The Argentina Black Hawk sale cleared its first major hurdle on September 10, 2026, when the U.S. State Department approved a possible $140 million Foreign Military Sale of four UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters and two spare engines to Argentina. The deal, still subject to congressional review, would give the Argentine Army its first Black Hawks of any kind, replacing part of an aging fleet of roughly 50 Bell UH-1H and Huey II helicopters.
The approval covers airframes, spare engines, and a long list of supporting equipment, but it is not a signed contract. Actual costs and timelines will depend on the government-to-government agreement Argentina and the U.S. negotiate from here.
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What the $140 Million Deal Includes
Argentina requested four UH-60L Black Hawks and two spare General Electric T700-GE-701D engines. Four aircraft need eight installed engines, so the two spares work out to a 25 percent engine reserve. The rest of the $140 million package covers identification-friend-or-foe and navigation systems, radios, emergency transmitters, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, a fast-rope insertion and extraction system, rescue hoists, cargo hooks, Bambi Buckets, spare parts, maintenance equipment, training devices, and technical and logistics support.
No weapons or active defensive systems are included in the proposed package. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is designated the principal contractor. The State Department said the sale would not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to deploy to Argentina and would not affect U.S. military readiness.
Argentina’s First Army Black Hawks
Argentina has operated exactly one Black Hawk before the current deal: a single Sikorsky S-70A-30 acquired in 1994 for the presidential fleet, used for VIP transport for nearly three decades before it was transferred to the Argentine Air Force in 2024. That aircraft, since redesignated H-10 and assigned to the VII Air Brigade, belongs to the Air Force. The Argentina Black Hawk sale now under review would give the Argentine Army its first Black Hawk of any kind.
The Army currently relies on an aging fleet of roughly 50 Bell UH-1H and Huey II helicopters, some of which have been in service for decades. Argentine officials disclosed plans earlier in 2026 for an initial batch of four UH-60Ls, and local reporting has described a longer-term ambition to grow the fleet to as many as 20 aircraft over time.
Part of a Broader Modernization Push
The Black Hawk request fits a pattern of incremental, budget-constrained modernization across Argentina’s armed forces. The country has also recently acquired secondhand F-16 fighters from Denmark and P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway, favoring used and mid-life airframes over new-build purchases.
The UH-60L is an earlier generation than the UH-60M now built for the U.S. Army and most export customers. Sikorsky runs a separate modernization program that fits older UH-60Ls with a digital cockpit and updated avionics closer to UH-60M standards while keeping the original airframe, an option Argentina could pursue later to extend the helicopters’ service life.
For scale, recent UH-60M packages elsewhere have run considerably higher per aircraft once new-build airframes and larger equipment sets are included: roughly $2.3 billion for 21 helicopters for Norway, $1 billion for 12 for Austria, $1.95 billion for 35 for Greece, $950 million for 12 for Brazil, and $900 million for 12 for Sweden. Those figures aren’t directly comparable to the Argentina Black Hawk sale, since each deal bundles a different mix of weapons, mission systems, and support, but they illustrate how much less an older-generation, secondhand-leaning package tends to cost.
FAQ: Argentina Black Hawk Sale
What exactly did the U.S. approve for Argentina?
A possible $140 million Foreign Military Sale covering four UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters, two spare T700-GE-701D engines, and supporting equipment, training, and logistics support, notified to Congress on Sept. 10, 2026.
Has Argentina ever operated Black Hawks before?
Yes, but only one: a single S-70A-30 acquired in 1994 for the presidential fleet, later transferred to the Argentine Air Force in 2024. This deal would give the Argentine Army its first Black Hawks.
Does this approval mean the sale is final?
No. State Department and DSCA approval notifies Congress of a possible sale; it is not a signed contract, and the final value and timeline depend on the government-to-government agreement that follows.
Looking Ahead
The Argentina Black Hawk sale still needs to clear congressional review and result in a signed Letter of Offer and Acceptance before Argentina receives any aircraft. The Aviation Diary will track whether the deal converts into a firm contract, and whether Argentina moves toward the longer-term goal some officials have floated of up to 20 Black Hawks.
Sources
- The Defence Blog — “US Approves $140 Million Black Hawk Helicopter Sale to Argentina”
- Army Recognition — “US Approves the Sale of Four UH-60L Black Hawk Helicopters to Argentina for $140 Million”
- The Defense Post — “US Clears $140M Black Hawk Helicopter Sale to Argentina”
- AirDataNews — “Argentina Turns to Older UH-60L Black Hawks to Renew Army Helicopter Fleet”
- Helis.com — DSCA notice summary and comparative UH-60M package pricing
