Australia would spend approximately $2.1 billion to buy MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and associated equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress July 7.
The prime contractors would be Sikorsky [UTX], Lockheed Martin [LMT], General Electric [GE], and Raytheon [RTN].
Australia requested a possible sale of 24 MH-60R Seahawk Multi-Mission Helicopters, 60 T-700 GE 401C Engines–48 installed and 12 spares–communication equipment, support equipment, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services.
The proposed sale of the Seahawk helicopters would improve Australia’s anti-submarine and surface warfare capability and provide an improved search and rescue and anti-ship surveillance capability, DSCA said in a statement. Australia would also use the helicopters in future contingency operations encompassing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and stability operations in the Asia-Pacific region.
The proposed sale would require the assignment of 10 contractor representatives to Australia to support MH-60R helicopter delivery.