Aircraft & UAVs

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter

Also known as
  • SH-60B Seahawk
  • SH-60B Sea Hawk
  • Sikorsky SH-60B
  • LAMPS Mk III Seahawk
  • LAMPS Mark III Seahawk
  • Light Airborne Multipurpose System Mk III

The SH-60B Seahawk is the U.S. Navy's LAMPS Mk III shipboard helicopter, built around a Sikorsky airframe and mission systems for frigate, destroyer, and cruiser detachments. Navy, GAO, and USNI sources frame the aircraft as the helicopter element of an anti-submarine and anti-surface ship system, with Desert Storm surveillance use, later Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments, and torpedoes, Penguin missiles, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and crew-served guns documented in the SH-60B record.

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, LAMPS Mk III naval helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: US Navy 040825-N-4374S-005 SH-60B over Kuwait

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Crew
Four
Fuselage length
50 feet
Overall length
64 feet 8 inches
Height
17 feet
Power plant
2 x T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines
Primary missions
Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, logistics support, and communications relay
Shipboard basing
Cruisers, destroyers, and frigates equipped for LAMPS Mk III operations
Armament
Mk 46, Mk 50, or Mk 54 torpedoes; AGM-119 Penguin missile; AGM-114 Hellfire missiles; M60D/M240 7.62 mm machine gun or GAU-16 .50-caliber gun
LAMPS Mk III Mission Fit

The SH-60B was not only a shipboard helicopter airframe; it was the airborne part of the LAMPS Mk III ship-helicopter weapon system. GAO described the system as principally anti-submarine, with secondary anti-ship surveillance and targeting, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and logistics roles.

Host ships

Cruisers, destroyers, and frigates equipped for LAMPS Mk III operations.

Search and targeting

NHHC describes SH-60B operations around radar, sonobuoys, and maritime surface or submarine search from surface combatants.

Weapons carried

NHHC lists Mk 46, Mk 50, or Mk 54 torpedoes, AGM-119 Penguin, AGM-114 Hellfire, and crew-served guns in the SH-60B armament set.

Source labels used here: LAMPS Mk III GAO Review; SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC.

Variants

This record covers the SH-60B LAMPS Mk III branch of the Seahawk family. Linked family records provide the broader SH-60/MH-60 context and the MH-60R replacement path.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
SH-60 Seahawk helicopter, Shipboard maritime helicopter family, Aircraft & UAVsSH-60 Seahawk helicopterSeahawk family page

The SH-60B is the LAMPS Mk III surface-combatant branch within the wider Seahawk helicopter family.

Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC

MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, Primary anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsMH-60R Seahawk helicopterReplacement anti-submarine and surface-warfare variant

NAVAIR identifies the MH-60R and its mission systems as the replacement for legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft.

Sources: MH-60R Seahawk | NAVAIR

Carried Munitions

NHHC lists lightweight torpedoes and air-to-surface missiles in the SH-60B armament set. Existing catalog records can link several of those carried munitions directly.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
AGM-114 Hellfire missile family, Air-to-surface missile family, MunitionsAGM-114 Hellfire missile familyAir-to-surface missile family

NHHC lists AGM-114 Hellfire missiles among SH-60B armament, documenting the missile family as a carried weapon on the LAMPS Mk III Seahawk.

Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC

MK-46 torpedo, Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo, MunitionsMK-46 torpedoLightweight anti-submarine torpedo

NHHC identifies Mk 46, Mk 50, or Mk 54 torpedoes as SH-60B armament, placing the Mk 46 in the helicopter's anti-submarine loadout.

Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC

MK 50 Honeywell torpedo, Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo, MunitionsMK 50 Honeywell torpedoLightweight anti-submarine torpedo

NHHC identifies Mk 50 torpedoes as one of the lightweight torpedo options carried by the SH-60B Seahawk.

Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC

Crew-Served Guns

NHHC lists 7.62 mm door-gun options for the SH-60B alongside a .50-caliber GAU-16 option.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
M60 general-purpose machine gun, 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, Infantry WeaponsM60 general-purpose machine gunCrew-served door gun

NHHC lists the M60D 7.62 mm machine gun among SH-60B crew-served gun options.

Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC

FN MAG general-purpose machine gun, 7.62x51mm NATO general-purpose machine gun, Infantry WeaponsFN MAG general-purpose machine gun7.62 mm machine-gun family

NHHC lists the M240 as one of the SH-60B Seahawk's 7.62 mm machine-gun options; FN Herstal identifies M240 as an FN MAG designation.

Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC, FN MAG

Timeline

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter Key Events

  1. GAO reviews LAMPS Mk III development

    GAO described LAMPS Mk III as a computer-integrated Navy ship-and-helicopter system principally for anti-submarine warfare, with SH-60B deployment planned for cruisers, destroyers, and frigates.

    Sources: LAMPS Mk III GAO Review

  2. First production SH-60B flight

    NHHC records the first production SH-60B Seahawk flight on 11 February 1983.

    Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC

  3. Operational service begins

    NHHC places SH-60B operational service in 1984, with the type deployed from cruisers, destroyers, and frigates.

    Sources: SH-60B Seahawk | NHHC

  4. MH-60R replacement path reaches full operational capability

    NAVAIR says the MH-60R reached full operational capability in 2010 and replaced the fleet's legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft.

    Sources: MH-60R Seahawk | NAVAIR

  5. HSL-48 transition marks SH-60B phaseout

    The HSL-48 command history says the squadron transitioned to HSM-48 as the SH-60B was phased out with the MH-60R.

    Sources: HSM-48 Command History

Media

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter Images

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, LAMPS Mk III naval helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: SH-60B Seahawk.jpg
SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, LAMPS Mk III naval helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: SH-60B Seahawk.jpg
SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, LAMPS Mk III naval helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3
Source: Seahawk-penguin.jpg
SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, LAMPS Mk III naval helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 4
Source: US Navy 040825-N-4374S-005 SH-60B over Kuwait
Related Weapon Systems
SH-60 Seahawk helicopter, Shipboard maritime helicopter family, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSH-60 Seahawk helicopterShipboard maritime helicopter familyThe SH-60 Seahawk is the U.S. Navy's shipboard H-60 maritime helicopter family, spanning legacy SH-60B/F and HH-60H aircraft and the MH-60R/S successors now used from cruisers, destroyers, littoral combat ships, carriers, and other aviation-capable vessels. Navy and NAVAIR sources describe a family built around anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, search and rescue, mine countermeasures, cargo lift, special operations support, and maritime force protection.
MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, Multi-mission maritime helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsMH-60S Sea Hawk helicopterMulti-mission maritime helicopterThe MH-60S Sea Hawk is a U.S. Navy multi-mission helicopter derived from the Black Hawk/Seahawk family for shipboard logistics, search and rescue, special warfare support, mine-countermeasures, and armed maritime missions. NAVAIR describes the aircraft as sharing the MH-60R common cockpit while replacing legacy H-46D, H-3, and HH-1N roles; during Operation Epic Fury in the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict, MH-60S aircraft were documented aboard USS Abraham Lincoln handling flight-deck movements, cargo transport, and at-sea support.
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, Anti-submarine warfare and utility helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSikorsky SH-3 Sea KingAnti-submarine warfare and utility helicopterThe Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is the U.S. Navy H-3/S-61 maritime helicopter family built around twin turboshaft engines, an amphibious boat hull, dipping sonar, and carrier-deck folding features. Designed as a Cold War anti-submarine platform, it also became a rescue, utility, minesweeping, astronaut-recovery, and presidential-transport airframe, with direct Vietnam War combat-search-and-rescue documentation and later U.S. Navy service lasting until the last operational UH-3H retirement in 2009.
CH-148 Cyclone, Maritime helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsCH-148 CycloneMaritime helicopterThe Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is Canada's shipboard maritime helicopter, a military derivative of the S-92 built by Sikorsky for Royal Canadian Air Force detachments embarked on Royal Canadian Navy warships. Canadian sources describe it as a day/night, all-weather platform for surface and subsurface surveillance, search and rescue, tactical transport, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, with operational deployments under NATO assurance, maritime-security, and sanctions-monitoring missions.
AGM-114 Hellfire missile family, Air-to-surface missile family, MunitionsMunitionsAGM-114 Hellfire missile familyAir-to-surface missile familyThe AGM-114 Hellfire is a U.S. precision missile family developed for helicopter anti-armor missions and later adapted across UAVs, gunships, ships, and special-purpose strike roles. Cataloged combat use spans Desert Storm Apache strikes, Operation Iraqi Freedom aviation engagements, counter-ISIS and counterterrorism drone operations, Israeli helicopter fire in 2023, Ukrainian counter-drone Tempest vehicles assessed with AGM-114L Longbow missiles, and the secretive AGM-114R9X kinetic variant reported in low-collateral targeted strikes.
Black Hawk helicopter, Medium-lift military utility helicopter family, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsBlack Hawk helicopterMedium-lift military utility helicopter familyThe Black Hawk is Sikorsky's twin-engine medium-lift military utility helicopter family, developed from the U.S. Army's 1972 UTTAS requirement and fielded from 1978-79. The cataloged family covers utility, special-operations, armed, and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue variants, with directly documented use from the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu to NATO combat search and rescue over Kosovo, U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Ukrainian Defence Intelligence Black Hawk missions during the Russia-Ukraine war.
P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsP-3C Orion patrol aircraftMaritime patrol aircraftThe P-3C Orion is the armed maritime-patrol member of the U.S. Navy's land-based P-3 family, built by Lockheed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine warfare, surveillance, and overland ISR. Official Navy and wing-history sources tie P-3C service to Desert Storm, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve, including Maverick and SLAM-capable configurations as the fleet later transitioned to the P-8A Poseidon.

