The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has approved the sale of nine UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters to Slovakia.
Slovakia wants the helicopters to replace its fleet of 14 Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17 copters, which are produced and maintained by the Russian-owned firm Rostec.
The contract now requires congressional approval, and then negotiations will begin in earnest between the two governments, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in a statement Friday.