US approves potential $162M helicopter support package for Greece

The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale to Greece of follow-on support for S-70 helicopters, a package worth an estimated $162 million.

The Greek government requested to buy follow-on support and sustainment of S-70 helicopters, including spare parts, repairs, aircraft mission system upgrades, and existing radar and sonar obsolescence management, among other things, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement on Monday.

The Greek navy has Sikorsky S-70B Seahawks, the export variant of the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk used by the U.S.

Greece has recently signed multiple big-ticket arms agreements, including a deal for drones from Israel, Rafale jets from France, and upgrades to its F-16 fleet from the U.S.

Athens has also approached Washington for the potential purchase of at least 20 F-35 stealth aircraft.

Amid heightened tensions between the two countries, Turkey has repeatedly warned Greece against indulging in an arms race, offering instead to resolve all outstanding issues, including in the Aegean, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the island of Cyprus, through dialogue.