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The US State Department has approved a possible US$500 million foreign military sale of eight UH-60M Black Hawks helicopters to the Croatian government.
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US Congress was notified of the possible sale by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 26 January.
Under the potential deal, the government of Croatia would receive the Black Hawk helicopters, 19 T700-GE 701D engines, 20 AN/ARC-231A RT-1987 very high frequency/ultra-high frequency/line of sight satellite communications radios, 10 AN/AAR-57 Counter Missile Warning Systems, 20 H-764U Embedded Global Position Systems with inertial navigation and selective availability anti-spoofing module, and 18 M240H machine guns.
Other equipment involved in the deal includes AN/ARC-231 RT-1808A VHF/UHF/ LOS SATCOM radios, APR-39C(V)1/4 radar warning receivers, AVR-2B laser detecting sets, APX-123A identification friend or foe transponders, ARC-220 high frequency radio with KY-100M, VRC-100 ground stations, AN/PYQ-10 simple key loader, KIV-77 common identification friend or foe crypto applique computers, communications security encryption devices, AN/APN-209 radar altimeter, AN/ARC-210 radios, EBC-406HM emergency locator transmitter, Encrypted Aircraft Wireless Intercommunications Systems, improved heads-up display, forward-looking infrared with electro-optical and infrared, Enhanced Ballistic Armour Protection Systems, external gun mount systems, Black Hawk aircrew trainer, Black Hawk maintenance trainer, Black Hawk avionics trainer, technical and logistics support services.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” according to a public statement published by the DSCA.
“The proposed sale will improve Croatia’s capability to deter current and future threats and support coalition operations as well as promote interoperability with the United States and other NATO forces. Croatia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky will be the principal contractor. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this and will require approximately 15 US government and/or 15 contractor representatives to travel to Croatia for an extended period for equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout, training, technical and logistics support.
Late last year, the US State Department approved the possible sale of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Greece under a deal worth $1.95 billion. 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.
