The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Brazil of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related elements of logistics and programme support, the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announced on 24 May 2024.
The proposed sale, which is worth up to USD 950 million (EUR 878 million) – including an initial acquisition of USD 450 million in Major Defense Equipment (MDE) and up to USD 500 million in other equipment and services – has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Brazil has requested to buy 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters; 34 T700-GE-701D engines (24 installed, 10 spares); 28 EAGLE-M Embedded Global Position Systems with Inertial Navigation (EGI) or functional equivalent (24 installed, four spares); and 24 AN/ARC-231A radio systems.
Non-MDE also included in the sale includes numerous communications, navigation and other avionics systems; M-134D-H miniguns and their associated power and ammunition handling systems; HGU-56/P rotary-wing helmets; external rescue hoists; Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS); Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES); EBC-406HM emergency locator transmitters; aircrew combat equipment; internal auxiliary fuel tank systems; technical assistance and logistics support services; publications; and other related elements of logistics and programme support.
“This proposed sale of UH-60 helicopters will increase Brazil’s capability to provide troop transport, border security, medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue, and peacekeeping support,” the DSCA stated. “This proposed sale will also promote the US and Brazil’s goal of greater military interoperability.”
The principal contractor for the sale will be Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky business, located in Stratford, Connecticut.
The Brazilian Air Force currently operates 16 UH-60L Black Hawks. The Brazilian Army, meanwhile, operates four S-70A Black Hawks (HM-2s in Brazilian service), which, along with eight Airbus Helicopters AS532 Cougar (HM-3) helicopters, will be replaced by the incoming UH-60Ms.
The Brazilian Navy operates six S-70B Seahawk helicopters.
