US hands 2 C-208 reconnaissance aircraft to Chad
NOVANEWS
Fergus Kelly
The United States formally handed over to Chad two Cessna C-208B light reconnaissance aircraft intended to help its forces fight a jihadist insurgency.
The two single-engine planes were officially transferred to the Chadian air force in a ceremony at its base outside the capital N’Djamena on Wednesday, May 2.
The planes were delivered in December 2017 and have since been used for pilot training.
The U.S. has also helped to build shelters and maintenance areas for Chadian aircraft, after a windstorm in 2017 damaged air force facilities.
Together, the donated equipment and work amount to $43 million, said U.S. ambassador Geeta Pasi, who attended the ceremony.
Samantha Reho, a spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command, told The Defense Post that the U.S. has “a robus...