SH-60L

The SH‑60L is a medium‑size anti‑submarine warfare helicopter developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Maritime Self‑Defense Force (JMSDF). Its design traces back to the U.S. Sikorsky SH‑60 Seahawk, which entered service in the 1980s, but the SH‑60L was specifically adapted to meet Japan’s maritime requirements and began production in 1997. First delivered in 1999, the type replaced older SH‑60J aircraft and has since become the backbone of the JMSDF’s helicopter fleet, serving on destroyers, frigates and as a land‑based platform.

Key features include a four‑bladed composite main rotor, a robust Glass Cockpit with digital flight displays, and integrated mission systems such as the Dipping Sonar, Magnetic Anomaly Detector and a nose‑mounted radar. The powerplant is a General Electric T700‑GE‑701C turboshaft delivering 1,800 shaft horsepower, providing a cruising speed of roughly 260 km/h and a range of 800 km. Enhanced survivability is achieved through armor plating, crash‑worthy seats and redundant hydraulic circuits.

The SH‑60L’s combination of modern avionics, proven airframe reliability and specialized maritime sensors has solidified its role in Japan’s sea‑lane protection, submarine detection and humanitarian‑assistance missions, marking it as a pivotal asset in contemporary naval aviation.