As part of his visit to the United States, and within the framework of bilateral meetings between the respective defense ministries, Argentina has finally agreed to move forward with the acquisition of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to equip the Argentine Army. The news was reported moments ago following the conclusion of a meeting between Argentina’s Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Presti, and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense and Security Cooperation in the Americas, Joseph M. Humire, along with the Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC), Michael Jensen.
In detail, and according to a post published on the Ministry of Defense’s social media accounts, during the “… meeting, they discussed the incorporation of defense systems that contribute to protecting our resources and critical infrastructure, key to safeguarding the country’s future, as well as the development of multidomain capabilities, such as cyber defense.”
Adding, in relation to material acquisitions, that: “It was agreed to increase the number of Stryker armored vehicles and incorporate Black Hawk helicopters, a qualitative leap that strengthens national resilience. The role of P-3 Orion aircraft in monitoring our resources was also highlighted, along with the need to consolidate naval capabilities to ensure sovereignty at sea. In addition, they analyzed the evolution of the F-16 project and its operational impact for Argentina and the region.”
The confirmation is long-awaited news for the Army Aviation Directorate, which has for years been planning and projecting the incorporation of a new platform to replace the current Bell UH-1H Huey/Huey II helicopters, which have accumulated an extensive and distinguished 50-year service history.
Notably, a procurement process for their acquisition had previously been listed, taking place at the end of 2024 and establishing the purchase of three S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, which was later canceled in early 2025 due to budgetary constraints and the reallocation of funds.
Nevertheless, as Lieutenant General Presti himself had previously told Zona Militar in 2025, prior to his appointment as head of the Libertador Building, the Army continued analyzing and weighing options in order to “…inject seeds of innovation into a larger structure such as Army Aviation, which operates dozens of Huey and Huey II helicopters… The Army has, for more than 40 years, lacked the medium- and heavy-lift helicopter capability it once had. The Chinooks remained in the Malvinas in 1982 and were never recovered…”
Finally, following the announcement, no further details have been provided regarding the acquisition mechanism or specifics about the Black Hawk variant that could be supplied by the United States, with speculation pointing to Lima variant models that are nearing retirement from U.S. Army service.
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