U.S. Approves Possible Sale of 21 UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters to Norway for $2.3 Billion

The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of 21 UH-60M Black Hawk multi-role helicopters to Norway.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval.

The estimated value of the potential deal is $2.3 billion.

In addition to the helicopters, Norway has requested 46 T700-GE-701D engines, 25 AN/AAR-57 missile warning systems, 25 Common Infrared Countermeasure systems and 25 AN/APR-39E(V)2 radar warning receivers.

The package also includes 50 EAGLE-M+429 navigation systems, 100 AN/ARC-231A airborne radios and 18 M240H machine guns.

The helicopters will receive equipment for search-and-rescue, transport and special operations.

The package includes rescue hoists, systems for evacuating wounded personnel, auxiliary fuel tanks, armor protection, satellite communications systems, weather radars, MX-10D electro-optical systems and equipment for operations in difficult weather conditions.

Norway will also receive maintenance equipment, spare parts, training equipment and software. About 15 U.S. government representatives and 15 contractor representatives are expected to be deployed to Norway to install the equipment, inspect the systems, train personnel and provide technical support.

The main contractor for the potential deal will be U.S. company Sikorsky, part of Lockheed Martin.

Why Norway Chose the Black Hawk

In 2001, Norway decided to purchase 14 NH90 helicopters from the NHIndustries consortium for the Coast Guard and anti-submarine warfare. Deliveries were scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008, and the fleet was expected to fly about 3,900 hours per year. However, Norway received only eight fully operational helicopters, while the fleet’s actual annual flight time was about 700 hours.

Problems with the NH90s eventually forced Norway to abandon the helicopters. In June 2022, Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced that Norway was terminating its contract with NHIndustries and immediately withdrawing the entire fleet from service.

The helicopters were retired 10 years earlier than planned. Norway also sought about 5 billion Norwegian kroner in compensation from the manufacturer for failing to meet its contractual obligations.

The legal dispute ended in a settlement: NHIndustries took back nine helicopters and paid Norway €305 million in compensation. Together with the €70 million previously paid, the total compensation amounted to €375 million.

After abandoning the NH90, Norway began looking for replacements in two areas. In March 2023, the country announced plans to purchase six U.S.-made MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for $1.18 billion. The helicopters are intended for maritime operations, including anti-submarine warfare.

At the same time, Norway began considering the purchase of HH-60 Jolly Green II multi-role helicopters for the Army and Special Operations Forces in a potential $2.6 billion deal.