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On July 20/06, the US DSCA announced Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy 24 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters, plus spares and support. The UH-60L Black Hawk is currently the USA’s mainstay utility helicopter, serving in various configurations in all operating theaters and theaters of war; the upgraded UH-60M is just ramping up production, and is the subject of a 2010 DSCA request to equip Saudi Arabia’s National Guard.
Saudi Arabia recently issued the final piece of that contract.
Contracts & Key Events
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April 12/19: Blackhawk Simulator Rockwell Collins won a $30.9 million Foreign Military Sales contract to produce a Transportable Blackhawk Operations Simulator training device for the Saudi Arabian National Guard. The Transportable Blackhawk Operations Simulator is a flight simulator that provides high-fidelity flight training device capability for UH-60L and UH-60M helicopters. The simulator’s cockpit has the identical form, fit and function as the cockpit in the actual aircraft. It flies with the actual aircraft avionics software and flight dynamics data. Back in July 2018, it was reported, that Saudi Arabia was seeking to expand its Blackhawk fleet following the announcement of a $193.8 million firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales contract for 17 UH-60Ms in January 2018. Rockwell Collins will perform work in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
December 24/18: Kits on order! Saudi Arabia is continuing its shopping spree and buys more Blackhawk kits. The Foreign Military Sales contract is worth $59 million and procures UH-60M kits from Sikorsky. The UH-60M incorporates a number of new features, such as a fly-by-wire flight control system, a glass cockpit with with a Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS), and a fully authorized digital engine control (FADEC). Work will be performed at Sikorsky’s facility in Stratford, Connecticut; and has an estimated completion date of May 31, 2022. The contract is entirely paid with FY2019 Army operations and maintenance funds.
January 16/18: Contracts Saudi Arabia will receive 17 unique UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters following the award of a $193.8 million US Army contract to manufacturer Sikorsky last Thursday. Under the terms of the agreement, eight UH-60Ms will be delivered to the Saudi Arabian National Guard, while the other nine will go to the Royal Saudi Land Forces Airborne Special Security Forces. Work will take place at Stratford, Conn., with a scheduled completion time of December 2022. Fiscal 2018 foreign military sales funds in the amount of $11,163,000 were obligated at the time of the award.
July 5/17: Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has landed a $3.8 billion contract for the multi-year production and support for Black Hawk helicopters to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The US DoD contract will run until June 30, 2022 and includes the provision of program management, systems engineering, and technical data on the aircraft. In use by over 27 nations, many variants of the Black Hawk have been developed in order to perform a wide variety of missions including troop and cargo transport, air assault, special operations, medical evacuation, search-and-rescue, aerial firefighting and other missions. The variant exported to Saudi Arabia is designated the S-70 Desert Hawk.
Nov 14/11: Sikorsky announces a follow-on contract to upgrade the RSLFAC’s 12 UH-60A helicopters to the UH-60L configuration. Wasn’t this covered by the May 3/10 agreement? DID is investigating.
April 28/11: Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford, CT receives a $26.8 million firm-fixed-price contract, and representatives confirm to DI that this is for the last 2 Saudi UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter airframes under this FMS case. They will be identical to the previous 22 aircraft, and are among the very last UH-60L helicopters Sikorsky is manufacturing and delivering to any client.
Work will be performed in Stratford, CT, with estimated completion by Sept 30/12. One bid was solicited with 1 bid received by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL, on behalf of its Saudi GFMS customer (DAAH23-02-C-0006).
May 3/10: Sikorsky Aerospace Services announces a contract with the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command (RSLFAC) to upgrade its fleet of UH-60A/S-70A Black Hawks to the more modern UH-60L configuration.
Based on the success of the US Army’s own H-60 Helicopter Recapitalization and Upgrade Program, the Saudi A-to-L conversion plan incorporates key improvements: a T700 to T701D engine upgrade for increased power and reliability; upgraded flight controls, avionics and instrument panel modifications; a new Aircraft Flight Control Computer (AFCC); as well as new wiring harness, high speed shaft and seal lead acid battery.
Aug 5/08: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, CT receives a $286 million firm-fixed-price contract for UH-60L helicopters, to include technical support, technical publication and Ground Station Radios for Royal Saudi Land Forces.
Work will be performed in Stratford, CT and is expected to be complete by Sept 30/11. There was 1 bid solicited on Oct 4/2000, which covered UH-60L sales to countries like the USA as well as Saudi Arabia. The contract will be managed by US Army Aviation and Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL, on behalf of their Foreign Military Sale client (DAAH23-02-C-0006).
July 20/06: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy 24 UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters, plus spare and repair parts, communications and support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistics support.
“Saudi forces have used rotary wing assets in numerous anti-terrorism operations within their borders and view their ability to quickly move troops around the country as a critical capability. The helicopters will allow Saudi Arabia to exercise a more flexible and maintainable operation for the protection of critical infrastructure.”
The cost is expected to be up to $350 million, but that will depend on the details of the contract(s), if any. United Technologies subsidiary Sikorsky and General Electric (engines) will be the principal contractors.
Though Saudi Arabia already operates the S-70-A1L Black Hawk, implementation will require the assignment of one Contract Field Support Representative to Saudi Arabia for up to 2 years, and will require the assignment of several U.S. Government Quality Assurance Teams to Saudi Arabia when the aircraft arrive in country.
