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The US State Department has given a green light for the possible sale of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Greece under a deal worth $1.95 billion.
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The approval was provided to Congress on 15 December.
The sale is expected to see the Greek military purchase 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, along with related equipment and training.
The equipment includes 80 T700-GE-701D engines with 10 spare, 44 common missile warning systems, 85 embedded GPS systems with inertial navigation, and 85 SATCOM radio systems.
The State Department expects that the sale will improve the safety of a NATO ally and support European stability.
The principal contractor will be Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company. Fifteen US government or contractor representatives will travel to Greece if the deal goes ahead.
In mid-December, it was also confirmed that the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency approved a US$400 million (AU$596.3 million) foreign military sale to Italy for the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
As part of the FMS proposal, the government of Italy will purchase 21 M142 HIMARS and one M31A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) unitary high-explosive pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS).
Additionally, the order includes universal fielding modules, AN/PRC-158 multi-channel tactical radio installation kits, a suite of secure tactical communications systems, the Missile Common Test Device Trainer (MCTD-T), global positioning system and satellite communications systems.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) release stated: “This proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security by helping to improve the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally which is an important partner for political stability and economic progress in Europe. Italy requests these capabilities to provide for the defence of deployed troops, regional security, and interoperability with the United States.”
Additionally, the DSCA announcement stated: “The proposed sale will improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats and enhance its interoperability with US and other allied forces. Italy will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin, Grand Prairie, Texas.
