The Royal Australian Navy already operates 24 Seahawk Romeo helicopters from 816 Squadron from HMAS Albatross, south west of Nowra.

The deal has been approved by the US State Department and although the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is yet to officially make any statements, it's understood the extra Seahawks will replace the navy's troubled fleet of European-made MRH 90 Taipan helicopters, also operated out of Albatross, by 808 Squadron.

Earlier this year, the ADF grounded all 47 Taipan helicopters used by the navy and army due to safety and maintenance concerns.

In a statement on October 8, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the purchase covers 12 helicopters, equipment, training and related services and is valued at US$985 million.

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"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the government of Australia of MH 60R Multi-Mission Helicopters, related defence services, and related equipment for an estimated cost of $986 million USD," the statement said.

The purchase will increase the RAN's fleet to 36 Seahawks, which currently provides eight flights at sea (of a single helicopter) and also delivers shore based training and operational tasking at HMAS Albatross.

The primary missions of the Romeo helicopter is anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, while the helicopter is capable of search and rescue, logistics support, personnel transport and medical evacuation.

The Seahawks are equipped with a highly sophisticated combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo.

The DSCA report said the purchase "would improve Australia's capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay."

"Australia will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence," the report said.

The purchase will include 30 General Electric T700-GE-401C engines (24 installed and six spares); 12 Telephonics APS-153(v) Multi-Mode Radars; 12 Raytheon AAS-44C(v) Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems; 20 Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems (MIDS); 12 Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS) - albeit 'aircraft provisions only'; 18 Northrop Grumman AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning Systems (MAWS); 18 BAE Systems ALE-47 chaff and flare dispensers/ECM; 12 Lockheed Martin ALQ-210 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems; 24 M299 Missile Launchers; 12 GAU-21 door guns and 18 L3 ARQ-59 Hawklink terminals.

Whether the extra Romeos will replace the MRH 90s in the shipboard utility role, is yet to be seen, but it is understood the aircraft can be reconfigured to cover such roles.

Australia's fleet of MRH 90s were first acquired from 2006, coming into service the next year, but have suffered from poor availability since entering service, forcing the army to recently lease interim helicopters for training and non-combat transport roles.

Last year, parliament was told the door on the MRH-90 was too narrow to allow its gun to fire while troops were descending, and that a third round of remedial work was being carried out on the fleet. There have also been ongoing IT maintenance issues.

In 2019 they were also listed on Defence's Projects of concern.

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