The Black Hawk helicopter has completed 30 years of service in Latin America this year, since the Colombian Air Force received its first five UH-60A aircraft in 1988. The twin engine medium-lift Black Hawk which is designed and manufactured by Sikorsky has become synonymous with the successful defense of territorial sovereignty, providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, combatting drug trafficking, performing search and rescue missions, surveilling coastlines and borders, and transporting heads of state.