Qatar has requested a possible $2.5 billion purchase of 22 Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters, including armed examples.
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Outlined by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) following a 26 June notification to Congress, the proposed deal includes 12 MH-60S aircraft to be delivered with an armed modification kit, plus 10 MH-60Rs. An acquisition would also include an option to later increase the deal by six armed S-model aircraft.
"The proposed sale will improve Qatar's capability to meet current and future anti-surface warfare threats," the DSCA says. If acquired, the new aircraft would replace an aged fleet of Westland Sea Kings operated by the Qatar Emiri Air Force.
Qatar's Seahawk approach was revealed two weeks after the nation also requested a potential $1.1 billion purchase of 12 armed UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters via the USA's Foreign Military Sales mechanism.
Source: Flight International
