MH-60S Armed Helo: Upgraded Capability to a U.S. Navy Workhorse Helicopter

The MH-60S Armed Helo, shown in Figure 1, is a Block upgrade to the MH-60S Multi-Mission Helicopter (MMH), a successful workhorse Navy helicopter that has served the Fleet since 2002. Overall design constraints on the Armed Helo Block upgrade program included integration of proven fielded mission and weapon systems to the maximum extent possible. Measured against the overarching goals of cost, performance, and schedule, the final product delivered to the Fleet provides a tremendous increased capability at the expected cost. Nevertheless, the program did not meet the original schedule objectives for integration, test, procurement, and deployment for a variety of reasons. This paper will examine and explore some of these reasons, and provide lessons learned that could be used the next time a program attempts to integrate "proven, fielded mission systems" using a compressed schedule.