Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Ghufaili, launched the first MH-60R navel multirole Helicopter aircraft which operates on board the fleet’s ships and naval bases, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, General Al-Ghufaili explained that the joining of Seahawk (MH-60R) multi-tasking helicopters to the Royal Saudi Navy Forces comes is in line with the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Defense’s future vision being supported by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Supreme Commander of all military forces, and in accordance with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense.

General Al-Ghufaili added that this type of aircraft has the latest military technology and is characterized by the high combat capabilities of surface and sub-surface wars, which enhances the capabilities of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces to meet all challenges and threats in the region and to contribute in partnership with the naval forces of other countries to enhance maritime security in the region.

For his part, President Daniel Schultz of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company has highly commended the partnership between the Saudi Royal Navy Forces and Lockheed Martin, expressing his happiness of the launch of the aircraft as one of the most reliable Helicopter aircraft in the industry.

Rear Admiral Francis D. Morley, director of the US Navy's International Cooperation Program, said the project was an opportunity to develop the strategic relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, in particular the historical relationship between the Saudi Navy and the US Navy.