Sikorsky [UTX] Monday was awarded a $203 million contract modification to a firm-fixed price contract to procure 18 green UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and Foreign Military Sales government furnished property to the contractor in support of the Mexican air force.
Photo: Sikorsky
This is the first order in 20 years for the Mexican air force. The Mexican navy has three M-model Black Hawks and the Federal Police have six M-model and seven L-model helicopters. The State of Jalisco has an S-70i, manufactured in Poland.
The work is estimated to be completed May 30, 2016.
Earlier this year the State Department approved a total $680 million Foreign Military Sale to Mexico–a total including the helicopters–and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified congress April 17.
Mexico wanted the 18 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in standard U.S. government configuration with designated unique equipment and government furnished equipment (GFE).
The GFE includes 40 T700-GE-701D Engines–36 installed and 4 spares–42 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems–36 installed and 6 spares–and 36 M134 7.62mm Machine Guns, five Aviation Mission Planning Systems, 18 AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggles, and one Aviation Ground Power Unit.
The total sale also would include communication security equipment including AN/ARC-210 RT-8100 series radios, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, aircraft warranty, air worthiness support, facility construction, spare and repair parts, support equipment, and publications and technical documentation. Additionally, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, and tool and test equipment would be included in the sale.
The sale of these UH-60M helicopters to Mexico would significantly increase and strengthen its capability to provide in-country airlift support for its forces engaged in counter-drug operations, a DSCA statement said at the time. Mexico intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing army architecture in its efforts to combat drug trafficking organizations.