US Clears $425 Million MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter Sale to Denmark

The US State Department announced on 22 September 2026 that it has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Denmark covering three Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky-built MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopters, with a total estimated value of $425 million. The sale is not yet final — it must first clear Congressional review before a formal contract can be signed.

At a Glance

• Approval date: 22 September 2026, US State Department
• Scope: 3 MH-60R Seahawks, 8 embedded GPS/INS systems (6 installed, 2 spares), 3 digital magnetic anomaly detection systems
• Total value: $425 million
• Prime contractors: Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Corporation
• Status: Possible FMS approval — Congressional review ongoing, no signed contract yet

Background

The State Department said the sale would help Denmark address “present and future security challenges,” with particular reference to protecting critical infrastructure. That framing lines up with growing concern over suspected sabotage of undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea, which has pushed NATO’s Baltic and Nordic members to rapidly build up undersea surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capacity.

The MH-60R carries advanced sonar and sonobuoy systems, a multi-mode radar, electro-optical/infrared sensors and Hellfire missile capability, making it suited to both ASW and surface warfare missions. The type already serves with the US Navy and operators including Australia, Greece, India and Saudi Arabia; Denmark’s entry would further widen the MH-60R operator base within NATO.

Regional Impact

A stronger Danish ASW capability tightens NATO’s undersea-warfare posture across the Baltic and North Atlantic at a moment when subsea infrastructure protection has become a top alliance priority. For NATO members further south, including Turkey — which already operates the related S-70B Seahawk on its own frigates and corvettes, integrated with domestic ASELSAN and HAVELSAN sensor suites — the move reinforces a broader alliance trend toward layered maritime patrol and ASW coverage that periodic joint NATO naval exercises increasingly rely on.

FAQ

When will the sale be finalized? Once Congress completes its review without objection, the parties can move to a formal contract, after which a delivery schedule would be set.

What does Denmark currently fly? Denmark operates the AW101 Merlin for SAR and transport; the MH-60R would add a dedicated ASW capability rather than replace that fleet.

Sources

US Department of State (state.gov), FlightGlobal, Naval Technology, GlobalSecurity.org press release compilation.