WASHINGTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) – The U.S. State Division permitted the potential sale of army helicopters and associated gear to Australia for an estimated value of $1.95 billion, the Pentagon mentioned, as Australia seeks to spice up its army presence within the Indo-Pacific area.
Australia had requested to purchase 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and the principal contractor will likely be Lockheed Martin Corp , the Pentagon mentioned on Thursday.
Australia has been boosting its protection spending over the previous few years as China appears to be like to step up its presence within the Indo-Pacific area. Final yr, Australia entered right into a deal to purchase nuclear submarines from the US and Britain.
Register now for FREE limitless entry to Reuters.com
The sale additionally comes as governments world wide are watching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and develop extra keen to put money into weapons programs.
In Could, the U.S. State Division permitted the sale of cellular rocket launchers to Australia, together with a number of weapons gross sales price as a lot as $3.1 billion to allies. learn extra
Approval by the State Division at this level just about ensures the gross sales will undergo.
The Pentagon’s Protection Safety Cooperation Company notified Congress of the doable sale on Thursday.
Individually, on Thursday, the State Division additionally permitted the potential sale of joint tactical radio programs to Morocco in a deal valued at as much as $141.1 million.
Register now for FREE limitless entry to Reuters.com
Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Enhancing by Leslie Adler and Nick Zieminski
: .
