Tunisia receives Caravan aircraft – defenseWeb

The Tunisian Air Force has strengthened its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities with the delivery of four Textron Aviation C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft from the United States.

The U.S. Embassy and the Tunisian Ministry of Defense announced the arrival of the aircraft on Sept. 9 during a ceremony at the Al-Auaina air base. They said the aircraft are worth $54 million and that the delivery includes training and maintenance.

The handover ceremony was attended by senior officials from both sides, including Tunisian Defense Minister Khaled Sehili, U.S. Ambassador Joey Hood, Tunisian Air Force Chief of Staff General Mohammed Hajem and U.S. Air Force Deputy Undersecretary Brig. Gen. Ricky Mills.

“These aircraft will support the operational capabilities of the Air Force in the field of information, surveillance and reconnaissance due to their characteristics, accuracy in performing tasks and speed in transmitting data, which will help in combating terrorism and transnational organized crime and will serve for security and peace at the national and regional levels,” Sehili is quoted as saying.

U.S. officials said the planes are configured for ISR purposes but are not armed. Photos showed the aircraft equipped with electro-optical gimbals under their fuselages. Surveillance equipment includes night vision capabilities. The contract for the aircraft includes spare parts, flight training, engineering drawings, logistics support and ground support equipment.

The deal was made through a U.S. government initiative to equip multiple African nations with a combined 16 Grand Caravan EX aircraft through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. Eligible nations participating in the FMS program can purchase goods and services using their own funds or funds provided through U.S. government-sponsored assistance programs. Previous recipients include Cameroon, Chad, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda.

Other countries on the continent are also beefing up their surveillance fleets. In March, U.S. officials announced that two Grand Caravan EX turboprop aircraft would be sent to the Djiboutian Air Force for ISR.

Since 2011, the U.S. has invested more than $1 billion in security cooperation with Tunisia, including more than $160 million by 2023. This support has enabled Tunisia to participate in UN peacekeeping operations, conduct humanitarian missions and become a regional security hub, the U.S. military said. It added that it recently reaffirmed this strategic partnership by delivering a sixth C-130 military transport aircraft, which is being used for various humanitarian efforts. “Additionally, U.S. counterterrorism programs have strengthened Tunisia’s security forces, reduced terrorist threats and improved border security. The United States has also contributed to key infrastructure projects in Tunisia, including airports, dams and water systems.”

About 4,500 people serve in the Tunisian air force. A state of emergency has been in effect in Tunisia since the 2015 terrorist attacks. Militants have periodically attacked the capital Tunis, but the main area of ​​terrorist operations remains the central-western highlands near the Algerian border.

“The southern border is a designated high-security militarized zone due to cross-border smuggling and terrorist activities and the threat posed by Libya,” risk management group Crisis24 said. “The deterioration of the Libyan security situation has led to a strengthening of defensive measures along the military buffer zone and maritime areas in Tunisia.”