Sources

SH-60B Seahawk | NHHCPublisher: Naval History and Heritage Command | Note: Supports SH-60B Seahawk manufacturer context, first production flight, operational service, shipboard role, and armament. | Accessed: 2026-07-01SH-60B Seahawk current inventory | NHHCPublisher: Naval History and Heritage Command | Note: Supports SH-60B Seahawk dimensions, power plant, and crew data in the current aircraft inventory entry. | Accessed: 2026-06-23LAMPS Mk III GAO ReviewPublisher: U.S. Government Accountability Office | Note: Supports LAMPS Mk III system purpose, SH-60B use as the helicopter element, and planned cruiser, destroyer, and frigate deployment. | Accessed: 2026-07-01MH-60R Seahawk | NAVAIRPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports MH-60R replacement of legacy SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft and 2010 full operational capability. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Professional Notes | Proceedings, August 1991Publisher: U.S. Naval Institute | Note: Supports SH-60B use by U.S. Navy coalition forces in the 1990 Gulf War for northern Gulf anti-surface surveillance, locating Iraqi vessel movements, and vectoring attacks. | Accessed: 2026-07-01United States Navy in Desert Shield/Desert Storm | GulfLINKPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense GulfLINK | Note: Supports SH-60B use by coalition naval forces during Desert Storm with attack helicopters and surface combatants for surface-warfare offensive and reconnaissance capability. | Accessed: 2026-07-01US Navy 040825-N-4374S-005 SH-60B over KuwaitPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: U.S. Navy image metadata supports SH-60B use by HSL-42 while embarked aboard USS Vicksburg on a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; also supports image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-01HSM-48 Command HistoryPublisher: United States Navy | Note: 1990 Gulf War: used by U.S. Navy HSL-48 LAMPS detachments in support of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. 2003 Iraq War: fielded by HSL-48 detachments during Operation Iraqi Freedom, including cruiser deployments in the opening campaign and combat missions near Umm Qasr; also supports SH-60B phaseout context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01FN MAGPublisher: FN Herstal | Note: Supports FN MAG background and the M240 designation relationship used to link the SH-60B's M240 gun option to the existing FN MAG catalog record. | Accessed: 2026-07-01SH-60B Seahawk.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the primary SH-60B Seahawk gallery image, a public-domain U.S. Navy photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-23SH-60B Seahawk helicopter lands on carrier deck.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the second SH-60B Seahawk gallery image, a public-domain U.S. Navy photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-23SH-60B Seahawk of HSL-43 dropping sonobuoy.JPEGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for an SH-60B Seahawk dropping a sonobuoy, a public-domain U.S. DefenseImagery photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-25Seahawk-penguin.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a public-domain U.S. Navy photo of an SH-60B firing an AGM-119 Penguin during aircrew weapons certification. | Accessed: 2026-07-01