Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky Aircraft unit has been assigned nearly $1.24 billion by the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s Foreign Military Sales arm to produce an unspecified number of UH-60M helicopters for defense forces in Australia, Brazil, Greece, Sweden, and Thailand.
The award is a modification of an existing contract and anticipates funding for two years of manufacturing and supply, through December 31, 2027, with work to be performed by Sikorsky operations in Stratford, Conn.
The Black Hawk (UH-60M) aircraft are four-blade, twin-engine helicopters in service with the U.S. Army since 1979. The current versions of the multi-mission helicopters (combat, assault, utility) offer increased payloads and range, advanced digital avionics, active vibration control, improved producibility, enhanced handling qualities and situational awareness, and improved survivability, according to Lockheed.
Among the nations identified by the Pentagon as the future recipients of the Black Hawks to be built, the Australian Army has ordered 40 UH-60Ms for delivery by 2030, with 10 helicopters delivered to date and two more pending delivery before the end of this year.
In May, the Brazilian Air Force was approved by the U.S. Dept. of State to purchase 12 UH-60Ms at a cost of $950 million.
The Greek government in April approved a purchase of 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, and in July Sweden agreed to purchase 12 UH-60Ms to expand its current fleet.