Latvian authorities have confirmed the order of 4 medium UH-60M helicoptersBlack Hawk from the manufacturer Sikorsky, for a total amount of €175 million. This is obviously a disappointment for the European manufacturer Airbus Helicopters and the European consortium NHIndustrie, which, once again, sees a European order go into the bag of an American manufacturer.
However, a Black Hawk is neither more efficient nor less expensive than the Airbus Caracal, and it is significantly less efficient, but of a comparable price, to the NH90. How can we explain, then, this European appetite for US productions?
In the majority of cases, we must first see the effects of the presence of American forces on the territory. Thus, Riga airport has become the operating base for US Army UH60s since the deployment of the Stryker brigade in the Baltic countries. In addition, officers from these countries, particularly from Eastern European countries, are very often trained entirely or in part by American forces, or even directly in the United States. The same goes for pilots and aircraft maintenance personnel.
Finally, and more annoying, offset options are prohibited in inter-European contracts, although they are authorized in the case of imports or exports outside the union. This measure, supposed to promote healthy competition between European manufacturers, is ultimately only a magnificent opportunity for allied countries not being the union, like the United States, which did not ask for so much to strengthen its competitive advantage.
A rapid reform of this European measure is therefore essential, either by extending the ban on industrial compensatory measures to all bidders, or, more pragmatically, by strictly regulating it, with a fair limit (25% of the amount of the contract for example).