US Approves $140 Million UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopter Sale to Argentina

The US State Department has approved the sale of four Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters to Argentina in a deal worth $140 million, including two spare T700-GE-701D engines and a support package. The sale now moves to Congressional review as part of the standard Foreign Military Sale (FMS) process.

At a Glance

Four Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters worth approximately $140 million.
Package includes two spare T700-GE-701D engines plus communications, navigation, and support systems.
Rescue hoists and logistical support are also included.
Sikorsky is the principal contractor; the sale awaits Congressional review before finalization.
State Department approval was announced Tuesday, September 9, 2026.
Stated purpose: border security, counter-transnational crime, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

Background

The State Department said the sale “will support US foreign policy goals and national security objectives.” The deal is intended to bolster Argentina’s existing air fleet and expand its operational capacity along border regions. The UH-60L is an older but still widely used variant in Sikorsky’s Black Hawk family, offering a lower-cost procurement option than the newer UH-60M — an attractive alternative for mid-sized air forces operating under budget constraints.

Argentina has been accelerating defense modernization, having previously signed a deal with Lockheed Martin for F-16 fighters. The Black Hawk order continues that pattern of strengthening both ground and air components in parallel. The deal is not yet final; it still requires Congress to complete the standard FMS approval process, though approvals at this stage are rarely rejected.

Regional Impact

Defense spending across Latin America continues to climb. Following Brazil’s record defense budget, Peru’s selection of the F-16, and Colombia’s Gripen deal, Argentina’s move is another link in the region’s fleet-renewal race among air forces. This activity in the mid-sized and refurbished helicopter market is a useful signal for other manufacturers with comparable product lines — including Turkey’s domestically developed GÖKBEY multi-role helicopter program — of how the Latin American market could shape up as a competitive arena in the medium term.