US approves Mexico to acquire UH-60Ms for counter-drug operations
If finalised, the aircraft order would provide critical momentum for Sikorsky’s Black Hawk enterprise as US Army orders taper off.
Mexico has received approval from US export regulators to purchase 11 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk military helicopters.
The US State Department published the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) notice on 6 November, valuing the total package of aircraft, equipment and support at just over $1 billion.
If Mexico proceeds with the acquisition, the 11 Black Hawks will “assist with the modernisation of Mexico’s rotary-wing fleet and increase efficiency by consolidating helicopter types and expanding the existing UH-60M fleet,” the State Department says.
The Mexican armed forces currently operate a mixed fleet of American, European and Russian helicopters. That inventory already includes 25 UH-60Ms between the air force and navy, plus 17 Airbus H225Ms, 39 Mil Mi-8/17s from Russia, four Leonardo Helicopters AW109s and a number of other types from Bell and MD Helicopters.
Industry impact
A Black Hawk sale to Mexico would be a substantial win for Sikorsky, which will be relying on export sales to sustain its Stratford, Connecticut, UH-60M production line. The company’s current multi-year production contract with the US Army concludes in 2027.
In September, Sikorsky and the army reached an agreement to continue Black Hawk production with a nominal 16-aircraft order from the Pentagon, supplemented by the expected continuation of overseas purchases. The US Army is preparing to wind down Black Hawk purchases as production of the new Bell MV-75 tiltrotor ramps up and as it explores options for new uncrewed rotorcraft.
Sikorsky forecasts demand of up to 150 new Black Hawks over the next five years, including from both US and FMS customers. General Manager Rich Benton told FlightGlobal in September the company needs to produce at least 20 UH-60Ms annually and continue providing sustainment work to the existing fleet to maintain its existing industrial capacity.
Active operations
Washington says the UH-60Ms potentially going to Mexico would support Mexican forces engaged in counter-drug operations, which has been a top policy priority for the Trump administration. Under Trump and his defence chief Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon has launched a campaign of targeting alleged drug smuggling boats across Latin America with lethal drone strikes.
As of late October, Washington had ordered 72 such strikes that killed 244 people, according to a tracker produced by the New York Times.
More conventional counter-drug partnerships are active on land between US military and law enforcement and various Latin American governments. In March, US Southern Command released footage of an unspecified US commando unit conducting an air assault raid with Ecuadorian troops against a narco-terrorist organisation.
The video showed a raid force launching in two Ecuadorian army Airbus H215M Cougar medium-twin utility helicopters.
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