U.S. Transfers Evacuated Afghan Black Hawk Helicopters to Peru, Amidst Afghanistan Claims of Ownership

WASHINGTON / LIMA – In a move that underscores the complex aftermath of the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the United States has facilitated the transfer of an unspecified number of former Afghan Air Force UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters to Peru. These aircraft were part of a fleet evacuated to Uzbekistan during the collapse of the former U.S.-backed Afghan government.

According to a report by the Spanish-language defense analysis blog Sa Defensa, the helicopters in question were originally operated by the Afghan Air Force. Following the Taliban’s rapid takeover in August 2021, these aircraft were flown out of Afghanistan and into neighboring Uzbekistan to prevent them from falling into the hands of the new Islamic Emirate regime.

A Tangled Chain of Custody

This transfer represents the latest chapter in the disposition of evacuated Afghan military assets. The U.S. government, which funded and supplied the vast majority of the former Afghan military’s equipment, has maintained control over their ultimate fate.

• Recent Precedent: Last year, the U.S. delivered nine Black Hawk helicopters to Peru. However, in a curious reversal, seven of those same aircraft were returned to the United States in February 2024 for reasons that were not officially disclosed, potentially for specific maintenance or upgrades.

• Broader Inventory: Reports indicate that a total of 46 Afghan military fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were relocated to Uzbekistan in 2021, creating a protracted diplomatic and logistical challenge.

Taliban Demands Return of “National Property”

The government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has consistently and vehemently protested the transfer of these aircraft. Following the February 2024 report of helicopters being returned to the U.S., the Afghan Ministry of National Defense issued a statement demanding that the United States “not create obstacles” in the return of the equipment and instead hand them over to Afghanistan.

Taliban officials have repeatedly asserted that all evacuated aircraft and military assets are the rightful property of the Afghan state, regardless of the change in government. “These aircraft are the national property of Afghanistan and must be handed over to the country,” a defense ministry spokesperson stated earlier this year. The U.S. and most of the international community do not formally recognize the Taliban government, complicating any claims of sovereign property transfer.

Strategic Implications: Peru Bolsters its Fleet, U.S. Manages Legacy Assets

For Peru, the acquisition of these Black Hawks, even used models, represents a cost-effective means to modernize its rotary-wing fleet. The Peruvian military faces persistent challenges from narco-terrorist groups and requires reliable utility helicopters for troop transport, logistics, and disaster response in its rugged terrain. The UH-60A+, an upgraded variant of the classic Black Hawk, provides a substantial increase in capability over older helicopters in Peru’s inventory.

For the United States, the transfer serves multiple purposes: it supports a regional partner, prevents the sensitive technology from languishing or being diverted, and conclusively ensures the aircraft will not be used by the Taliban regime. The move highlights the ongoing effort by Washington to manage the global dispersal of military assets left behind after the two-decade war, balancing diplomatic relationships with the unresolved status of Afghanistan’s former U.S.-funded arsenal.

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