State Dept OKs $101M Kiowa Warrior Helicopter Equipment Sale to Tunisia

Tunisia has asked to buy $100.8 million in equipment, training and support services for the country’s future fleet of OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters from the U.S. under a foreign military sales deal approved by the State Department.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Tuesday the sale covers 25 embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems, 24 AN/AAR-57 common missile warning systems, 10 Hellfire missiles and 82 advanced precision kill weapon system rounds.

The deal also includes procurement of other aircraft equipment such as SHP Rolls-Royce 250-C30R/3 Engine, AN/ARC-164 UHF and AN/ARC-186 VHF radios, a PC-DTS-V data recorder, two AN/ARC-201D radios, AN/APX-118 IFF transponder, AN/AVR-2B laser warning receiver, M134 DH mini-gun, M3P aircraft gun system and two M260 rocket launchers.

The U.S. and Tunisia have yet to determine a principal contractor for the sale.

DSCA noted Tunisia ordered up to 24 Bell Helicopter-built Kiowa Warriors under the Excess Defense Articles  program through a separate FMS contract.

Tunisia plans to use the helicopters and associated weapon systems to support border security and counterterrorism efforts of the country and its foreign allies.