Norway Approved For €2.23 Billion Deal To Buy Us Rescue Helicopters

3 days ago

HH-60W Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter. Credit: Dunn Photography, Shutterstock

Norway has been approved to acquisition up to 9 HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters from nan United States successful a woody worthy $2.6 cardinal (approx. €2.23 billion), according to a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announcement issued connected Friday, July 11, 2025.

The projected Foreign Military Sale (FMS) now moves to US Congress for last approval.

The Norwegian authorities requested nan pursuing instrumentality arsenic portion of nan deal:

9 HH-60W helicopters
22 T-700-GE-401 turboshaft engines (18 installed, 4 spare)
21 GPS/INS navigation systems (18 installed, 3 spare)
10 radar informing receivers (9 installed, 1 spare)
10 rocket informing systems (9 installed, 1 spare)

According to nan DSCA, different systems include:

GAU-21 craft instrumentality guns
Infrared IZLID 200P lasers
Airborne countermeasure dispensers
Joint Mission Planning Systems
Weapons support equipment, software, spares, training aids, and extended logistics, transport, and attraction support

The main contractor will beryllium Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation successful Stratford, Connecticut.

The DSCA stated:

“This projected waste will support nan overseas argumentation goals and nationalist information objectives of nan United States by improving nan information of a NATO Ally that is simply a unit for governmental stableness and economical advancement successful Europe.”

Norway’s expanding chopper fleet

This imaginable acquisition comes arsenic portion of a broader strategy by nan Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) to support a typical operations rotorcraft fleet of 18 helicopters.

Currently, nan RNoAF operates 18 Bell 412SP/HP helicopters, delivered starting successful 1987. In June 2023, Norway’s Ministry of Defence chose to upgrade 9 of these craft to widen their work life by astatine slightest 15 years, alternatively than switch nan afloat fleet.

If approved, nan HH-60Ws would subordinate these upgraded Bells, preserving nan 18-strong force.

NATO coordination

The HH-60W is presently operated only by nan US Air Force and is expected to heighten Norway’s expertise to take sides NATO friends and boost its airborne typical operations capability.

View each news from Norway.