MITSUBISHI HEAVY Industries (MHI) has flown the first XSH-60L prototype, a further development of the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare helicopter. An initial hover test flight was made by the helicopter, serial number 8501, on May 12 at MHI's facility in Nagoya, Japan, lasting about 30 minutes. It had been rolled out on October 1, 2020, and completed its ground test campaign on May 11, this year. The new variant is being developed by MHI at the Komaki Minami plant of Nagoya Aerospace Systems Manufacturing Co Ltd under a November 2015 contract with the Japanese Ministry of Defense's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ALTA). The new model is based on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF's) SH-60K, which is in itself an improved version of the SH-60J. The SH-60K incorporates further upgrades to improve capabilities of the onboard systems and provide enhanced flight performance. These include a new multi-static, low-frequency dipping sonar system, an adaptive control millimetric wave ultra-high-speed data link, better acoustic processing and an upgraded transmission. After further company flight tests, this XSH-60L will be delivered, along with a second prototype, to the ALTA for further evaluation.
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