Brazil Approved to Buy $950M Worth Sikorsky Black Hawk Helicopters

The U.S. State Department has authorized the $950 million sale of twelve UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Brazil, including $450 million in Major Defense Equipment and up to $500 million in additional equipment and services.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has delivered the necessary certification to Congress.

The Government of Brazil's purchase includes twelve helicopters, thirty-four T700-GE-701D engines, twenty-eight EAGLE-M Embedded Global Position Systems with Inertial Navigation, and twenty-four AN/ARC-231A radio systems. The deal also encompasses various non-MDE items such as communications systems, navigation receivers, radar altimeters, and other related logistics support.

This acquisition aims to enhance Brazil’s capabilities in troop transport, border security, medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, search and rescue, and peacekeeping operations, as stated by the Pentagon. Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division will be the principal contractor for this sale.

General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva, Commander of the Brazilian Army, confirmed the progress in acquiring second-hand UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from U.S. stocks during an April 17th legislative session. The acquisition addresses the Brazilian Army’s need to replace aging Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk and Airbus AS532 UE Cougar helicopters. The U.S. Army is set to retire more than 150 Black Hawks, potentially increasing demand for these helicopters in the future.