The US Department of State has approved a possible sale of 21 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters with associated equipment to Norway. The estimated value is 2.3 billion dollars, and Sikorsky is the prime contractor in the proposed deal.
Norway has requested to purchase 21 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters along with 46 T700-GE-701D engines, according to a press release from the US Department of State.
The possible sale also includes 25 AN/AAR-57 missile warning systems, 25 Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) systems, and 25 AN/APR-39E(V)2 radar warning receivers. In addition, the package includes 50 EAGLE-M+429 systems with GPS and inertial navigation, 100 AN/ARC-231A RT-1987 radio units, and 18 M240H machine guns.
The package also includes, among other things, laser warning receivers, IFF transponders, several types of radio and navigation equipment, radar altimeters, weather radar, and electro-optical and infrared sensor systems.
The helicopters will be capable of being equipped with ballistic protection systems, auxiliary fuel tanks, hull-mounted rescue hoists, dual litter systems, and equipment for the insertion and extraction of personnel by rope. The package also includes ski landing gear and equipment for water bucket operations (firefighting).
In addition, the deal includes terminals for the Link 16 tactical data link, M240, M134, and M3M machine guns, training systems, spare parts, technical documentation, and technical and logistical support.
The prime contractor for the possible deal is the Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky, based in Stratford, Connecticut. Implementation is expected to require around 15 US government representatives and a similar number of contractor representatives to work in Norway over an extended period, covering the receipt and introduction of the equipment, training, and technical and logistical support.