If the deal is approved by the United States Congress, it would mark the first time this advanced version of the H-60 Black Hawk family is exported outside the US. Notably, the United States had previously declined an unofficial request from Australia to purchase the HH-60W.
The helicopters are intended to support the modernisation of Norway’s military aviation fleet and assist special operations forces. They will also partially fill the gap left by the retirement of the NHIndustries NH90NFH multirole helicopters.
To date, Norway has already procured six MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from the United States as a replacement. The HH-60W Jolly Green II, developed for the US Air Force, is a specialised variant of the H-60 family.
Its primary mission is to conduct combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations and to support special forces. In these roles, it replaces the older HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters previously in service.
