The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Norway for 21 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment, with an estimated value of $2.3 billion. The package would be supplied by Sikorsky in Stratford, Connecticut, if the deal advances, and includes engines, missile-warning and countermeasure systems, radios and machine guns.
The proposed sale follows Norway’s decision in June to halt its planned HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter purchase. The new case gives Oslo a Black Hawk-based alternative as it reviews its military helicopter modernisation plans and seeks to replace ageing rotary-wing assets.
Norway’s request covers 46 T700-GE-701D engines, 25 missile-warning systems, 25 common infrared countermeasure sets, 25 radar warning receivers, 50 embedded GPS and inertial navigation systems, 100 radios and 18 M240H machine guns. The U.S. government has also indicated it is not aware of any offset arrangement at this stage.
The approval is only the first step in the Foreign Military Sales process and still requires a Letter of Offer and Acceptance and Norwegian follow-through before any contract can be finalised.