The United States Department of State, through the Security and Defense Cooperation Agency (DSCA), approved on Friday (08) the possible sale of 12 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to the Government of Australia.
In addition to the aircraft, the deal, estimated at US$985 million, also includes six spare General Electric T-700-GE-401C engines (24 already installed), t Tactical Radio Systems (12 installed, 8 spares), Measures Electronics, 12 GAU-21 .50 caliber BMG machine guns, 12 240×7,62 caliber M51D machine guns, AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems and various other instruments, communication systems, simulation, navigation and detection training.
Last week, the DSCA also communicated the approval of the sale of an EA-18G Growler electronic warfare fighter to Australia. Canberra wants to acquire the aircraft to replace the loss of an EA-18G during a US exercise in 2018.
According to the DSCA statement, “The proposed sale will the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. It is vital to the US national interest to help our ally develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.”
“This proposal will enhance Australia's capability to carry out anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions, along with the ability to carry out secondary missions including vertical resupply, search and rescue and communications relay. Australia will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) already operates 24 multi-mission MH-60R helicopters, acquired between 2013 and 2016. The aircraft are armed with Mk.54 torpedoes and AGM-114 air-to-ground missiles and are used in operations against submarines and surface vessels , search and rescue, insertion and extraction of troops, among other missions.
In addition to Australia, the Seahawk is in service in Brazil, the United States, Spain, Taiwan, South Korea, Greece, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Denmark and Turkey.
