Peru Receives Former Afghan UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters

The United States has delivered the second batch of UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters to Peru.

The equipment was transferred from Colombia, where it was in service with the National Police, SA Defensa reports.

Initially, these helicopters were used by the Afghan Air Force, but after the Taliban came to power in 2021, some Black Hawks were evacuated to Uzbekistan.

At that time, 22 military aircraft and 24 helicopters with 585 Afghan servicemen on board crossed the airspace of Uzbekistan.

Among the equipment that was transferred from Afghan air bases to Termez Airport were Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft and Pilatus PC-12NG multipurpose aircraft.

They were supplemented by helicopters – UH-60 Black Hawk, Mi-17 and light multipurpose MD-530.

The representatives of the Taliban have repeatedly stated that these planes and helicopters are the property of Afghanistan and must be returned.

In response, Tashkent stated that they belonged to the United States and were not subject to return. This position of Uzbek officials was later confirmed by American officials.

In February 2025, seven Black Hawk helicopters, which the Pentagon had deemed fit for service, were returned to the United States.

In November 2024, the United States presented Peru with the first batch of nine Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk multi-role helicopters.

The Peruvian Congress approved their receipt and subsequent transfer to police units, where they will be used for special operations and personnel transportation.

In addition, the helicopters are seen as a means of supporting the population in the event of natural disasters, conducting evacuations and providing humanitarian assistance.