U.S. approval of Black Hawk helicopter sale to Mexico, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico): The government of Donald Trump has authorized the sale of eleven Black Hawk assault and transport helicopters to Mexico, aimed at strengthening the counternarcotics capacity of the Mexican Armed Forces. The package is valued at $1.075 billion, roughly 20 billion Mexican pesos.
The U.S. authorization allows Lockheed Martin to sell the eleven helicopters and related equipment for the strategy against drug trafficking.
The package includes 27 engines for the aircraft, 27 GPS navigation systems, satellite communication radios, identification and communication equipment, weather radars, night vision systems and ballistic armor.
The purchase also includes M-134 machine guns, rescue hoists, fast-rope insertion systems and helmets. Mexico will also receive personnel training, technical assistance and logistics support from the U.S.
government and the manufacturer.
In a notification, the State Department said the sale supports U.S. security objectives, but did not identify which Mexican agency made the request.
The notification states that the acquisition “will strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Mexico, and will enhance Mexico’s ability to provide airlift support within its territory to its forces engaged in operations against drug trafficking.”
