The Norwegian government intends to sign a contract with AugustaWestland this week for 16 search and rescue helicopters in a deal worth about $1 billion.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security is purchasing the AW101airframe helicopters to replace its aging fleet of Sea King helicopters, which were built by Sikorsky, a division of United Technologies [UTX].
The government and AugustaWestland, a unit of Italy’s Finmeccanica, plan to ink the deal in a signing ceremony Thursday, according to the ministry’s website.
Norway announced in November it would negotiate with AugustaWestland for the contract, choosing the firm over Eurocopter, a unit of EADS, Europe-based NHIndustries, and Sikorsky.
The AW101s are to begin phasing out the Sea Kings starting in 2020, Norwegian officials have said.