The US State Department has approved a possible $1.075 billion sale of 11 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Mexico, along with engines, weapons, mission equipment and logistical support. The authorization, announced on November 6, is intended to expand the country's existing fleet of the military helicopters.
According to the State Department, Mexico requested 27 General Electric T700-GE-701D engines, including five spares, as well as 27 integrated navigation systems and 27 military communication radios. The package also includes training, replacement parts and technical assistance.
The proposed helicopters would carry MX-10D electro-optical and infrared sensor systems with laser designation capabilities, ballistic protection, M134 machine guns and night-vision equipment. Additional systems include rescue hoists, auxiliary fuel tanks and equipment for inserting personnel by rope.
The US government said the acquisition would help Mexico modernize its rotary-wing fleet, reduce the number of helicopter types in service and improve airlift support for military personnel involved in counter-narcotics operations.
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Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, would be the principal contractor. The program would also require 15 US government or contractor representatives to spend an extended period in Mexico supporting the introduction of the aircraft, training and maintenance.
The approval represents a potential Foreign Military Sale and does not mean a contract has been signed. The final value and equipment quantities may change during negotiations.
Black Hawk operations in Mexico began 35 years ago
Mexico received its first two Black Hawk helicopters in July 1991, when the Mexican Air Force introduced the S-70A-24 variant. One aircraft was assigned to military VIP transportation, while the other supported special operations.
Four additional helicopters arrived between 1994 and 1995. The aircraft subsequently became important assets for military transport and security operations, particularly as Mexico expanded its use of helicopters against organized crime.
The more advanced UH-60M entered Mexican service in September 2011, when the Navy received three helicopters through the US-backed Mérida Initiative. The service subsequently acquired seven more, bringing its UH-60M fleet to ten aircraft.
The Mexican Air Force followed with an order for 18 UH-60Ms in 2014. Deliveries began in late 2015, and the helicopters entered service with units including the 108th Air Squadron in northern Mexico.
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The latest published fleet figures identify 18 UH-60Ms with the Mexican Air Force and ten with the Navy. Older Black Hawk variants have also served with the country's security agencies, including the former Federal Police.
In 2018, Sikorsky reported that Mexico had acquired 48 Black Hawk-family helicopters since 1991, making it one of the largest operators in Latin America. That historical figure includes aircraft of different variants and does not represent the number currently operational.
The latest US authorization does not identify which Mexican military or security organization would receive the 11 additional UH-60Ms.
