Sale of MH-60R Seahawk to Norway approved

On 26 April 2023, the US State Department has issued a press release in which it approves of the sale of six Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawks to the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force).

The intended sale also includes other essential equipment such as engines, GPS and sonars plus spare parts. The total deal is estimated to cost the Norwegians USD1 billion. Primary purpose for the Seahawks is to perform Coast Guard duties. Secondary roles will be vertical replenishment and communications relay. Delivery dates will be subject to negotiations between Norway and Lockheed-Martin Rotary and Mission Systems.

With this purchase the RNoAF will be able to fill the Coast Guard gap that arose when it withdrew all NH90-NFH and NH90-NFH (CG) (fourteen ordered, thirteen delivered) from immediate service in June 2022. Scramble Magazine reported first on the immediate phasing out of the helicopter on 10 June 2022.

It was no secret that Norway was not pleased at all with the NH90 and the abilities of NH Industries to solve their problems. The contract was signed in 2001 with the intention to have the helicopters delivered by 2008. Only eight were ever delivered in full operational configuration. The Norwegian government has engaged in a legal battle with NH Industries and demands a full refund (USD 467 million).

Photo (just illustrative) by Per Voetmann (via airplane-pictures.net)