The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Greece of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 15 December 2023
The sale, worth an estimated cost of USD 1.95 Bn (EUR 1.78 Bn), was passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Greece has requested to buy 35 UH-60M Black Hawks, along with 80 T700-GE 701D engines (70 installed, 10 spares); 44 AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (35 installed, 9 spares); 85 H-764U Embedded Global Position Systems with Inertial Navigation (EGI) and country-unique selective availability anti-spoofing module (SAASM) (or future replacement) (70 installed, 15 spares); 85 AN/ARC-231A VHF/UHF/LOS satcom radio systems; and numerous other avionics, communications and self-protection systems.
“The proposed sale will replace Greece’s current multi-role helicopter fleet with a more reliable and proven system that will allow Greece to maintain the appropriate level of readiness to conduct combined operations,” DSCA stated. “The UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter will improve the Hellenic Army’s ability to deploy combat power to secure Greece’s borders, deter actions against its interests, and, when required, respond with credible force.”
The Hellenic Army is mostly likely replacing its long-serving Agusta-Bell AB205 and Bell UH-1H helicopters with the UH-60Ms.
Also included in Greece’s Black Hawk FMS are Ballistic Armor Protection Systems (BAPS); Internal Auxiliary Fuel Tank Systems (IAFTS); Fast Rope Insertion Extraction Systems (FRIES); External Rescue Hoists (ERH); and a weapon fit that includes External Gun Mount Systems, M134 Mini Gun systems, M240 machine guns, 2.75-inch (70 mm) rockets.
The sale additionally includes the usual package of spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; technical data and publications; training; and various aspects of engineering, technical, logistics and programme support.
The principal contractor for the sale will be Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky business out of its facilities in Stratford, Connecticut.
