An MH-60R Source: U.S. Navy An MH-60R Source: U.S. Navy Close

Mexico has requested the following equipment for the new helicopters: twenty (20) T-700 GE 401 C engines (16 installed and 4 spares); sixteen (16) APS-153(V) Multi-Mode radars (8 installed, 8 spares); ten (10) Airborne Low Frequency Systems (ALFS) (8 installed and 2 spares); fourteen (14) AN/APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe transponders (8 installed and 6 spares); twelve (12) AN/AAS-44C Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Forward Looking Infrared Systems (8 installed, 4 spares); twenty (20) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (16 installed and 4 spares); thirty (30) AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Devices; one thousand (1,000) AN/SSQ-36/53/62 Sonobuoys; ten (10) AGM-114 Hellfire missiles; five (5) AGM-114 M36-E9 Captive Air Training missiles; four (4) AGM-114Q Hellfire training missiles; thirty eight (38) Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) II rockets; thirty (30) Mk -54 Lightweight Hybrid Torpedoes (LHTs); twelve (12) M-240D machine guns; twelve (12) GAU-21 Machine Guns. Also included are twelve (12) AN/ARC-220 High Frequency radios; spare engine containers; facilities study, design, and construction; spare and repair parts; support and test equipment; communication equipment; ferry support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

Mexico is a major operator of the UH-60M Black Hawk. Initial agreements, covering six units for the National Police, were signed in July 2009 as part of the Merida Initiative. In August 2010, the Navy ordered three units for $35.3 million. In September 2014, the Mexican Air Force ordered 26 helicopters split between a batch of 18 and a batch of eight. The batch of 18 helicopters cost $203.6 million, while the batch of eight cost $93.3 million. In December 2015, the Navy exercised a $56.4 million option for five additional UH 60Ms. The Navy ordered another two in September 2015 for $22.6 million. The most recent order came from the Air Force in April 2016 for seven aircraft worth $55 million. In total, Mexico has ordered 49 UH-60Ms, with six for the National Police, 10 for the Navy, and 33 for the Air Force.

Initial deliveries of three UH-60Ms to the Navy began in 2011. Six UH-60Ms were delivered to the Air Force in December 2015. The Navy took delivery of an additional three in February 2016. A total of 18 have been delivered, with 12 for the Air Force and six Navy. One Air Force helicopter crashed in February 2018.

MH-60Rs are navalized version of Sikorsky's UH-60/S-70 helicopter. The addition of sonobuoys and torpedoes will be vital for Mexico to monitor and police its waters to stop traffickers transporting humans and illegal narcotics.

Source: Safran Helicopter Engines Source: Safran Helicopter Engines Close

Powering the Avicopter AC352, the engine has been jointly developed and built by Safran Helicopter Engines, Dongan and HAPRI, parts of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) consortium.

Known in China as the WZ16, it should be certified by CAAC (Civil Aviation Administration of China) in September 2019. The Ardiden 3C/WZ16 will be the first helicopter engine to be certified by both CAAC and EASA.

The Ardiden 3C/WZ16 is a new-generation turboshaft in the 1,700 to 2,000 shp power class. It features a remarkably compact modular architecture, a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio and a low cost-of-ownership. Compared to engines operating in the same power range, it offers ten per cent lower fuel consumption.

Ardiden 3C flight test campaign started in December 2016 with the AC352's maiden flight. Another variant, the Ardiden 3G, has also been selected by Russian Helicopters to power its Ka-62 which made its first flight in May 2017.

Since first ground tests of its two variants, the Ardiden 3 range maturation and certification campaign has accumulated more than 10,000 hours of trials, and will demonstrate a high level of maturity at entry-into-service.

With over 500 engines in operation, China represents a major strategic market for Safran Helicopter Engines. One of every two Chinese-registered helicopters is equipped with a Safran engine or licensed product. This level of business is the result of 40 years of cooperation with industry in China.

An AH-1W Super Cobra Source: Cpl Zachary Dyer, USMC An AH-1W Super Cobra Source: Cpl Zachary Dyer, USMC Close

The AH-1W is an upgraded AH-1T model fitted with T700-GE-401 engines and an uprated transmission (2,032 hp, compared with the AH-1T's 1,970-hp transmission). New features included a crashworthy fuel system, a vibration suppression system, a new avionics package including a head-up display (HUD), defensive equipment including APR-39 and APR-44 radar warning receivers, an ALQ-144 infrared jammer, ALE-39 dispensers for chaff and flares, and active radio jammers. Bell upgraded 41 AH-1Ts to the AH-1W configuration. In addition, the Marines procured 142 new-production AH-1Ws, receiving the last of them in 1998.

There are now an estimated 20 up for sale on the secondhand market.

Brazil has also expressed an interest in acquiring at least some of the helicopters. If both countries eventually do decide to acquire the aircraft, they will need to work out an agreement to split the batch, or a bidding war may ensue.

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