U.S. Notifies Proposed Black Hawk Helicopter and Equipment Sale to Australia

The United States Department of Defense has notified Congress of a proposed arms sale to the Government of Australia, which includes additional major defense equipment and non-major defense equipment items for UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and associated systems.

The revised total estimated value of the sale is $2.131 billion. The package covers defense services related to the future purchase of forty UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, engines, navigation and communication systems, countermeasure systems, and a range of support and training equipment. The notification includes new items such as up to fifty-six AN/ARC-231A radios, eighty-eight EAGLE-M Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems, and up to fifty Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) systems, along with various support and logistics elements.

According to the notice, the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping Australia, described as a key ally in the Western Pacific, maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. The sale is also intended to enhance Australia's ability to meet current and future threats and improve interoperability with U.S. and allied forces.