U.S. Clears Australia’s MH-60R Sustainment Contract

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of non-MDE MH-60R sustainment items and services for an estimated cost of $162 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Australia has requested to buy additional non-MDE MH-60R sustainment items and services that will be added to a previously implemented case. The original FMS case, valued at $89.8 million, included MH-60R sustainment. The estimated total cost is $162 million, DSCA said in a release today.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was the first international navy to select the MH-60R helicopter, acquiring 24 aircraft from 2013 to 2016. In September this year, the U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to produce an additional 12 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the RAN. The company plans deliver all 12 MH-60R helicopters between mid-2025 and mid-2026.