As the ‘eyes and ears’ of the U.S. Navy fleet, the MH-60R helicopter is a key node on the battle force network, alerting the aircrew and host ship of undersea and surface targets and their movements.
The aircraft collects and streams data from its electro-optical camera, multi-mode radar, sonar suite and electronic warfare systems to the host ship via an encrypted high speed data link, and to air assets as data snippets via Link 16.
Real-time feedback is critical in order to make decisive decisions that will have a positive outcome on the mission. The Network Centric Warfare capability of the MH-60R provides a huge tactical advantage to the fleet.
Link 16
The Link 16 data link allows MH-60 helicopters to send sensor data to other airborne assets without having to communicate by voice. Romeos also can task one another to prosecute a target, or hand off sensor tracks and snippets of video for improved fighting efficiency.
Hawklink
MH-60R aircraft (and legacy SH-60B helicopters since the 1980s) achieve broadband connectivity to the host ship across the ‘Hawklink’ Tactical Common Data Link, a C-band microwave frequency.
With the fielding of the Ku band microwave frequency range in 2012, the air-to-ship downlink will expand significantly (to 10 megabits per second), enabling the MH-60R to stream large quantities of information-rich data to the host ship or battle group commander.
A digital messaging interface in development by Lockheed Martin — designated SAU-7000 — specifically for the MH-60R Ku-band data link will allow a ship to request specific data from the helicopter, simultaneously receive streaming imagery and other messages, and capture ever greater levels of detail about multiple targets observed by the helicopter.
The interface also will prepare the MH-60R for future mission capabilities, such as over-the-horizon communications relay and connectivity to the U.S. Defense Department’s Global Information Grid.
Hawklink available to surface ships
In May, 2010, at the Heli Pacific conference near Brisbane, Australia, Lockheed Martin and Saab simulated the feasibility of streaming FLIR video from the MH-60R to an ANZAC frigate across the “Hawklink’ tactical common data link.
The proof of concept demonstrated the benefits of an advanced data link capability between the MH-60R and the Saab 9LV combat system aboard the ANZAC ship. The broadband data link is interoperable with Aegis-equipped ships, and can be integrated easily into the combat system aboard non-Aegis-equipped surface ships.
The demonstration illustrated how streaming FLIR video from the helicopter could give the ship’s commander an immediate assessment of the area under surveillance and fast decision making in response to threats.
With Hawklink capability, in an increasingly complex operating environment, Royal Australian Navy ship commanders will be able to rely on real-time, higher fidelity situational awareness from the MH-60R’s world class sensor suite to:
- send/receive timely, relevant information for high quality decision making
- identify and separate friendly, hostile and neutral forces, and assess intent
The scenario demonstrated how an MH-60R could provide top cover for a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat while boarding a merchant vessel, and send back real-time situational awareness to the ship commander via streaming video.
