Brazilian Army rejuvenates its fleet
In mid-August 2025, more news emerged about the new helicopters for the Exército do Brasil (EB, Brazilian Army).
The twelve UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters that were requested in late 2023 were approved to be supplied through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) in May 2024.
The first will be arriving in Brazil this year to replace the four older HM-2 (UH-60L). After that, two more will be delivered yearly until the fleet is complete in 2029. This will enable the EB to phase out the AS532 Cougars as well.
Furthermore, twelve H145M are to be acquired with deliveries starting in 2028. These would be assembled by Helibras in Itajubá that is currently working on the final assembly of the H125M for the Air Force and Navy.
This new order would provide another long-lasting production run and maintenance programme for Helibras. It is not quite clear yet whether the H145M will augment or replace the recently modernised HM-1 (AS565 Panther) helicopters.
Credit photo: Erwin van Dijkman