USA: MH-60R Seahawk Romeo Training Devices Enhance Preparedness

The Avionics Sailors of New Squadron (NUSQN) 725 may have finished their time in the ordnance classroom, but they are finding the United States Navy’s synthetic training devices to be an extremely valuable training tool.

The sailors are using the devices to maintain currency and hone their war fighting skills, pending acceptance of the first two MH-60R Seahawk Romeo aircraft in December 2013.

POATV Luke Stevens recently took charge of an AGM-114 Hellfire weapon loading evolution using the MH-60R Seahawk Romeo Weapons Loading Trainer (WLT) at NAS Jacksonville.

“Loading a missile is a delicate, confined task and a realistic training device allows us to build our experience without using an expensive aircraft,” PO Stevens said.

“We achieved our aims and the team continues to grow in confidence,” he added.

The Royal Australian Navy’s WLT, procured under Air 9000 Phase 8, will be located in a new training facility built at HMAS Albatross. The WLT realistically simulates the aircraft’s mission system pre-firing checks and loading requirements for Hellfire missiles, lightweight torpedoes, sonobuoys and countermeasures.

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Press Release, August 27, 2013; Image: Navy