Bahrain Becomes 1st International UH-60M Buyer
Jul 11, 2010 08:41 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
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Conversion contract finalized. (July 9/10)
By early July 2006, Bahrain was one of 2 foreign countries requesting the latest model UH-60M helicopter: Bahrain (9 UH-60Ms etc., up to $252 million) and the UAE/Dubai (26 UH-60Ms etc., up to $808 million).
Bahrain beat the UAE to the punch when it came to signing a binding contract, buying 9 UH-60M helicopters in May 2007. There can be a long slip between DSCA notifications and contracts, and the 11 months required to make Bahrain the UH-60M Black Hawk’s first international customer is actually a short to medium delay. The helicopters will reportedly cost up to $204 million with included add-ons, spares, and support; and will be used in a variety of roles, including combat search and rescue.
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July 9/10: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT receives a $6.666 million firm-fixed-price contract, finalizing their contract to convert 9 UH-60Ms to Bahrain’s specifications, per Foreign Military Sales Case BA-B-UIR. See also April 29/08 entry.
Sikorsky will also provide technical publications, integrated logistics support, field service representatives, warranty support, and ferry flight technical shipping support. Work will be performed in Stratford, CT, with an estimated contract completion date of Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited with one bid received by the U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, AMSAM-AC-BH-A at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).
Dec 31/09: Rockwell Collins Simulation and Training Solutions in Sterling, VA received a $10.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 1 “transportable Blackhawk operations simulator device 9″ for Bahrain. Work is to be performed in Sterling, VA, with an estimated completion date of Sept 30/13. One bid was solicited by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, CCAM-BH-C at Redstone Arsenal, AL, and with one bid received (W58RGZ-08-C-0257).
Dec 1/09: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. formally delivers the first UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter to the Defense Forces of Bahrain at a ceremony in Horseheads, NY. The aircraft are being completed at Sikorsky’s Military Derivatives Completion Center, which is located in Horseheads. Deliveries are scheduled to continue into 2010. Sikorsky release.
April 29/08: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT receives a $30.4 million firm-fixed price contract for conversion of 9 UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters into “unique aircraft configuration for the Bahrain Defense Force,” and to provide training, technical publications, integrated logistics support, field service representative, warranty, and ferry flight technical shipping support. Work will be performed in Stratford, CT and is expected to be complete by Dec 31/12. One bid was solicited on Oct 20/05 by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-08-C-0003)
Dec 14/07: Bahrain’s 9 helicopters are ordered as part of a multinational $1.48 billion firm-fixed-price contract, taking advantage of the USA’s buying power by becoming part of the Multi-Year VII initial year contract award. The entire $1.48 billion order covers 106 Army and Navy helicopters for the USA, Bahrain and Thailand, as well as tooling, program systems management and production of technical publications. Work will be performed in Stratford, CT, and is expected to be completed by Dec 31/12. There was 1 bid solicited on Oct 20/05, and 1 bid was received (W58RGZ-08-C-0003).
May 7/07: Bahraini officials sign the U.S. Army Letter of Offer and Acceptance to purchase 9 UH-60M helicopters through a Foreign Military Sale (FMS), making them the first international buyer for the type. A June 19/07 Sikorsky release values the sale at $204 million.
July 28/06: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Bahrain’s formal request to buy 9 of the latest model UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters with engines, 2 spare T-700-GE-701D turbine engines, and full support. Contract value up to $252 million; contractors will be United Technologies’ subsidiary Sikorsky, and General Electric.
