US approves a possible $1.9 bn FMS to Saudi Arabia for 10 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters 2105152

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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Saudi Arabia
 
 
US approves a possible $1.9 bn FMS to Saudi Arabia for 10 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters
 
The United States State Department has approved yesterday, May 20, a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 10 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. The principal contractors will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut; and Lockheed Martin Corporation in Owego, New York.
     
The United States State Department has approved yesterday, May 20, a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 10 MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. The principal contractors will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut; and Lockheed Martin Corporation in Owego, New York.
Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopter firing and AGM-114 Hellfire missile
     
The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a sale of ten (10) MH-60R multi-mission helicopters fourteen (14) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode radars (10 installed, 2 spares and 2 for testing); twenty-four T-700 GE 401 C engines (20 installed and 4 spares); twelve (12) APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe transponders (10 installed and 2 spares); fourteen (14) AN/AAS-44C(V) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Forward Looking Infrared Radars (10 installed, 2 spares, and 2 for testing); twenty-six (26) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (20 installed and 6 spares); and Link-16 capability; one-thousand (1,000) AN/SSQ-36/53/62 Sonobuoys; thirty-eight (38) AGM-114R Hellfire II missiles; five (5) AGM-114 M36-E9 Captive Air Training missiles; four (4) AGM-114Q Hellfire Training Missiles; three-hundred eighty (380) Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System rockets; twelve (12) M-240D crew served weapons; and twelve (12) GAU-21 crew served weapons. Also included are spare engine containers; facilities study and design; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communication equipment; aerial refueling services; ferry support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $1.9 billion.

"The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems. The MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopter will provide the capability to identify, engage, and defeat maritime security threats along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay," said the US Defense Security and Cooperation Agency in an official statement.

The MH-60R "Seahawk" is designed to combine the features of the SH-60B and SH-60F. Its sensors include the ASE package, MTS-FLIR, the AN/APS-147 multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, an advanced airborne fleet data link, and a more advanced airborne active sonar. It does not carry the MAD suite. Pilot instrumentation is based on the MH-60S's glass cockpit, using several digital monitors instead of the complex array of dials and gauges in Bravo and Foxtrot aircraft. Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of new Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes and Hellfire missiles.