Sweden wants Blackhawks

[stimpy75]

weren´t the Swedes interested in a new assault choppers, weren´t there some training with some assault chopper years ago? don´t they neead a small amount of assault chopper like the KA-52 or Tigers?

[Yama]

weren´t the Swedes interested in a new assault choppers, weren´t there some training with some assault chopper years ago? don´t they neead a small amount of assault chopper like the KA-52 or Tigers?

 

They evaluated Apache and Russian attack choppers once, but that was in the '90s. Don't remember any further developments.

[Ken Estes]

September 30, 2010 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Sept. 29 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Sweden of 15 UH-60M BLACKHAWK Helicopters and associated parts, equipment and logistical support for a complete package...

Curious, this comes so soon after BansheeOne published his pics from the 2010 I&I, taken Sept 10th:

 

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6826/seattle186.jpg

 

 

So, the complete package...support... is desired, hmmmmmm.....

[pdoktar]

I don't believe they do. The Mi-17 is flying off the shelves to places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The Russians have dramatically increased the price of the Mi-17. This article explains it quite well:

 

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2010/09/21/11.xml

 

As for the Blackhawks, Saudi Arabia also put in a large order. Will the assembly line be able to supply both countries (and US armed forces) in a timely manner?

 

Sweden probably has the capability to assemble the helos by themselves, and even manufacture a lot of the parts (if not all of them). Saudi-Arabia may be lacking in this sense.

[DB]

Curious, this comes so soon after BansheeOne published his pics from the 2010 I&I, taken Sept 10th:

 

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6826/seattle186.jpg

 

 

So, the complete package...support... is desired, hmmmmmm.....

Are you saying they want the coke machine thrown in as well?

[Jim Martin]

Are you saying they want the coke machine thrown in as well?

 

 

Whatsamattah, you don't like Coke? Everybody likes Coke. Except for Commie-pinko un-Murrcan furrin types...

[shep854]

Whatsamattah, you don't like Coke? Everybody likes Coke. Except for Commie-pinko un-Murrcan furrin types...

...and they probably get it on the sly...after all, they sacrifice so much for the good of the proles.

[crazyinsane105]

Sweden probably has the capability to assemble the helos by themselves, and even manufacture a lot of the parts (if not all of them). Saudi-Arabia may be lacking in this sense.

 

Actually, whenever Saudi Arabia signs a defense deal, a quarter of the money is devoted to the local companies. For example, when the Eurofighter deal was signed, a large part of the deal was given to local defense companies so they can manufacture certain parts of the aircraft. I did read somewhere that the Saudis do manufacture a number of the F-15 parts by themselves, so they certainly do have the capability to at least assemble them.

[wendist]

There has been reports in swedish media that the french are trying to convince the swedish government to go for the EC 725 Super Cougar instead of the Blackhawk. It´s newer,bigger,can carry more and the french already use it in Afghanistan. But it will probably be a lot more expensive. Would it be a good idea?

Edited October 17, 2010 by wendist

[Xavier]

There has been reports in swedish media that the french are trying to convince the swedish government to go for the EC 725 Super Cougar instead of the Blackhawk. It´s newer,bigger,can carry more and the french already use it in Afghanistan. But it will probably be a lot more expensive. Would it be a good idea?

I would, the Cougars are in the same weight class as the Blackhawks, yet can carry twice as much in the cabin.

[LeoTanker]

The need for these helos increase by the hours it seems. One Swedish soldier killed yesterday and two severly wounded today. So Sikorskys sales dpt. can probbably expect a phone call very soon.