Australia buys 12 MH-60R multi-role helicopters nearly $1 billion

By TOC

CAMBERRA, ($1=1.36 Australian Dollars) – The US State Department has approved the future delivery of 12 $986 million MH-60R multi-role helicopters to Australia under the Foreign Military Sale program, learned BulgarianMilitary.com. As an option, there is a possibility to deploy production of MH-60R in Australia itself.

Australia wants to buy these helicopters to replace six MRC90 helicopters from Eurocopter, which are currently in service with the Australian Navy. This was reported by the portal Naval News.

It is noted that in addition to the MH-60R helicopters themselves, Australia also wants to purchase a wide range of weapons and equipment for these helicopters.

These include the supply of spare engines, additional navigation, and aiming equipment, helicopter protection devices from enemy missile attacks, installation as the additional armament of GAU-19 guns, and M299 pylons for the use of M299 guided missiles. The “option” also includes the supply of technology for the deployment of the production of MH-60R helicopters in Australia.

It is known that now the US Navy has 289 MH-60R helicopters at once. In addition to Australia, a potential customer for the supply of such helicopters maybe the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan. Currently, in addition to the US Navy, MH-60R helicopters are also used by the Danish and Saudi navies, and supplies are being prepared for India and South Korea.

Australia buys also 26 AH-64E Apache

As we reported on June this year, according to a State Department announcement, Australia will buy 26 AH-64E Apache helicopters from the United States and pay approximately $ 3.5 billion. The price includes additional equipment, and the US Congress has already been notified of this sale.

A State Department statement said that the “kangaroos” would receive 64 T700-GE 701D engines in addition to the helicopters. The purchase package also includes upgraded sights and sensors, radars, fire control systems, radar units, anti-missile systems, GPS systems, and more. The deal also contains armaments. These are the AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and the M36E8 Hellfire training missiles and two thousand sections for guiding the system for the actual precision killing of weapons and many others. Here you can see the complete list of equipment ordered from Australia.

According to the State Department, this deal will significantly improve Australians’ defense capabilities and operational capabilities during joint training, exercises, and missions with U.S. forces.

Four American companies are executors of the Australian order – Boeing, AZ, Mesa, and Lockheed Martin. In addition, at least eight U.S. officials will be sent to Australia to support the delivery and integration of helicopters into the Australian military and train, and further assist the Australian army.

2021 is a crucial year for the Australian military as they begin significant upgrades to their existing weapons systems and purchase new ones. For example, it became clear yesterday that the Australian government has already received the first Boxer armored vehicles, and they are already participating in the ongoing exercise in Australia.

The deal is with the German concern Reinmetal and has a total value of nearly 4 billion dollars, and is being implemented by the Australian branch of the company. The first 25 armored reconnaissance vehicles have been delivered, and Kambera expects to receive the remaining 186 in the coming years.

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