Sikorsky has been awarded a USD203.6 million contract to build 18 UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters for Mexico.
The contract, which was announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 15 September, covers the manufacture of 18 'green' UH-60M helicopters for the Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana - FAM).
Though the contract gives a unit price of just USD11.3 million per helicopter, it should be noted that the cost of engines and mission systems have still to be factored in. A US Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) notification into the proposed sale issued in April put the total cost at USD680 million (including training, support, and other ancillary services), effectively valuing each fully furnished helicopter at about USD38 million.
In procuring the UH-60M, the FAM is looking to enhance its counter-narcotics capabilities. As the most modern variant of the Black Hawk helicopter, the UH-60M incorporates more powerful and reliable General Electric T700-GE-701D engines, enhanced rotor blades and a fully digital 'glass' cockpit. In its DSCA notification, Mexico also requested the supply of embedded GPS/INS navigation systems, M134 7.62mm machine guns, mission planning systems, AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles, and AN/ARC-210 RT-8100 series radios to accompany the helicopters.
According to the DoD contract notification, work will be completed by 30 May 2016.
Once in service, the 18 UH-60Ms will join the FAM's four Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallions (procured in 2005); six UH-60L Black Hawks (1991); 30 Bell 206B JetRangers (1974); 10 Bell 206L-3 LongRangers (1987); 10 Bell 212s (1971); 11 Bell 412EPs (2002); 15 Mil Mi-17 'Hip-H' (1999); four MDHI MD 530Fs (1992); six MDHI MD 500MGs (1994); five Airbus AS 332 Super Pumas; and eight Airbus EC 725 Cougars.
The Navy (Armada de México - AdM) and Federal Police (Policía Federal - PF) also operate helicopters, with both service's already using the UH-60M in counter-narcotics operations. Three such helicopters were delivered to the AdM in August 2011, while the PF also received three at the same time. The navy UH-60Ms differ slightly from those to be operated by the air force in that they are equipped with a winch, and auxiliary fuel tanks. Both the AdM and PF platforms are also fitted with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, which is not listed as being requested for the FAM's models.
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