The State Department has approved Bosnia and Herzegovina’s proposed foreign military sale of AW119Kx helicopters, related equipment and services.
Scope of AW119Kx Helicopter Procurement
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Tuesday Bosnia and Herzegovina asked to purchase AW-119Kx helicopters along with the following:
- Qualification and transition training of pilots and maintainers
- In-country contractor field service representative support
- Program management reviews
- Technical assistance
- Product support
- Associated aviation ground support equipment
- Platform-peculiar ground support equipment
- Hardware
- Special tools
- Test equipment and basic issue items
- Quality assurance team inspections
- Inventories
- Ground run and flight test validation and verification testing
- Air freight transportation delivery
- Initial spares, repair and consumable parts
- Operator maintenance
- Technical manuals
- U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support
The proposed deal is intended to strengthen the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, or AFBiH. The AW119Kx helicopter will be utilized against existing and future threats by facilitating participation in cooperation exercises with the region and among North Atlantic Treaty Organization members. The potential sale will also enhance the country’s national security capabilities, particularly within its mountainous and inaccessible terrain.
Furthermore, Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to utilize the aircraft for pilot training and bolster its capacity to conduct humanitarian aid missions, including disaster relief and search and rescue.
Leonardo Helicopters will serve as the principal contractor. Up to seven and five representatives from the company and the U.S. government will be assigned in Bosnia and Herzegovina for five years to provide equipment operation and training support.
The DSCA notified Congress of this possible sale Tuesday.