Colombia's defence ministry has revived a project to acquire 24 turboprop-powered light attack aircraft to replace its air force fleets of Cessna A-37B Dragonfly and Rockwell OV-10A Bronco counterinsurgency aircraft. The new aircraft will form part of Colombia's recently launched Plan Patriota counternarcotic operations, to perform light strike duties and the interception of drug-running aircraft, says defence minister Jorge Alberto Uribe.
Last month the Colombian government released $235 million to advance the light-attack programme and plans to finalise the acquisition late this year, says Uribe. First deliveries are expected in the second half of 2005, with the defence ministry also indicating a requirement for a second squadron of 24 aircraft.
Arequest for proposals for the light-attack requirement was issued in September 2002 following a service study into candidates, including the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, Korea Aerospace Industries KO-1, Pilatus PC-21 and Raytheon T-6 Texan II. The air force is believed to have backed the Embraer design, but the programme was stopped just months later because of budgetary constraints and what local sources describe as "US pressure".
Colombia's defence ministry last month finalised negotiations to take delivery of an ex-Italian air force Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules from the USA late this year. It also approved an $18 million contract with Russia's Kazan Helicopters to upgrade nine grounded Mil Mi-171V1s for the Colombian army. Funds are understood to have been released for a $20 million army programme to acquire a further 12 Bell UH-1H Huey II utility helicopters.
Source: Flight International
