The Black Hawk is part of a larger $1.3-billion plan by the federal government to bolster border security involving helicopters, drones and the deployment of nearly 10,000 front-line personnel.

The MV-75, a tiltrotor aircraft, will replace the Black Hawk, boosting the U.S. Army's rapid deployment and modernization efforts against strategic threats.

Aerotree had its RM187 million Black Hawk lease contract cancelled last year after it failed to deliver despite three postponements.

Last November, the defence ministry cancelled a RM187 million Black Hawk lease contract it signed with Aerotree after the company failed to deliver the aircraft despite three date revisions.