$1.95B Sikorsky Black Hawk deal with Australia wins approval

Image | Contributed Sikorsky's UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

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By Liese Klein

Stratford’s Sikorsky won approval from the U.S. State Department to sell $1.95 billion worth of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Australia in a government-to-government transaction, a government contracting news site announced last week.

Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, will manufacture 40 of the helicopters along with engines and spares, counter-missile warning systems, satellite communications radios, radar warning receivers and maintenance and avionics trainers.

Sikorsky’s Black Hawks will be used to replace Australia’s current helicopter fleet.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress that it does not expect the deal to alter the basic military balance in the Western Pacific region.

In June, Sikorsky announced a $2.3 billion deal to build 120 UH-60 Black Hawks for the U.S. Army and other government customers – with an option for 105 more for a total of $4.4 billion.

Recent foreign deals for Sikorsky aircraft include a contract with the Israeli military to build 12 CH-53K King Stallions, the company’s new heavy-lift helicopter that costs up to $100 million apiece.

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.