Scramble Magazine – June 2018

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Scramble 469

Barlerin handed over the two Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX

(construction number 208B5337 and 208B5339) during a cer-

emony at Yaounde that was attended by Cameroon’s defence

minister Joseph Beti Assomo and Chief of Staff Lieutenant

General Rene Claude Meka.

The aircraft are configured for intelligence, surveillance and

reconnaissance and are fitted with cameras with a range of

up to ten kilometres. The aircraft were initially delivered in

January this year after air and ground crews underwent train-

ing on the Cessna 208 in the United States in 2017. Both air-

craft will be assigned to GOA B.I.R. (Bataillon d’Intervention

Rapide) that is based at Maroua. This unit has since 2015

already another Cessna 208EX, the TJ-XNE, on strength.

Chad

Armee de l’Air du Chad (AF)

Ce208B EX
TT-LAQ serial update 208B5329 may18

The official hand-over of the two Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

EX (the other one is TT-LAR) to Chad came several days

before the United States officially handed over the two air-

craft to Cameroon, see above. The two aircraft were trans-

ferred during a ceremony on May 2nd at Hassan Djamous

(also named Adjikossei Air Base) at N’Djamena International

Airport just outside the Chadian capital. The aircraft origi-

nally arrived in Chad on 2 December 2017 and were initially

used for pilot training. In January this year the US military

said Chad’s Caravans are being used as intelligence, surveil-

lance and reconnaissance platforms (ISR) that will be used

in the fight against terrorist organisations in the region.

The Chadian Caravans are equipped with L-3 Wescam MX-15

electro-optical surveillance turrets which give a live video

feed. This will help the Chadians in the effort against violent

extremist organizations in the region, particularly Boko

Haram and potentially the Islamic State in the North.

Côte d’Ivoire

Force Aérienne de Côte d’Ivoire (AF)

Aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has

signed a contract worth US$75 million with the air forces of

Senegal and Ivory Coast for the sale of CN-235 and NC-212

aircraft. PTDI President Director Elfien Goentoro signed the

contract with Belgian air defense commercial company Gaby

Peretz in the capacity as business partner of the two African

countries. Under the contract, PTDI will sell a NC-212-200

aircraft used for maritime surveillance and a CN-235-220 air-

craft for maritime patrolling to the Senegalese Air Force and

a CN-235-220 for military transportation to the Ivory Coast

Air Force. PTDI is expected to deliver the aircraft to the two

air forces in a year and a half.

DIAP = Abidjan/Port Bouet

Mi-17

TU-VHM f/n DIAP mar18

The serial still needs confirmation by sighting, it was only

heard as a radio callsign during a test flight.

Mi-24V

TU-VHO act. ex std DIAP mar18

Around May 2017 three active Mi-24s were noted on the

military platform of Abidjan airport. Known were already

the TU-VHR and TU-VHS, the TU-VHO is the third one. We

still are not sure if these are the same helicopters Ivory Coast

had already in the inventory since 2002/2003 or if they are

replaced by “new” ones with the same serials. To explain our

doubts, first some history:

On 6 November 2004, Ivorians launched an air attack on

French peacekeepers in the northern part of Côte d’Ivoire

who were stationed there as part of Operation Unicorn

(French: Opération Licorne), the French military operation

in support of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire

(UNOCI). During this attack nine french soldiers were killed

and 31 were wounded. Several hours after the attack French

President Jacques Chirac ordered the destruction of the

Ivorian Air Force and the seizure of Yamoussoukro airport.

The French military performed an overland attack on the

airport, destroying two Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft

and three helicopter gunships. Two more military helicop-

ters were destroyed during combat in the skies over Abidjan.

Mi-24D TU-VHR was one of the helicopters that were damaged

by the French troops and was noted, by the UN inspection

teams, stored in one of the hangars at Abidjan in 2013 and

2015. The Mi-24V TU-VHS was reported as destroyed by the

French troops. According some sources it was moved from

Yamoussoukro to Abidjan by November 2005, but there it was

never noted by one of the UN inspection teams. The Mi-24V

TU-VHO was one of the survivors of the French retaliation

Next to the Phenom 100, the RAF 3rd Flying Training School received new Grob 120TP trainers also known as Prefect T1 like ZM315 They will

replace the Tutor T1. (Cranwell, 26 April 2018, Marcel J. van Bielder)