Corgi Aviation Archive AA35904 Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk, No.816 Squadron, Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Anzac, 2005

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AA35904 - Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk, No.816 Squadron, Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Anzac, 2005

Limited Edition #738

The S-70B-2 Seahawk is a twin-engine helicopter with many features designed specifically for ship-borne operations. Fitted with a foldable four-bladed main rotor and tail pylon (to enable the aircraft to be stowed in the hangar aboard a frigate), the Seahawk is a conventional helicopter. However, it is an advanced anti-submarine warfare 'craft' with a high level of integration of its tactical, navigation, communications and weapons systems.

The RAN operates 16 Seahawks. The Sikorsky Aircraft Division of United Technologies Corporation in Florida, USA, manufactured the first batch of eight aircraft. Aerospace Technologies Australia (ASTA) at Avalon in Victoria assembled a second batch of eight aircraft. The final aircraft was delivered to the RAN in 1992. The S-70B-2 is powered by twin T700-GE-401C turbine jet engines. To detect submarines, it is equipped with radar, acoustic processor and magnetic anomaly detector and can use a wide range of expendable sonobuoys. The avionics system is built around a dual MIL-STD1553B data bus controlled by two computers. Once detected and classified, submarine contacts can be dealt with by launching MK46 lightweight torpedoes.

In its role of anti-submarine warfare, the aircrew employs the aircraft's acoustic system to simultaneously monitor a number of sonobuoys, which are deployed from the aircraft in-flight. In the aircraft's role of anti-surface warfare, the lightweight radar is capable of automatically tracking contacts. The radar can detect targets at ranges far beyond the coverage provided by surface ships in a task force, with all information processed on board being capable of transmission in high-speed bursts (via secure data-link) to the operations rooms of the Navy's FFGSs .The aircraft's navigation suite, which integrates data from GPS, Doppler and air-data computers, produces a constantly updated position which allows for accurate targeting for a ship's Harpoon missiles.

The aircraft is operated by a crew of three –one pilot (who is the aircraft captain), one observer and one aircrewman. In addition to its primary warfare roles, the S-70B-2, with its built-in winch and cargo hook, is also used extensively at sea to transfer personnel and for the vertical replenishment of stores to ships while they remain under way. With minor modification, the aircraft is capable of being converted to a troop-carrying role, lifting up to 10 troops at time. The Seahawk was expected to be the mainstay of the Fleet Air Arm for at least 20 years.