Tunisia seeks helicopters, weaponry

WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) —

The North African country of Tunisia is seeking to improve its security capabilities with help from the United States military.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said equipment and support sought by Tunisia is comprised of a dozen UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in standard configuration but with unique and customized equipment.

The helicopters would be acquired under a package Foreign Military Sales deal already approved by the U.S. State Department and worth about $700 million.

"The proposed sale will improve Tunisia’s capability to deter regional threats and strengthen its homeland defense, as well as support counter-terrorism operations," the agency said it a required notification to Congress. "The sale of these UH-60 helicopters will bolster Tunisia’s ability to provide border patrol, rapid reaction, and field expedient medical evacuation for its air and ground forces in counter-terrorism and border security operations."

Included in the sales deal would be 30 T700-GE-701D engines, embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems, machine guns, integration of precision guided rocket system capability, 9,100 2.75 Hydra Rockets, 100 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, Hellfire missile Pods, electro-optical infrared laser designators, various radars and warning systems and communications systems.

Aircraft warranty, ammunition, air worthiness support, facility construction, spare and repair parts, and support equipment would also be included in the deal.

Sikorsky Aircraft and General Electric Aircraft would be the principal contractors.