The US Air Force handed over two Black Hawks to the Afghan Air Force (AAF) at an official ceremony in Kandahar on Saturday.

President Ashraf Ghani and US Forces Commander Gen. John Nicholson attended the event at the Kandahar Airport, the Presidential Palace said in a statement on Saturday.

Other Black Hawk helicopters will be handed over to the Afghan forces in the near future.

The first UH-60s Black Hawks for the Afghan Air Force arrived in Kandahar airport last month.

Resolute Support said at the time that the new Black Hawks will increase the Afghan Air Force’s capability and sustainability.

Black Hawks will eventually replace the Russian Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters currently in use by the AAF.

A few months ago, the United States announced that it will provide the Afghan Air Force with 150 Black Hawks and other aircraft over the next four years.

Defense ministry officials had said the helicopters promised by the US would help them overcome the challenges that existed in the anti-terror fight.