The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of ten year Through-Life-Support (TLS) for (24) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters. The sustainment effort will include spare and repair parts provisioning, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $1.6 billion.

Australia, one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific, contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. Australia’s efforts in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Iraq and in Afghanistan have served U.S. national security interests.

The proposed sale will provide Australia the resources necessary to properly maintain its 24 MH-60R helicopters. Australia, which already has S-70B helicopters in its inventory, will have no difficulty performing the actions necessary to properly sustain these additional helicopters.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation of Stratford, Connecticut; Lockheed Martin of Owego; New York; GE of Lynn, Massachusetts; and the Raytheon Corporation of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale

Implementation of this proposed sale will require temporary assignment of approximately 20 U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Australia on an intermittent basis over the life of the case.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

Source: DSCA press release