US Approves $2.3B Black Hawk Sale to Norway for 21 UH-60M

The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential $2.3 billion Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway for up to 21 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The August 21, 2026 authorization marks a strategic pivot for the Norwegian Armed Forces, which previously planned to acquire a smaller fleet of specialized combat rescue rotorcraft.

Announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) under Transmittal 26-83, the proposed package includes the airframes, 46 General Electric T700-GE-701D engines, and extensive defensive and communication suites. The acquisition is designed to enhance Norway’s tactical air mobility across its Arctic territory and border regions, replacing the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s aging fleet of 18 Bell 412 helicopters.

Shifting from specialized rescue to multi-role utility

The approval officially reverses a July 11, 2025 decision in which the U.S. State Department cleared a $2.6 billion sale of nine Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters to Norway. The HH-60W is heavily optimized for combat search and rescue missions.

By opting instead for 21 UH-60M variants, Norway prioritizes volume and multi-role utility over specialized rescue capabilities. The larger fleet will provide increased capacity for troop transport, medical evacuation, and equipment movement in demanding Arctic environments.

Equipment package and implementation details

The $2.3 billion ceiling covers a comprehensive suite of avionics, defensive countermeasures, and weaponry. According to the DSCA press release, the package includes 25 sets of AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems, Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM), and AN/APR-39E(V)2 Radar Warning Receivers.

Navigation and communication upgrades feature 50 EAGLE-M+429 embedded Global Positioning Systems and Inertial Navigation Systems, alongside 100 AN/ARC-231A radios. The authorization also includes 18 M240H machine guns. Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Sikorsky division in Stratford, Connecticut, will serve as the principal contractor. The DSCA noted that approximately 15 U.S. government and contractor representatives will travel to Norway to support equipment fielding and training.

Rebuilding Norway’s military helicopter operations

The UH-60M acquisition is part of a broader restructuring of Norway’s military helicopter operations following the collapse of its NHIndustries NH90 program. In June 2022, the Norwegian government terminated the NH90 contract and grounded the fleet, citing severe operational delays and low availability rates.

Since the NH90 cancellation, Norway has increasingly turned to U.S. manufacturers to fulfill its rotary-wing requirements. In addition to the newly approved Black Hawks, Norway initiated a plan in 2023 to purchase six Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for maritime operations.

AirPro News analysis

We view Norway’s pivot from the HH-60W to the UH-60M as a pragmatic alignment of procurement with geographic realities. While the HH-60W offers superior survivability in contested airspace, a fleet of only nine airframes would have severely limited operational availability across Norway’s extensive landmass. Securing 21 UH-60M airframes for a lower estimated maximum cost provides the Royal Norwegian Air Force with the necessary density to maintain continuous tactical mobility along NATO’s northern flank. Standardizing on the H-60 family for both land and maritime operations will likely yield long-term maintenance and training efficiencies.

Sources: U.S. Department of State