{"id":24865,"date":"2017-09-19T19:07:37","date_gmt":"2017-09-19T19:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/19\/afghanistan-takes-delivery-of-first-black-hawks\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:12:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:12:53","slug":"afghanistan-takes-delivery-of-first-black-hawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2017\/09\/19\/afghanistan-takes-delivery-of-first-black-hawks\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan takes delivery of first Black Hawks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. delivered the first two of a planned 159 U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to Afghanistan on Monday, according to Capt. William Salvin, a spokesperson for Operation Resolute Support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The helicopters were delivered to Kandahar airfield by U.S. Air Force C-17 loadmasters assigned to Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two more UH-60s are slated to arrive later this week, Salvin told Military Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UH-60s are part of a recapitalization effort to bolster Afghanistan\u2019s fledgling air force. Gen. John Nicholson \u2014 the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan \u2014 told lawmakers  in February that strengthening Afghanistan\u2019s offensive capabilities would break the stalemate in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UH-60s will replace Afghanistan\u2019s aging Russian Mi-17 helicopters. Afghanistan\u2019s Mi-17s have primarily served air lift and troop transport functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As U.S. and NATO air support to Afghanistan has dwindled over the last several years, the Afghan air force has been forced to take the reins while simultaneously beating back a resurgent Taliban threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\t