US Green-Lights $985M Seahawk Helicopter Deal With Australia

The State Department has cleared Australia’s request to procure additional Sikorsky-built multirole naval helicopters along with related equipment and support services under a potential $985 million foreign military sales agreement.

Australia intends to buy a dozen MH-60R Seahawk units as part of the country’s homeland defense and regional deterrence efforts, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Friday.

The possible transaction will include aircraft components such as T-700-GE-401C engines, Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems – Joint Tactical Radio Systems and Airborne Low Frequency Sonars.

DSCA said Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) rotary and mission systems business in Owego, New York, will act as the primary contractor for the proposed FMS deal.

U.S. government and contractor representatives would travel to Australia if the two countries implement the agreement to perform technical support work.

According to the Australian navy, the MH-60R serves as the branch’s platform for submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare missions.

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