The US Government has approved a $1.3 billion supplemental aid package for Colombia to fight drugs trafficking, which will include 18 new Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk and 42 upgraded Bell UH-1H Huey helicopters for the army and police.
Bell has emerged as a major beneficiary from the deal having secured funds for 30 more UH-1s for the Colombian army and 12 for the police. This is an increase on the 33 machines originally proposed and follows lobbying by the company. Contract signing is due this month with upgrade kit delivery beginning almost immediately at a rate of six a month.
A source of surplus UH-1Hs has to be determined, but the bulk of the helicopters will almost certainly come from stored US Army stocks. The upgrade work is likely to be performed by a third party.
Washington has already funded the upgrade of 25 Hueys for the police and is midway through delivering 33 similar UH-1Ns purchased from Canada and refurbished at Patrick AFB.
A cut in the overall aid package has reduced the number of UH-60Ls in the deal from 30 to 18. The helicopters will supplement 18 Black Hawks already delivered to Colombia. The army and air force are negotiating a separate foreign military sales purchase of another seven UH-60Ls each.
Source: Flight International
