers and video processing modules to enhance the mission computer and flight management computer installed on the Sikorsky MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters of the U.S. Navy.

The initial contract is worth $24 million but could have a lifetime value of $70 million, Curtiss-Wright said in a recent press release.

The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk helicopter can deploy aboard any air-capable frigate, destroyer, cruiser, fast combat support ship, aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship.

Under the contract, Curtiss-Wright will provide rugged single-board computers and video processing modules from its Modified Commercial-Off-the-Shelf program.

Curtiss-Wright’s Modified COTS effort enables systems integrators to enhance individual modules in their legacy systems without performing a complete replacement.

According to Lockheed’s subcontractor, the MH-60/RS MC/FMC upgrade aims to provide advanced display graphic capabilities to the Navy helicopter platform. The upgrade will provide compatibility with current imaging and display systems.

The enhancement will also offer capabilities that support future imaging sensors and high-resolution displays, Curtiss-Wright said.

The Davidson, North Carolina-headquartered defense contractor also noted that its modules would enable the integration of “trusted and secure computing” features to ensure the Sikorsky helicopter’s resiliency and secure operations during cyber attacks.