Article Posted on : - Dec 16, 2011

The S-70i Black Hawk helicopter. A Sikorsky photo

STRATFORD (BNS): US helicopter producer Sikorsky has signed a contract with Brunei's Defence Ministry to provide 12 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters.

Under the deal, Sikorsky will supply the multi-mission helicopters to the Bruneian military along with spare parts, training and ground support system.

Delivery of the helicopters will begin in 2013, Sikorsky said without disclosing the contract amount.

The contract contains option for 10 additional S-70is.

The Brunei Ministry of Defence announced its selection of the S-70i Black Hawks on November 15 following several months of rigorous evaluation of competing helicopters.

Sikorsky signed the contract on December 2 in Brunei.

The S-70i - the export variant of the Black Hawk family of helicopters - is designed to carry out multiple missions including troop support, humanitarian relief, VIP transport, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and armed patrol.