The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment to Mexico, with an estimated cost of $1.075 billion…
Mexico has requested to purchase 11 UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters, 27 T700-GE-701D engines, 27 EAGLE-M+429 Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), and 27 AN/ARC-231A RT-1987 Very High Frequency (VHF)/Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and line-of-sight satellite communication radios.
The package will also include APX-128 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders, AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders, KIV-79 IFF cryptographic appliqué computers, AN/ARN-147(V) VHF receivers, AN/ARN-149(V) low-frequency automatic direction finder receivers, AN/ARN-153 tactical air navigation system receiver-transmitters, RACC-209 radar altimeters, AN/ARC-220 high-frequency radios, AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles, EBC-406HM emergency locator transmitters, RDR-7000 weather radars, and MX-10D electro-optical/infrared targeting systems.
Sikorsky is the principal contractor, and no known offset agreements have been proposed in connection with this potential sale.
The UH-60M Black Hawk is a multi-role helicopter powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines. It features a four-blade composite main rotor and advanced digital avionics systems.
The UH-60M has a cruising speed of 151–152 knots, a maximum speed of 163 knots (302 km/h), and a rate of climb of approximately 1,553 feet per minute.
The helicopter has a maximum takeoff weight of 9,979 kilograms and can carry approximately 4,080 kilograms of payload internally, as well as up to 4,080 kilograms of external cargo using its cargo hook…