Mexico receives support from security enterprise

By Ms. Michelle Miller (USASAC)February 1, 2016

Mexico receives support from security enterprise
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Secretariat of National Defense for Mexico's Air Force and Army requested and has begun to receive 18 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters as part of a $583.96 million foreign military sales case coordinated by the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command.

Six helicopters arrived in country as of December. Along with the helicopters, SEDENA will receive associated equipment, spare parts, training and logistical support as part of the "total package" foreign military sales case. Training is already underway in country by USASAC's subordinate command, the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization. USA-SATMO's Technical Assistance Fielding Team is providing training and advising on all aspects of the UH-60M Black Hawk to include logistics, maintenance and flight operations.

The sale of the helicopters will provide an increased capability to a strategic partner who shares a long border with the U.S., according to a representative at USASAC. They also expect the FMS partnership with Mexico to continue to grow. In addition to the 18 Black Hawks, Mexico is slated to receive M-134 mini guns for each helicopter and 2,200 M-1152 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles. The Humvee sale, case value estimated at $271 million, will include spare parts, communication equipment, publications and technical documents, personnel and equipment training.

"We hope that the helo program and the parallel Humvee program will allow SEDENA to gain more trust in FMS," the representative said. "An accelerated delivery schedule has been challenging, but the U.S. government team has made this a successful case and we anticipate all equipment to be delivered by the end of 2017."

The materiel will modernize SEDENA's existing capabilities and will be used to provide support to Mexico's forces currently engaged in ongoing counterdrug and trafficking operations.

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