Sikorsky [LMT] completed contract negotiations with the Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile) for six S-70i Black Hawk helicopters for the Air Force’s medium-lift helicopter recapitalization program, the company said Wednesday.
Set to be delivered in 2018, the helicopters aim to fulfill Chile’s requirement to perform military and humanitarian missions including troops transport, search and rescue, and disaster relief.
The program also includes the acquisition of a logistical support package to cover spare parts, pilots and maintenance specialists training, on-site technical assistance, and ground support equipment.
“We are very pleased that the Fuerza Aérea de Chile has chosen the multirole Black Hawk helicopter following an intensive review of competing platforms,” Adam Schierholz, Sikorsky regional executive for Latin America, said in a statement.
The company highlighted the Black Hawks can be transported for rapid or distance deployment in Chilean Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft.
The Chilean Air Force first announced its decision to procure six S-70i Black Hawks from Sikorsky as a direct commercial sale. It has operated one S-70A since 1998.
This contract will raise the total Black Hawks operated by Chilean and four other Latin American countries to over 140, Sikorsky said.