In yet another announcement in the FVL space the USN has issued an RFI on the US governments contract site "to fill capability gaps in the MH-60R/S and MQ-8C as they begin to reach their end of service in the 2030s."
I wonder how this aligns with the RN's Merlin capability gap in 2030 (assuming no or limited OSD extension)?
Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) Analysis of Alternatives RFIThis announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes. This is NOT a Request for Proposals. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. The Initial Capability Document (ICD) for Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Maritime Strike (MS), JROC validated on 8 November 2019 established a requirement for a vertical lift capability to support the US Navy, recapitalizing their existing fleet of MH-60R/S and MQ-8B/C systems. This new capability is expected to have an IOC in the mid-twenty thirty’s timeframe to support all described Navy missions.
The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N98) has directed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) be conducted to support efforts to identify cost-effective alternatives to fill capability gaps in the MH-60R/S and MQ-8C as they begin to reach their end of service in the 2030s. The MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles are the pillars of the Naval Helicopter Concept of Operations for the 21st century. The Warfighting Capability provided, whether deployed as Carrier Air Wing squadrons embarked on aircraft carriers under the leadership of carrier air wing commanders or as Expeditionary squadrons embarked on LHAs/LHDs, surface combatants and logistics vessels, is broad and unparalleled in naval warfare. N98 has identified a requirement to assess potential solutions for: 1) Capability gaps due to the increasingly sophisticated adversary as well as 2) Capacity gaps incurred with aging and expected retirement of the MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles. Identification of solution options for these gaps for a family of manned and unmanned systems is of paramount importance and is expected to support the broad range of decisions associated with the recapitalization of the MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles systems.
https://beta.sam.gov/opp/bd38391fe9de4d388d1579ab31f03bb1/view?keywords=%22maritime%20strike%22&sort=-relevance&index=&is_active=true&page=1
Covered by FlightGlobal, Aviation Week and verticalmag.com amongst others.