The Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Army published this Friday (22) the bulletin authorizing the beginning of the deactivation of the HM-2 Black Hawk (UH-60) and HM-3 Cougar (AS 532 UE) helicopters. The aircraft are operated by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Army Aviation Battalions (BAvEx) and will be replaced in the future by newer Black Hawk helicopters.

According to Army Bulletin No. 51/2023, “the deactivation and scrapping of fleets” of helicopters is authorized. The work must respect aspects instructed by the Army General Staff. Are they: 

“§ 1 The deactivation and dismantling of these fleets will be coordinated by the Logistics Command, observing the principles of economy, efficiency, effectiveness, in addition to the maximum use of the potential of each aircraft in favor of the operational readiness of the Land Force.”

“§ 2 The use of repairable supplies from the helicopters of the fleets considered is authorized, as long as they are deactivated and for the benefit of maintaining the logistical sustainability of the aircraft that remain in operation.”

The Army also advises that its Logistics Command “draw up the respective dismantling plans and present them to this General Management Body (ODG) within a maximum period of 180 (one hundred and eighty) days from the publication of this Ordinance.”

At the same time that it begins to write off the HM-2 and HM-3, the EB is also negotiating with the United States Army the purchase of up to 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.

Earlier this month, an EB delegation visited the US Army Security Assistance Command, where Brazilian generals got to know the newest version of the Black Hawk up close and discussed the possible purchase, to be made through Foreign Military Sales ( FMS). The FMS is a form of business that facilitates the negotiation of war products of the most varied types, where the US government acts as a mediator. This way, the two parties can now negotiate the details of the order, including the number of aircraft, spare parts, armaments and other details. 

Both the HM-2 Black Hawk and the HM-3 Cougar have been in operation for over 20 years and have not been modernized, unlike the HA-1 Esquilo/Fennec and HM-1 Pantera. 

AvEx purchased four HM-2s in the 1990s to be used in the Ecuador-Peru Military Observer Mission, implemented by the United Nations after the conflict between the two countries. They are currently operated by the 4th BAvEx, based in Manaus (AM). 

The eight AS 532 Cougars were acquired in the early 2000s to complement the fleet. The model manufactured by Eurocopter (currently Airbus Helicopters) is used by the 2nd BAvEx, in Taubaté (SP) and the 3rd BAvEx, in Campo Grande (MS).