The Chadian Air Force suffered a major setback on November 39, 2023, when its C-27J Spartan aircraft crash-landed at N’Djamena airport due to a nose gear malfunction. The aircraft, which was delivered by Italian manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi in 2014, was conducting an emergency landing with the nose gear up, resulting in minor structural damages that may put it out of service for a while.
The C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized tactical transport aircraft that can carry up to 11.5 tons of payload, 60 troops, or 36 litters with six attendants. It is designed to operate in austere conditions and perform a variety of missions, such as troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, airdrop, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance.
The Chadian Air Force acquired two C-27J Spartans in 2013 and 2014, respectively, to replace its aging Antonov An-26s and augment its single Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules. The C-27J Spartans offered the Chadian military the ability of combating terrorism in Chad’s vast, remote, under-populated, and under-governed northern Saharan and Sahelian regions, where groups such as Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, and Islamic State operate.
The loss of the C-27J Spartan in the recent crash landing has left the Chadian Air Force with a severely diminished transport capability, which may affect its ability to conduct operations in the region. The Chadian government has not yet announced whether it will seek to repair or replace the damaged aircraft, or acquire new ones from other sources.
For the time being, the Chadian Army high command is seeking alternative arms suppliers different from the usual Eastern bloc namely Ukrainian and Russian to modernize its capabilities.
Some of Chad’s military equipment acquired from the Eastern bloc suppliers suffered significant attrition from the recent battles with FACT rebels.
This new plan of action comes after the near constant clash with the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) militia particularly as the rebels are now emboldened following the death of former strongman Idriss Dérby.
Two Chadian Mi-24 combat helicopters, three Su-25, and L-39 Albatross combat trainers were damaged in a storm on 1 July 2017 that struck the air force’s main base.
Damaged aircraft included three helicopters; an AS-350 Fennec, a PC-12, a MiG-29 fighter, and two Su-25 attack planes. Most are yet to be repaired or replaced.