U.S. authorized Norway to buy six Seahawk helicopters to replace its NH90s

The US State Department authorized the possible sale of six MH-60R Seahawk Multimission Helicopters for US$1 billion.

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As we reported in March, the Norwegian government chose the U.S. Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk as the new naval helicopter to replace the NH90 helicopter that Norway ceased operating in June last year.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported that the U.S. State Department authorized a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Norwegian Government for the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk naval anti-submarine helicopters, and support equipment, $1 billion.

See also: Norway terminates NH90 contract and demands a refund

As reported by DSCA, the package offered to Norway consists of the following:

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• six (6) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters
• fifteen (15) T-700-GE-401C engines (12 installed, 3 spares)
• nine (9) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS) (6 installed, 3 spares)
• eighteen (18) Integrated Global Positioning Systems/Precise Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (IMS) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) (12 installed, 6 spares)
• six (6) Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS)

Also included are AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios with communications security (COMSEC); AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems; AN/APX-123 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders; AN/ALE-47 dispensers; electronic countermeasures; advanced data transfer systems (ADTS); AN/AAS-44C(V) multispectral targeting systems; KIV-78, Mode 4/5 cryptographic identification friend-or-foe application; Joint Mission Planning Systems (JMPS); AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink radio terminals; Simulators; AN/ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measurement Systems (ESM); APS-153(V) multimode radars; spare engine containers; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communications equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; engineering equipment and other items related to training and sustainment of the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter fleet.

Training in Denmark

While awaiting the arrival of the helicopters, Norway will send personnel to Denmark, which also operates the American model, to gain technical and operational experience on the aircraft type in order to achieve a rapid transition from the NH90 to the Seahawk.