The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Argentina of four UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment, in a package valued at about $140 million. The proposed deal, notified to Congress on 10 September, would be handled through the Foreign Military Sales process and still needs to clear the review period before any contract is signed.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is the principal contractor, with General Electric supplying two T700-GE-701D engines. Argentina also requested avionics, communications gear, rescue equipment, training, spare parts and other support items as part of a broader sustainment package.
The helicopters are intended to improve Argentina’s border security, counter-narcotics and transnational crime missions, as well as disaster-response and airlift capabilities. The aircraft are described as refurbished UH-60L units and would help replace ageing Bell UH-1H and Huey II helicopters in Argentine Army Aviation. Washington said the sale would not require additional U.S. personnel in Argentina and would not affect U.S. defence readiness.