Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' Helicopter N48-008 (908) at Mackay and Bundaberg Airports

A surprise visitor to both Mackay and Bundaberg Airports on Tuesday 23 August in the form of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopter N48-008 (Code 908) calling in while on a trip South.

http://www.navy.gov.au/

It appears to have flown from the Navy's Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat to Cairns and South to Mackay and Bundaberg Airports.  The Seahawk is then believed to have flown onto RAAF Base Amberley.  It was heard using the radio callsign of "Tiger 08".

I believe this is the first time that one of the RAN's newer MH-60R Seahawk 'Romeo' naval combat helicopters have visited Central Queensland.  The MH-60R is the RAN's next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter and will form a very important part of it's operations for years to come.

The MH-60R is equipped with a highly sophisticated combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo. The primary missions of the 'Romeo' helicopter is anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. Secondary missions include search and rescue, logistics support, personnel transport and medical evacuation.

The MH-60R and its mission systems will replace the fleet’s S-70B-2 Seahawk aircraft.