Japan Announces Completion Of SH-60L Seahawk Development
Japan’s defense ministry announced on December 22 that it had completed development on the SH-60L anti-submarine warfare helicopter, the newest Japanese variant of the Seahawk.
The announcement also approved the SH-60L for fielding with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Japanese defense ministry’s 2024 budget request includes a 66.5 billion yen (approximately $466.7 million) allocation for the purchase of 6 SH-60Ls.
The SH-60L is the successor to the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built SH-60K anti-submarine warfare helicopter. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was contracted to begin SH-60L development in December 2015, with the first flight of a prototype SH-60L taking place in May 2021.
The vast majority of changes between the SH-60L and SH-60K are internal, including a new transmission for better flight performance. To better conduct anti-submarine warfare against newer and more advanced submarines, the SH-60L receives a new low-frequency dipping sonar, improved acoustic processing, as well as a new high-speed datalink to facilitate collaborative missions with other SH-60Ls.
The SH-60L is the third generation of Mitsubishi-developed and built SH-60 variants, preceded by the SH-60K and the original SH-60J. The SH-60J entered service with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force in 1991, equipped with Japanese-developed avionics that replaced the original SH-60B Seahawk systems. 103 SH-60Js were built, with 10 remaining in service as of March 2023.
The SH-60J has been largely replaced in JMSDF service by the SH-60K, which features a larger cabin compartment alongside a new composite main rotor, new sensor suite, and a new glass cockpit. To compensate for the increase in size and weight, the SH-60K received more powerful engines. The first SH-60K was delivered in 2005, with production continuing to this day.
In recent years, Japan’s defense ministry has proposed the partial replacement of the JMSDF Seahawk fleet with maritime patrol unmanned aerial vehicles, reducing the total size of the Seahawk fleet across all variants to 75 Seahawks.