This decision was communicated through a resolution signed by the head of the Army, General Carlos Presti , and published in the Official Gazette on January 2, 2025.
The tender, which had been launched on December 2, 2024, was intended to replace part of the Bell UH-1H and Huey II fleet in air assault missions . However, just five days before the opening of envelopes, the process was cancelled due to the lack of allocated budget credit. This was due, in part, to the fact that the government of Javier Milei extended the 2023 Budget for the second consecutive year, leaving the purchase of these helicopters out of the credit allocations.
In addition to the budgetary problems, the bidding process was under suspicion due to alleged irregularities. Pucará Defensa sources say that the tender contained indications of a direct purchase disguised as a tender. The tender detailed specific conditions that seemed to favor the company Helicopter Engine Service (HES), which generated criticism from other possible bidders and associations in the local aerospace sector.
The MDZ news site said the decision to cancel the tender was also influenced by a previous scandal involving the handling of aircraft spare parts, which resulted in complaints against several members of the Army Aviation Directorate. This context generated distrust around the process and led to the removal of senior officials involved in drafting the tender.
The cancellation of this tender represents a significant setback for the Argentine Army in its fleet modernization plan, since the Black Hawk helicopters were considered a key piece to reinforce its operational capabilities in air assault missions and logistical support.
It is worth remembering that in addition to the Black Hawk , which seems to be the favourite option of the military brass, there is also a concrete offer from Airbus Helicopters for its UH-72B Lakota , available through the FMS programme, while India continues to promote its HAL LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) MK-1 helicopters and the Dhruv medium utility helicopter.
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