The State Department approved a possible $1.9 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) request to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for ten MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on May 20.
The primary contractors would be Sikorsky [UTX] and Lockheed Martin [LMT].
The requested FMS would include ten MH-60R multi-mission helicopters; 14 APS-153(V) Multi-Mode radars (ten installed, two spares and two for testing); 24 T-700 GE 401 C engines (20 installed and four spares); 12 APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe transponders (ten installed and two spares); 14 AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Forward Looking Infrared Radars (ten installed, two spares, and two for testing); 26 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (20 installed and six spares); and Link-16 capability; 1,000 AN/SSQ-36/53/62 Sonobuoys; 38 AGM-114R Hellfire II missiles; five AGM-114 M36-E9 Captive Air Training missiles; four AGM-114Q Hellfire Training Missiles; 380 Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System rockets; 12 M-240D crew served weapons; and 12 GAU-21 crew served weapons.
The sale also includes spare engine containers; facilities study and design; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communication equipment; aerial refueling services; ferry support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.
Saudi Arabia intends to use the equipment as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen homeland defense. “The MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter will provide the capability to identify, engage, and defeat maritime security threats along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay,” DSCA said in a statement.
Implementation of the FMS would require the assignment of additional U.S. government and/or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia.