NEWTOWN, Conn. - The Royal Saudi Navy is seeking to purchase 10 Sikorsky MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters as part of its naval expansion program.
The request, according to the Pentagon's Defense Services Cooperation Agency, has a total estimated cost of $1.9 billion, and includes 10 MH-60R multi-mission helicopters, associated equipment, weapons and logistical support.
The foreign military sale request, which was placed on May 20, is the first by a Gulf country after the Camp David Summit between President Barack Obama and Arabian Gulf leaders.
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces MH-60R order succeeds a 2010 order of six AS 565MB Panthers from Eurocopter. These replaced the Navy's SA 365F Dauphin IIs which were mostly used in the anti-submarine warfare role with a few used for search-and-rescue operations.