Aerospace |
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The Brazilian Army took a forward step in modernizing its rotary-wing aircraft fleet by contracting to buy four Sikorsky S-70A Black Hawk helicopters last week. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation will deliver the Brazilian Army Black Hawk aircraft in August 1997. The company will also provide training and a five-year total maintenance program, to include an in-country team that will perform all support activities. Eugene Buckley, Sikorsky president and chief executive officer, said, "We are pleased to have Brazil in our family of international BLACK HAWK customers. Brazil now has the best helicopter in the world, with our total support commitments.'' The BLACK HAWK helicopter features ballistic tolerance to 23mm projectiles, low detectability and outstanding nap-of-the-earth flight capabilities. The aircraft will be equipped to meet the challenges of the difficult conditions found in the Patuca region. To meet these far-flung tropical missions in jungle conditions, each S-70 will carry a Global Positioning System, long-distance High Frequency radio, an internal rescue hoist and weather radar. The BLACK HAWKS will be based in Patuca, Ecuador, from where they will fly military observation missions between Ecuador and Peru. The peace-keeping missions are currently flown by U.S. Army UH-60 BLACK HAWK helicopters. Sikorsky has delivered more than 2,400 Hawk family helicopters. All together, the aircraft have logged about four million flying hours. The U.S. Army flew Black Hawk aircraft during combat in Grenada, Panama, the liberation of Kuwait, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and in many humanitarian and rescue missions, including current operations in Bosnia. BLACK HAWK variants, including naval derivatives, currently serve 23 international customers such as Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Colombia, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, People's Republic of China, Spain, The Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey. |
