Aircraft Expected To Enhance Security For Pan American Games
Later This Year
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has secured a contract to sell one S-70i
Black Hawk helicopter to the state of Jalisco in Mexico. With the
sale, Jalisco will become the first state in Mexico to acquire its
own Black Hawk.
S-70i At Paris Air Show
Jalisco is one of 31 states in Mexico, and borders the state of
Michoacan, a high-risk area in President Calderon's war on drugs
and organized crime. With the Pan American Games to be hosted in
Jalisco's capital of Guadalajara later this year, the helicopter
acquisition is part of a state initiative to increase safety and
security in advance of this world event.
Jalisco's interest in the Black Hawk helicopter was spurred by
the effective deployment of the aircraft by the Mexico Federal
Police over the last few years. The Mexico Federal Police have been
flying them since 2008, using them as a tool for drug interdiction
and to help fight organized crime and corruption.
"An aircraft of this quality and value is a big investment for a
state," said Luis Carlos Najera Guittierrez de Velasco, Secretario
de Seguridad Publica of Jalisco, in a news release Tuesday. "The
functionality and performance of this S-70i helicopter means that
Jalisco now has a new and valuable tool to support our policing in
the region."
Three years ago, there were only six Black Hawk helicopters in
all of Mexico. By the end of 2011, that number is expected to
increase to 23, including those to be acquired by Jalisco, the
Federal Police, the Air Force, and the Mexican Navy, who will
receive three Black Hawk helicopters from the U.S. Department of
State as part of the Merida Initiative later this year.
S-70i File Photo
"The faith that the country of Mexico has in this product is
driven by the success of the Black Hawk helicopters used by the
Mexico Federal Police and the Mexican Air Force. Ballistic
tolerant, rugged, and easy to maintain – these are the
qualities of the Black Hawk helicopter that our Mexican customers
have asked for and received in the aircraft they are flying and
continue to order," said Adam Schierholz, Regional Sales Director,
Sikorsky Mexico.
The S-70i is the newest Black Hawk variant, being produced for
the international market. The aircraft was built at Sikorsky's PZL
Mielec facility in Poland, the final assembly center and production
test flight hub of the S-70i helicopter program.