Article Posted on : - Mar 30, 2015

CANBERRA (BNS): The first of two Navy MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' flight simulators had been commissioned into service, Australia's Minister for Defence, Kevin Andrews said.

The Seahawk Romeo training system is part of the $3.2 billion dollar investment that will deliver 24 new Seahawk Romeo naval combat helicopters.

The training system will include two full motion flight simulators and a wide range of sophisticated maintenance trainers, allowing Navy's Seahawk Romeo crews to safely train in Australia across a wide range of operational and mission related training scenarios.

HMAS Albatross in Nowra, has already begun training Seahawk Romeo crew, with a training capacity of around 80 students a year, including pilots, aviation warfare officers, sensor operators, and maintenance personnel.

The simulators will prepare Navy crews for advanced maritime combat operations from Navy ships all over the world.

It is expected that the second simulator will be delivered in 2016.

The Seahawk Romeo helicopters are on track to achieve an Initial Operational Capability at sea by August 2015, an MoD statement said.