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Helo plan falls short

The R and S models of the MH-60 Seahawk helicopter bring an impressive list of capabilities, from finding and destroying submarines, surface targets and mines to carrying out combat search-and-rescue, special operations and logistics missions.

There’s just one problem, and it’s a big one.

The Master Helicopter Plan, which replaces several legacy birds with just two types of helicopters, leaves the Navy short on medium-, heavy-lift and troop-transport missions.

This wasn’t a big deal when the “neck-down” program was conceived in the cost-conscious — and peacetime — late 1990s. Now, it’s problematic as the Navy supports operations for two wars while carrying out a multitude of other global roles and missions.

In that environment, it’s a handy thing to have helos that can carry large pieces of equipment, pallets of materiel and people to just about anywhere, yet be small enough to land on a warship.

In some instances, the MH-60s can, in their own way, accomplish these missions. But based on range and lift limitations, those helos will have to make more trips to get the job done. That’s expensive, wastes time and, over the long run, will prematurely age the aircraft.

“There are too many missions which could be compromised,” said Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., with the House Armed Services seapower subcommittee.

Another member, Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., pointed out that the Navy could carry out the medium- and heavy-lift missions without extending any of its aging troop transport or heavy-lift helos.

The Navy instead could buy more of the US-101 presidential helicopters or the S-92 or the European NH-90, said Sestak, a retired flag officer.

It’s well worth investigating. While the Navy’s plan to funnel nearly all of its rotary missions into two types of helicopters made great business sense, in the operational world, the picture is much different.