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
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![Singapore’s DSTA and Sweden’s FMV to collaborate on land systems]()
Singapore’s DSTA and Sweden’s FMV to collaborate on land systems
New agreement between Singapore’s DSTA and Sweden’s FMV signals deepening cooperation on land systems, with potential focus on counter-UAS and mobile air defence solutions.
-
![Company formed to lead Franco-German main battle tank replacement]()
Company formed to lead Franco-German main battle tank replacement
Launched at the initiative of the French and German governments, the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project aims to replace the German Leopard 2 and French Leclerc main battle tanks with a multi-platform ground combat system by 2040.
-
![British Army defeats swarm with Thales radio frequency anti-drone system]()
British Army defeats swarm with Thales radio frequency anti-drone system
Developed by a Thales UK-led industry consortium, the demonstrator has been designed to explore the potential of radiofrequency weapons for the UK Armed Forces and is being trialled by the British Army.
-
![US approves $825 million sale of Stinger Block I missiles to Morocco]()
US approves $825 million sale of Stinger Block I missiles to Morocco
The 600-missiles will be used to expand the Moroccan armed forces’ short range air defence capabilities.
-
![Hanwha Aerospace to jointly produce guided missiles in Poland]()
Hanwha Aerospace to jointly produce guided missiles in Poland
The joint venture between Hanwha Aerospace and Poland’s WB Group will see them locally produce CGR80 missiles for the Homar-K multiple rocket launch system, with the first batch produced by 2028.
-
![BAE Systems takes another step towards restarting M777 howitzer production]()
BAE Systems takes another step towards restarting M777 howitzer production
The M777 155mm lightweight howitzer is in service with more than six countries and has been heavily used in Ukraine. The latest contract is part of an effort to restart the manufacture of M777 towed howitzers.
