Brazil gets go-ahead for 12 Black Hawk helicopters
Brazil has experience with Black Hawk helicopters. (Photo: Brazil Air Force)
The Brazilian Army announced in 2023 that it was aiming to replace the eight HM-3 Cougar (Airbus Helicopters AS532 UE) and four HM-2 Black Hawk helicopters (Sikorsky S-70A) that have been in service with Army Aviation Command, with the aircraft beginning to be decommissioned in December 2023.
The US State Department has approved Brazil’s request for the purchase of 12 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in a deal worth up to US$950 million. The deal will break down as an initial acquisition of $450 million in Major Defense Equipment and up to $500 million in other equipment and services.
Key roles planned for the Black Hawks include troop transport, border security, medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue, and peacekeeping support.
Systems including 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, 4 spares) and 24 AN/ARC-231A radio systems were included within the deal.
Related Articles
Brazil looks for attack helicopter two years after fleet retirement
Greece goes ahead with Black Hawk order
Brazil moves ahead with second-hand Black Hawk deal
Additional C4ISR systems will include APX-123A Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders, AN/ARC-231 radio systems, ARC-201D Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) or functional equivalent sand ARC-220 high-frequency airborne communication systems or functional equivalents.
Cockpit systems will include Aviation Mission Planning System, HGU-56/P Rotary Wing Helmets, Advanced Sight display computers, common display interface units, wide colour day and night display modules (WCDDM) and RDR-7000 weather radar systems.
External rescue hoists, traffic collision avoidance systems, fast rope insertion/extraction systems, EBC-406HM Emergency Locator Transmitters and internal auxiliary fuel tank system (IAFTS) will also be included.
Earlier this month, Brazilian Army commander General Tomas Miguel Mine Ribeiro Paiva noted the planned purchase was for second-hand aircraft but the price point indicated it was more likely for new aircraft. There has been no mention of the aircraft being second hand in the statement of approval.
The approval has been well foreshadowed with Shephard Defence Insight, which noted a Brazilian delegation reportedly visited the US Army Security Assistance Command in early December 2023. During the reported visit Brazilian generals got to know the latest version of the Black Hawk, the UH-60M Black Hawk, and discussed the possible purchase to be made through FMS.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
HM-3 Cougar & HM-2 Black Hawk Replacement [Brazil]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![British Army’s Archer hits bullseye for capability and procurement]()
British Army’s Archer hits bullseye for capability and procurement
The Archer artillery system was rushed into service and training of British Army trainers began in October 2023 before live fire trials just over a year later.
-
![British Army programme cuts could continue in 2025]()
British Army programme cuts could continue in 2025
The six-month old Labour leadership in the UK has already made cuts and army programmes could be on the chopping block in 2025. Where might the axe fall?
-
![NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet]()
NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet
VAMTAC vehicles are expected to replace one-quarter of New Zealand’s Pinzgauers and Unimogs.
-
![Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024]()
Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024
Elbit Systems has signed another US$967 million in orders in the past three months after reporting its land revenues increased by 24% for 3Q2024 compared to 3Q 2023 thanks to increasing ammunition and munition sales in Israel.
-
![BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles]()
BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles
BAE Systems has been contracted to install modifications on older versions of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) creating the M2A4 and M7A4 and keeping the platform in service until 2050.
-
![Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks]()
Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks
The contract is for the supply of a variety of military logistic platforms equipped with tactical cabins and based on the new range of IDV SMR6 trucks (Standard Military Range), which includes 4×4, 8×8 and 10x10 variants.
