US authorizes billion-dollar military package for Brazil during Lula government

The United States authorized a package of military sales to Brazil totaling up to US$1.28 billion during the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

The packages were approved by the US Department of State within the Foreign Military Sales program, known by the acronym FMS, a mechanism used by the US for government-to-government sales of military equipment and services.

The authorizations include the sale of 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, in a package estimated at up to US$950 million (around R$4.9 billion), and 100 FIM-92K Stinger Block I anti-aircraft missiles, in a package estimated at US$330 million (around R$1.7 billion).

The sum of the two amounts reaches US$ 1.28 billion, equivalent to around R$ 6.6 billion at current prices.

The notifications, however, do not necessarily mean that the entire amount will be disbursed by Brazil.

In FMS processes, the State Department approves a possible sale and notifies the US Congress. Afterwards, the operation may still depend on final negotiation, contract, budget and delivery schedule.

In the case of helicopters, the authorization was published in May 2024. The package provided for 12 UH-60M Black Hawk, 34 T700-GE-701D engines, navigation systems, radios, transponders, mission equipment, technical and logistical support, as well as other items related to the program.

According to the American notification, the sale of the Black Hawks expands Brazil's capacity in troop transport, border security, medical evacuation, humanitarian aid, disaster response, search and rescue and peacekeeping missions.

This purchase has progressed beyond the initial authorization. Lockheed Martin reported that the Brazilian Army received, in December 2025, the first of the 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters foreseen in the package. The delivery marked the beginning of the modernization of the Army's rotary-wing fleet.

The authorization for the Stinger missiles was published in June 2026. The Brazilian government requested the purchase of 100 FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles, in addition to gripstocks, engineering assistance, integration services, technical and logistical support and other elements related to the program.

In justification, the State Department stated that the sale of the Stinger would help Brazil assume greater responsibility for its territorial security and operations to combat "narcoterrorism".

The American text also says that the acquisition would reinforce the country's air defense capacity and support efforts to modernize the Brazilian Armed Forces.

Stinger are portable, short-range anti-aircraft missiles used to defend against low-altitude aerial threats, such as helicopters, planes and certain types of drones. The system is produced by RTX, formerly Raytheon. In the Brazilian package, Lockheed Martin also appears as one of the main contractors.

The move occurs at a time of diplomatic noise between Brasília and Washington, but it shows that the military channel between the two countries remains active during the Lula government.

Among members of the Armed Forces, there was concern that the political turmoil between the two countries could affect cooperation and military procurement programs with the United States. Recent authorizations indicate, however, that the institutional defense channel continued to function.

The FMS is considered one of the main instruments of military cooperation between the United States and partner countries.

In practice, the program allows foreign governments to purchase equipment, services, training and support directly from the American government, in a process overseen by the Department of State and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the DSCA.

The mechanism reduces contractual risks, facilitates access to sensitive systems and usually includes technical support, integration, logistics and training, in addition to the equipment itself.

During the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the United States also authorized military sales to Brazil through the FMS, but in lower value packages.

In December 2020, the State Department approved a possible sale of MK 54 light torpedoes and related equipment, estimated at US$70 million.

In August 2022, the sale of up to 222 Javelin missiles and 33 launch units was authorized, in a package estimated at up to US$74 million.

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Source: CNN