Qatar wants to spend $1.1 billion to buy UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters and associated equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress recently.
The prime contractors would be Sikorsky [UTX] and General Electric [GE].
Qatar wants 12 UH-60M Black Hawk Utility Helicopters, 26 T700-GE-701D engines–24 installed and two spares–15 AN/AAR-57 V(7) common missile warning systems, 15 AN/AVR-2B laser detecting sets, 15 AN/APR-39A(V)4 radar signal detecting sets, 26 M240H machine guns, and 26 AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles.
The FMS also would include are M206 infrared countermeasure flares, M211 and M212 advanced infrared countermeasure munitions (AIRCM) flares, M134D-H machine guns, and system integration and air worthiness certification. In addition, the contract would include simulators, generators, transportation, wheeled vehicles and organization equipment, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other logistics support.
Qatar hosts U.S. Air Forces Central Command and serves as a critical forward-deployed location in the region. The proposed sale of the Black Hawks would improve Qatar’s capability to meet current and future threats and provide greater security for its critical oil and natural gas infrastructure, and significant national events.
Qatar will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense.
Implementing the sale would require the assignment of two contractor representatives to Qatar for a minimum of three years. In addition, Qatar has expressed an interest in a Technical Assistance Fielding Team for in-country pilot and maintenance training.