# Multi-Mission Helicopter Upgrade Dev — Program Element 0604216N

**Program element:** 0604216N  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604216N

## Summary

U.S. Navy funding falls 22% to a $88.9M request in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. Lockheed Martin leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 63.9 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 114.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 88.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 215.5 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 179.8 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 195.9 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 151.2 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 88.9 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 88.9 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 88.9 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 88.9 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (3)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1707 | MH-60 Development | 59.1 | 64.8 | 56.4 | −13% |
| 1709 | MH-60 Service Life Modernization | 0.0 | 0.0 | 32.5 | new start |
| 9999 | Congressional Adds | 4.8 | 49.2 | 0.0 | −100% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 1707 — MH-60 Development

The MH-60R/S program pursues upgrades and enhancements that pace the rapidly evolving threat and improve safety-of-flight for its pilots and aircrew. These efforts include improvements to existing sensors, network capabilities, weapon systems, avionics, communications, and navigation systems as well as integration of modern precision guided air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, fixed-forward and crew-served weapons, the Sensor Operator Console, data-fusion capability, and cUAS. The program is continuously evaluating Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) and making incremental improvements to various airframe, flight safety, mission systems, training systems and mission-planning systems. The program will continue development of architecture to support integration of secure, over-the-horizon communications in addition to modern en route navigation and terminal approach systems. MH-60R/S research and development initiatives include targeted improvements of the platform's cybersecurity posture, continued development of federated systems to rapidly field new capabilities, and development of Air Launched Effects (ALE). FY 2027 budget request funds the following: 1. System Configuration (SC) capability increases, Modernized Tactical Networks (to include Enhanced Throughput (ET) and Tactical Targeting Network Technology (i.e. mesh networks)), Radar Hardware and Software enhancements in support of Minotaur Family of Systems (MFoS), DMSMS solutions for the Air Vehicle, Mission Systems and Avionics, to include MH-60 Displays, Embedded Global Positioning System(GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS), Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) data transfer, Radar technical refresh, Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS), Common Datalink (CDL), Interface Unit Automatic Data Processing (IUADP) and Advanced Flight Control Computer obsolescence redesign. Obsolescence issues are expected to impact MH-60 readiness/availability beginning in FY27 and may require interim solutions until the MH-60 SLM development and fielding is completed. 2. Integration of the updated Link 16 Advanced Capabilities software and Tactical Networking (i.e. mesh network) to enable over-the-horizon targeting, enhance target sorting, and serve as a force multiplier in network enabled and long-range maritime targeting weapon engagements. 3.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Lockheed Martin (26.3, 47%), NAWC AD (7.0, 12%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avionics H/W and S/W Development | 48.9 | 54.6 | 46.4 |
| Engineering and Logistics | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Test and Evaluation | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 1709 — MH-60 Service Life Modernization

Under SLM, the MH-60 program will develop an open agile architecture that resolves multiple obsolescence issues within the flight critical avionics, and mission systems that can rapidly respond to emerging threats and fleet requirements ensuring the MH-60 continues to be a relevant, supportable, and cost-effective platform. FY 2027 budget request funds the following: 1. Initiate development of acquisition documentation for TALON Middle-Tier-of-Acquisition prototypes 2. Refine the TALON System Model for both the Flight Critical Avionics Segment (FCAS) and the Mission Systems and Weapon Segment (MSWS) 3. Award initial contract for the preliminary design of the FCAS and Digital Backbone (DBB) 4. Identify and develop test infrastructure and support building initial test development requirements for SLM efforts 5. FY 2027 funds lay the groundwork for multiple contract awards (including OTAs) in FY 2028

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** NAWCAD (0.4, 1.1%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Life Modernization | 0.0 | 0.0 | 32.5 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 9999 — Congressional Adds

FY 2025 Congressional Capability Upgrade funding of $4.827 million will fund the development, integration and testing of the proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) Skyhook System and the Kraken 18 Communication Pod as federated systems onto the MH-60. The FY 2026 Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) Congressional upgrade funding of $9.653M will fund pursuing upgrades and enhancements to pace the rapidly evolving threat landscape and improve flight safety. Key efforts include the development, integration, and testing of a resilient, multi-waveform communication architecture for aviation platforms. The primary objective is to ensure robust, high-throughput connectivity across Line-of-Sight (LOS) and BLOS environments to support modern warfighting concepts. These initiatives are critical for enhancing battlespace awareness, enabling network-enabled weapon engagements, and providing secure data transport for Command and Control (C2) across distributed forces. The FY 2026 Capability Congressional upgrade funding of $9.654M will fund critical modernization and supportability efforts for the MH-60R/S to enhance system reliability, improve cybersecurity, and expand mission planning capabilities. Funds will support improvements to system maintainability, acquiring essential data rights for Link-16, implementing a cyber bus monitoring solution, developing a common mission planning tool for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and providing test and evaluation support for the Minotaur family of systems. These efforts are essential for maintaining the operational effectiveness of the MH-60 fleet and ensuring it can meet current and future mission demands. The FY 2026 Mission Systems Modernization Congressional upgrade funding of $29.926M will fund Digital Engineering Environment development including Living Laboratory and DevSecOps Pipeline development. Additionally, funds will be provided for Modular Architecture for Survivability and Targeting (MAST) prototype development that will enhance MH-60 passive sensing and targeting capabilities. Funds will also address Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) obsolescence re-design efforts for the MH-60.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 38% | 33.6 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 0.1% | 0.1 |
| Other / unspecified | 62% | 55.1 |

**Top named industry performers:** Lockheed Martin ($26.3M, 30%), NAWC AD ($7.0M, 7.9%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The MH-60R/S program pursues upgrades and enhancements that pace the rapidly evolving threat and improve safety-of-flight for its pilots and aircrew. These efforts include improvements to existing sensors, network capabilities, weapon systems, avionics, communications, and navigation systems as well as integration of modern precision guided air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, fixed-forward and crew-served weapons, the Sensor Operator Console, data-fusion capability, and cUAS.

MH-60 SLM will begin with two phased Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) rapid prototyping development efforts to create the TALON prototype: 1) the Flight Critical Avionics Segment (FCAS) and Digital Backbone (DBB) prototype and 2) development and integration of the Mission Systems and Weapons Segment (MSWS). The competitive award of OTAs for both MTA development efforts will be a phased approach. Due to the competitive nature of the effort, specific details are withheld at this time to protect the integrity of the acquisition process. FY 2027 funds lay the groundwork for multiple contract awards (including OTAs) in FY 2028.

## Related program elements

- [0401218F — KC-135 Upgrades](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401218F) (Air Force)
- [0604212N — Other Helicopter Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604212N) (Navy)
- [0604771N — Medical Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604771N) (Navy)
- [0804772F — Training Developments](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0804772F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604216N (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604216N")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*