The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel for Excess SH-60F Sea-Hawk Helicopter equipment and support, reported by militaryedge.org. The estimated cost is $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 5, 2016.

The Government of Israel has requested to procure twelve (12) T-700 GE 401C engines (ten (10) installed and two (2) spares), eight (8) AN/APN-194(V) Radar Altimeters; eight (8) AN/APN-217A Doppler Radar Navigation Sets; eight (8) AN/ARN-15l (V)2 Global Positioning Systems; eight (8) AN/APX100(V) Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Transponder Sets; eight (8) OA-8697 A/ARD Direction Finding Groups; eight (8) AN/ARN-118(V) NAV Receivers; eight (8) AN/ARN-146 On Top Position Indicators; sixteen (16) IP-1544A/ASQ-200 Horizontal Situation Video Displays (HSVD); eight (8) AN/ARC-174A (V)2 HF Radios; sixteen (16) AN/ARC182(V) UHF/UHF Radios; eight (8) PIN 70600-81010-011 Communication System Controllers; eight (8) GAU-16 50 Caliber Machine Guns; eight (8) M-60D/M-240 Machine Guns; eight (8) Internal Auxiliary Fuel Tanks; sixteen (16) External Auxiliary Fuel Tanks; and eight (8) C-11822/AWQ Controllers, Armament System. Also included are spares and repair parts, support and test equipment, communication equipment, ferry support, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $300 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner, which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

Israel has been approved to receive eight (8) SH-60F Sea Hawk Helicopters via the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program under a separate notification. That separate notification included only the SH-60 airframes, thus this transmittal includes all the major components and customer-unique requirements requested to supplement the EDA grant transfer.

Israel has purchased four new frigates to secure the Leviathan Natural Gas Field. The SH-60F helicopters will be used onboard these new frigates to patrol and protect these gas fields as well as other areas under threat.

The proposed sale will improve Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats. The SH-60F Sea-Hawk Helicopters along with the parts, systems, and support enumerated in this notification will provide the capability to perform troop/transport deployment, communications relay, gunfire support, and search and rescue. Secondary missions include vertical replenishment, combat search and rescue, and humanitarian missions. Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.

Israel will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be Science and Engineering Services, LLC, Huntsville, Alabama, and General Electric (GE) of Lynn, Massachusetts. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of additional U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to Israel.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.