Latvia will Purchase Four US UH-60M Black Hawks

By TOC On Aug 6, 2018

WASHINGTON, the USA (BulgarianMilitary.com), 6 August 2018, Editor: Stanislava Georgieva, Photo credit: Airplane-pictures.net

The State Department of the U.S. has approved a $200 million purchase of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters by Latvia. The proposed by Latvia sale, is to improve the ability of the NATO nations to move and locate military forces around the eastern flank of the Alliance, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

The $200 million sale involves the four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, 10 engines and the related equipment, which were previously requested by Latvia.

The upcoming sale was announced on 3 August by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and as with all their statements, the one of the Latvia purchase must also pass through the Senate in order to be approved and this is the point where negotiation can begin; it often happens the total quantity and the amount of the sale to be changed from the initial, stated in DSCA announcement, and from the final sale as well.

According to DSCA statement: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally,” by allowing the U.S. and the NATO military forces rapidly to cooperate in a response to a wide range of missions, as well as their “quick positioning of troops with minimal helicopter assets.” In the announcement is also stated that for the conclusion of the Latvia purchase contract, there will be located 3 additional government personnel and 5 contractor personnel for a period of 2 to 5 years.

According to it, the UH-60 helicopters acquisition will increase Latvia’s capability to provide troop lift for border security, anti-terrorist, medical and evacuation purposes as well as search and rescue, re-supply/external lift, along with these it ensures combat support in all weather.

The main helicopter manufacturer is Sikorsky’s headquarters location in Stratford, Connecticut and the engines will be a production of General Electric Aviation Company in Lynn, Massachusetts so there won’t be any manufacturing offsets related with the potential deal.

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