Sikorsky has formally handed over five new S-70i Black Hawk multi-mission helicopters to the Colombian army, the company says.
The aircraft were accepted during an 11 February ceremony in Tolemaida, Colombia, which was attended by Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos and defence minister Juan Carlos Pinzon.
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Sikorsky says the five aircraft were built in Mielec, Poland, and were then custom-equipped in the USA to meet Colombian requirements.
A team of Colombian pilots and maintainers flew the five aircraft from Sikorsky's facilities in Connecticut to Tolemaida, over 10 days of flying and covering a distance of 3,740nm (6,920km), the company says. The new S-70is arrived on 30 January.
The five aircraft join a fleet of 96 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters operated by the Colombian armed forces and police, including around 55 already flown by the nation's army.
Source: Flight International
