Lockheed Martin [LMT] and the U.S. Navy has delivered the 24th and final MH-60R Seahawk helicopter to the U.S. Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the company said Monday.

The delivery occurred at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the company’s new logistics and maintenance facility in Nowra, in New South Wales, Australia which will also house and maintain the MH-60R fleet.

A U.S. Navy MH-60R Helicopter using an AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) system as an integrated dipping sonar system. Photo: Lockheed Martin.
A U.S. Navy MH-60R Helicopter using an AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) system as an integrated dipping sonar system. Photo: Lockheed Martin.

The Nowra facility includes two buildings: a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul base as well as a Logistic Center warehouse to provide Through Life Support logistics services for the Seahawks.

“We are delighted to be here today with our U.S. Navy partners to hand over the keys to the final MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopter to the Royal Australian Navy. Lockheed Martin is proud of the team who have accomplished such an outstanding achievement, delivering to Australia the full fleet of SEAHAWKS on time and on budget,” Raydon Gates, chief executive of Lockheed Martin’s Australia and New Zealand division, said at the ceremony.

“We at Lockheed Martin are committed to securing and investing in the future of Australia.  This facility in Nowra will house and maintain the new fleet, contributing to the local community and creating local job opportunities,” Gates added.

The MH-60R’s primary mission areas are anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. It can also conduct secondary missions including search and rescue, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation, and VHF/UHF/link communication relay. The new helicopters are replacing the RAN’s previous fleet of S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters.

The ceremony included representatives from Lockheed Martin, the Australian Chief of Navy Vice Adm. Tim Barrett as well as officials from the New South Wales State Government, the Royal Australian Navy and the US Navy.

Australia chose the MH-60R in June 2011 to fulfill the Australian Defense Force’s requirement for a fleet of 24 new-generation multi-role naval combat aircraft.