Argentina Signs Deal to Buy Four UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters

The Argentine Ministry of Defence has formally signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the United States government to acquire four Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters for the Argentine Army Aviation Corps. The bilateral agreement was concluded on November 6, 2026, during an official signing ceremony at the Libertador Building in Buenos Aires. Attendees included Argentine Defence Minister Carlos Alberto Presti, United States Ambassador Peter Lamelas, Chief of the General Staff of the Army Major General Oscar Santiago Zarich, and Director of Army Aviation Colonel Sergio Esteban Di Clemente.

## Modernising Army Aviation Fleet The acquisition delivers a significant operational modernization for Argentina's military rotary-wing inventory. The four medium-lift utility helicopters will form the initial core of a restored tactical air mobility capability that has remained largely vacant for decades. Prior to this agreement, the Argentine Army had relied predominantly on legacy light utility platforms, such as Vietnam-era Bell UH-1H and upgraded Huey II helicopters, following the retirement of its French-built Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma and Eurocopter AS-332 Super Puma fleets.

Under the terms of the transaction, Argentina negotiated a contract price of approximately $28 million covering the four airframes, initial spare parts batches, specialized tooling, and operational consumables. The agreement is processed through the United States Foreign Military Sales program utilizing the Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Transaction mechanism. The finalized sum represents an accessible entry point compared to an earlier September 2026 notification by the United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which outlined an estimated potential program ceiling of up to $140 million for a comprehensive multi-year support envelope.

## Procurement Terms and Aircraft Configuration The selected UH-60L helicopters will be powered by twin General Electric T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines, providing enhanced hot-and-high performance and high reliability common with later-variant Black Hawk platforms. The cockpit fit includes modernized digital flight instruments, Garmin GTN 750 satellite navigation receivers, Attitude and Heading Reference Systems, and multi-band HF, VHF, and UHF tactical communications suites.

Cruising at speeds near 280 km/h with an internal capacity for eleven combat-equipped troops, the aircraft are outfitted with specialized mission equipment. This includes Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction Systems for airborne assault operations, heavy-duty external cargo hooks for slung artillery or cargo transfers, high-speed rescue hoists for search-and-rescue, and Bambi Buckets for aerial firefighting support across remote national parks.

## Strategic Rebuilding of Medium Airlift Initial deliveries under the newly signed agreement will commence rapidly, with the first UH-60L scheduled to touch down in Argentina before the end of 2026. Ahead of the delivery milestone, Argentine Army aviators and technical personnel completed specialized cross-training and operational knowledge exchanges with the Colombian military, one of the largest and most experienced UH-60 operators in South America.

The acquisition also concludes years of search for a viable medium helicopter replacement. Argentina previously examined commercial and European options, including a 2023 letter of intent for Airbus H215 helicopters that lapsed without execution, and a subsequent public tender cancelled due to budget constraints. With the Letter of Offer and Acceptance executed, the Argentine military establishes a standardized tactical rotary foundation capable of executing border patrol, disaster relief, counter-narcotics surveillance, and territorial defense missions across rugged Andean and Patagonian terrain.