Exerpted from the Gloabal Security.org website

The US Navy restructured the remaining MH-60R aircraft from a remanufacture of the existing US Navy H-60 fleet to a new buy program with a total requirement of 243 aircraft. Also, the program designation has changed from the SH-60R to reflect the MH-60R's multi-mission role.

The U.S. Navy had planned to convert all SH-60B's, and eventually all SH-60F's, to multi-mission SH-60R's. The new version will feature advanced radar, missiles, low frequency sonar and a host of other improvements.

The first test article MH-60R aircraft made its maiden forward flight on 19 July 2001, and the first two prototype MH-60R aircraft began test flights at the NAWC.

The SH-60R is an SH-60B or -F that has undergone a "remanufacturing" process (hence the "R"). In all, about 243 SH-60B and SH-60F helicopters currently in the fleet were to be reincarnated as SH-60Rs over 10 years. The airframe upgrades are necessary to extend the life of the Navy's helicopter fleet, adding a minimum of 10,000 hours to the helo's life. This "midlife upgrade" - the B/F models are nearing midpoint in their life cycle -- will allow the Navy to become an all H-60 helicopter fleet.

The SH-60R will help advance the Navy's Network Centric Warfare (NCW) mission; avionics upgrades will make the Hawkeye more NCW-friendly. And as crucial battles become more and more concentrated on the shores of the world's bodies of water instead of on the open sea, the upgrades are aimed at optimizing the Hawkeye for littoral operations. The modifications being effected are substantial. It's getting a new cabin, the tail is being given a service life extension, and the helo's avionics have gotten a significant upgrade. The new glass common cockpit (which it will share with the SH-60S) and the other modifications will reduce logistics and life-cycle costs. Major upgrades to both flight and mission avionics, as well as offensive and defensive weapons and countermeasures will occur during theconversion. These upgrades will include:

Upgraded Mission and Flight Displays

Improved Advanced Flight Control Computer (LECP)

Radar upgrade

ESM Upgrade

Improved Integrated Self Defense

Dipping Sonar upgrade (ALFS)