Peruvian National Police Receive U.S.-Donated Black Hawk Helicopters to Combat Drug Trafficking
The Peruvian National Police (PNP) have received three UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters donated by the United States government, as part of a bilateral assistance package aimed at strengthening Peru's aerial capabilities in the fight against drug trafficking. The helicopters, delivered aboard a C-17A aircraft, were officially handed over at the Police Aviation Decentralized Unit in the Ucayali region.
With this delivery, the PNP’s fleet of Black Hawk helicopters now totals six units, out of a planned nine under a cooperation agreement signed between Lima and Washington in August 2024. The arrival was confirmed by PNP Commander General Víctor José Zanabria Angulo, who emphasized the impact of these aircraft on both police operations and humanitarian missions, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where drug trafficking is concentrated.
The agreement, valued at approximately $65 million, outlines a phased delivery of all nine helicopters over five years. It also includes ground support equipment, spare parts, tools, and an operational management information system. Additionally, the U.S. has committed to comprehensive training for Peruvian pilots, crew members, and technicians, along with ongoing technical maintenance support.
The transferred helicopters are UH-60A models upgraded to the “A+” standard, enhancing their operational capabilities compared to existing platforms in the PNP fleet. Their versatility, range, and load capacity make them suitable for missions including aerial interdiction, personnel transport, medical evacuation, and special operations in jungle environments.
This transfer is part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral security cooperation between Peru and the United States, a relationship that began formally in 1989 through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Currently, the INL invests nearly $40 million annually in programs supporting Peru’s efforts against drug trafficking and transnational crime.
To ensure sustained operational readiness, the Peruvian government has assigned permanent personnel — including pilots, maintenance technicians, and administrative staff — to the Pucallpa air base, from which the helicopters are deployed. The goal is to ensure the full integration of the Black Hawks into interdiction and territorial control missions in regions heavily affected by narcotics activity.
With the addition of these helicopters, Peru enhances its rotary-wing fleet with a combat-proven platform, widely used by U.S. and allied armed forces in diverse operational settings. Their arrival represents a significant leap in the mobility, surveillance, and rapid response capabilities of the National Police in one of the country’s most critical security zones.
Apasionado por la aviación, la historia, la política y la defensa. Editor-in-Chief en Aviacionline Defensa, combinando estos conocimiento para ofrecer un contenido valioso sobre temas estratégicos y de seguridad.
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