Australian officials report the commissioning into service of the training simulator for the Royal Australian Navy's MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters.

The simulator -- the first of two -- is part of a $2.44 billion investment that will result in 24 of the Sikorsky naval combat helicopters being flown by Australia.

The full MH-60R Seahawk Romeo training system includes two full-motion flight simulators and a wide range of sophisticated maintenance trainers. HMAS Albatross in Nowra, has already begun training Seahawk Romeo crew, including pilots, aviation warfare officers, sensor operators, and maintenance personnel.

The Australian Department of Defense said the training system's second simulator will be delivered in 2016.

The MH-60R Seahawk Romeo has a maximum speed of 1168 miles per hour, a range of 518 miles at cruise speed and can be armed with missile, machine guns and torpedoes.

Australia's Seahawk Romeos are expected to achieve at-sea initial operational capability by August.