Canada Halts Purchase of 16 U.S. Black Hawk Helicopters Amid Trade Tensions
The Canadian government paused the acquisition of 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for its special forces just before trade negotiations with the Trump administration began last summer. The decision is part of a broader review of U.S. defense purchases under Prime Minister Mark Carney, reflecting diplomatic friction and a push toward domestic military production.
Ottawa halted plans to purchase 16 U.S.-made UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters just before trade negotiations with the Trump administration began last summer. The aircraft, manufactured by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, were intended for use by Canada's special forces. 
The suspension of the acquisition is linked to trade and diplomatic tensions with Washington and a wider effort to inventory planned U.S. purchases. At the time the halt was ordered, the deal had already been signed off by the U.S. State Department agency handling foreign military sales and was headed for congressional approval, which carries a 15-day objection period.
The Black Hawks were slated to replace the CH-146 Griffon, a helicopter over three decades old that special forces have used since the early 1990s. The Griffon is currently flown by the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron. The UH-60 Black Hawk offers a typical combat radius of about 595 kilometres, extendable to 2,250 kilometres with air-to-air refuelling. By comparison, the CH-146 Griffon has a normal combat range of up to 656 kilometres, extendable to 909 kilometres with external fuel tanks.
Since being elected in spring 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney has prioritized boosting domestic defence industrial production and establishing partnerships with foreign firms operating in Canada. This shift aligns with public sentiment. A Policy Magazine poll indicated that 62 per cent of Canadians disagree with purchasing military equipment from the United States, while Abacus Data found that 64 per cent support an immediate halt to U.S. military purchases.
The helicopter pause is part of a broader review of American defense acquisitions. The government is reviewing whether to purchase the full order of 88 F-35 stealth fighters, having committed to 16 and ordered parts for more than a dozen others. Earlier this year, Ottawa also waited months before confirming a contract to purchase M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from Lockheed Martin. 
Other stalled projects include a contract for specialized cloud computing services with Google and a ground vehicle crew training system slated for Raytheon.