Sikorsky Aircraft has a new four-year logistics services contract from the Brazilian Air Force for 16 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. The Lockheed subsidiary reported its services will improve fleet sustainment by maintaining local storage for common spare parts, assistance from regional Sikorsky field service, and direct technical support from Sikorsky Engineering.
The value of the contract was not reported.
According to the supplier, the new Air Force contract is modeled after a multi-year logistics support agreement between Sikorsky and the Brazilian Army. In 2019, after previous agreements with the Army, the flight availability rate of the four Army S-70A (UH-60L equivalent) Black Hawk aircraft reached a 100% readiness, it stated.
Felipe Benvegnu, director of Sikorsky sustainment business development, explained that “local storage of spare parts will eliminate long lead times for material that would keep an aircraft on the ground.
“Close collaboration with Sikorsky engineers, whether virtual or in person, also will help the Air Force maintainers improve the readiness rates of these utility aircraft for important missions, such as search and rescue,” he added.
The UH-60L is one variant of the Black Hawk series twin-engine, four-bladed helicopter produced by Sikorsky for tactical transport missions. The Brazilian Air Force acquired its 16 Black Hawk aircraft between 2006 and 2013.
