Brunei to buy Blackhawk helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence of Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce the contract award for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Support Helicopter Project to Sikorsky International Operations, Inc, United States of America.

The project is for the supply of twelve (12) BLACKHAWK S-70i helicopters to replace the current fleet of Bell 212 and BO105 helicopters and to enhance the Royal Brunei Air Force’s rotary wing capacity to meet the requirement for a single wave tactical air lift as identified in the Defence White Paper Update 2007.

The delivery of these advanced new aircrafts will also allow the RBAF to further strengthen its troop deployment capabilities in military and humanitarian operations to fulfil its national and international obligation.

In February 2011, MINDEF’s Centre of Science and Technology, Research and Development (CSTRAD) issued the Invitation to Tender for the project to four reputable vendors. Each vendor was requested to propose an innovative helicopter replacement solution suitable to meet the RBAF’s needs. In July 2011, MINDEF down-selected Sikorsky International Operations, Inc. and Eurocopter SAS following a thorough assessment of the vendors’ proposals.

The helicopters are expected to be delivered in Brunei Darussalam between 2013 to 2015.

Brunei Mindef