Black Hawks to Brunei

The White House announced this morning that United Technologies subsidiary Sikorsky has been selected by Brunei’s defense ministry to supply 12 Black Hawk S-70i helicopters for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Support Helicopter Project. The deal is valued at $325 million, with $200 million in U.S. export content supporting an estimated 1,100 U.S jobs, the White House said in a statement.

“The deal also contains options for a second phase that will double the project's size, value, and job creation,” the statement says. “This is one of the largest defense procurements in Brunei's history." Brunei and the Connecticut-based contractor will work to finalize the terms and conditions of the deal.

The announcement, issued during President Obama’s visit to the Asia-Pacific region, also includes export deals for commercial jets and engines worth billions of dollars. Boeing will sell 737s to Indonesia's Lion Air and 777s to Singapore Airlines. And General Electric will sell engines to Garuda Airlines of Indonesia.