ATHENS – Greece’s push to ramp up its military capabilities in the face of constant Turkish provocations will include support equipment and accessories for its S-70 helicopters in a $162 million deal with the United States.

The US State Department notified Congress of the potential foreign military sale (FMS) of follow-on sustainment support for S-70 helicopters to Greecewhich includes aircraft spares, repair parts, consumables, components and accessories to support S-70B/S-70B6 aircraft, existing radar and gun mount procurement, said Naval Technology.

Greece’ s New Democracy government, which has been building an arsenal including buying French fighter jets and warships and American warships, also wants to acquire US-made F-35 fighter jets.

The Greek administration, the site said, requested S-70 type aircraft sonar obsolescence management and repair and procurement of parts to include aircraft mission system upgrades and unclassified publications for aircraft operation and maintenance as well.

The US will also provide government and contractor technical assistance, expedited contractual award efforts, evaluation, tailoring solutions of technical issues, inputs to planning documents and integration, engineering, testing, obsolescence remediation, equipment upgrades, planned product improvements, integrated logistic support services, it was reported.

It also involves engineering analyses, studies and upgrade solutions, retrofit kit procurement and subsequent installation, publications and repair of repairable efforts and other related logistics and program support through the principal contractor Lockheed Martin.

The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by helping to improve security of a NATO ally, which is an important partner for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”

According to the agency, the FMS will provide Greece with a combatant deterrent capability to meet existing and future threats and safeguard its maritime interests and infrastructure against potential enemies.

It didn’t mention Turkey, also in NATO, which was barred from getting the US F-35’s after buying Russian-made S-400 missile systems that undermine the defense alliance and could be used against Greece in a conflict.