The State Department has approved a potential deal with Australia worth nearly $2 billion for the sale of 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on Thursday of the foreign military sale.
Australia previously announced plans last December to replace its military’s fleet of NHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan multi-role helicopters with Sikorsky’s [LMT] UH-60M Black Hawks.
“The proposed sale will replace Australia’s current multi-role helicopter fleet with a more reliable and proven system that will allow Australia to maintain the appropriate level of readiness to conduct combined operations. The UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter will improve the Australian Army’s ability to deploy combat power to share Australia’s strategic environment, deter actions against its interests, and, when required, respond with credible force,” the DSCA wrote in a statement.
Along with the helicopters, Australia will also receive 88 of General Electric’s [GE] T700-701D engines, 44 AN/AAR-57 counter-missile warning systems and 96 H-764U embedded GPS systems.
The deal also includes radios, radar warning receivers, laser detecting sets, ground stations, and additional support equipment.