An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


News Stories

Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic

Joint Effort Completes HSM-79 MH-60R Repairs

by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aimee Ford
17 January 2023 Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 79 completed an MH-60R tail bushing repair with Spanish aviation specialists at Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 2023.
Sailors walk towards a helicopter.
SLIDESHOW | 3 images | Joint Effort Completes HSM-79 MH-60R Repairs Sailors assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 79 completed an MH-60R tail bushing repair with Spanish aviation specialists at Naval Station Rota, Spain, January 2023. (US Navy photo by LT Katherine Kinnear.)

While these repairs are traditionally made in coordination with Fleet Readiness Center, HSM-79 worked with host nation industry partners to expeditiously complete this maintenance, as it requires distinct artisan repairs.
 
“This, to our knowledge, is the first maintenance and aircraft readiness effort of its kind in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility (EUCOM AOR) - leveraging resident SH-60B Seahawk intermediate level maintenance expertise and capabilities to build enduring interoperability relationships with our host nation and NATO ally - The Kingdom of Spain, a joint operator of the Seahawk series of multi-mission helicopters,” said Cmdr. Nikolas Rongers, commanding officer of HSM-79.
 
The repairs made to the aircraft were completed at the Décima Escuadrilla (10th Squadron) Hangar, the sponsor squadron of HSM-79, in a joint effort to maintain mission capabilities.
 
“This bi-national effort enabled the ‘Griffins’ of HSM-79, forward deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, to quickly return a combat-ready MH-60R Seahawk aircraft to mission capable status in support of ongoing NATO Coalition and European Theater security initiatives,” said Rongers. “We are stronger when we operate together and more resilient when leveraging our interchangeability as one team."
 
Naval Station Rota is a strategically-located installation, providing operational and logistical support to all U.S. and NATO forces within the EUCOM AOR and the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations.
 
 
Navy.mil  |  Navy.com  |  Navy FOIA  |  DoD Accessibility/Section 508  |  No Fear Act  |  Open Government  |  Plain Writing Act 
USA.gov  |  Veterans Crisis Line  |  VA Vet Center  |  FVAPDoD Safe Helpline  |  Navy SAPR  |  NCIS Tips  |  Site Map  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Webmaster | Information quality | Public Use notice | Useful Links
 
Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic  |  1562 Mitscher Ave., Suite 300  |   Norfolk, Virginia 23551-2427  |   Contact AIRLANT 
Official U.S. Navy Website