Tunisian air force (Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya At’Tunisia) receives first two special mission Textron C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft.
The two aircraft (N684EX and N692EX) arrived Tunisia on 24th of July via Vatry in France.
As first announced in 2021, the United States will supply a total of four Cessna Grand Caravan 208 aircraft which will likely to be converted into the Textron C-208EX by ATI Engineering Services.
The four Textron C-208EX aircraft will be equipped to carry out ISR duties for the Tunisian Air Force. The delivery of the aircraft is part of an initiative to build Tunisian military capacity to better support the US Africom mission.
“The Caravans will not be armed but will be configured for ISR purposes “to aid in Tunisia’s border security efforts.” – the US Department of Defence said.
In March 2022, Textron Aviation secured a contract from ATI Engineering Services for the delivery of four Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX utility aircraft to the Tunisian Air Force. ATI Engineering Services will equip the aircraft with an electro-optical/infrared sensor, tactical radio, operator console, video data link and night-vision compatible lighting to meet requirements for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
“The fleet will aid the Tunisian air force in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the country,” says Bob Gibbs, vice-president, Special Mission Sales for Textron Aviation.
The deal was conducted via a US government initiative to equip multiple African nations with a combined 16 Grand Caravan EX aircraft via the Foreign Military Sales process. Past recipients are Cameroon, Chad, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, and Uganda, Textron says. Two Cessna C-208B light reconnaissance aircraft were transferred to Chad in May 2018, intended to help its forces fight a jihadist insurgency.
ATI Engineering will also provide spare parts, flight training, technical drawings, logistics support, and ground support equipment as well as the necessary modifications to Tunisia.
ATI Engineering Services was awarded a $9,690,087 order on 30 September for a Tunisia intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system.
D2 Government Solutions Maintenance team provided training to Tunisian Air Force Mechanics on the Cessna 208 in the United States.
The basis for the C-208EX, the C-208B Grand Caravan variant is 1.2 m (4 feet) longer than the standard model and is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A engine
The EX is the third variant of the all-metal, high-wing 208 Caravan introduced in 1984 and is the second iteration of the Grand Caravan, a stretched version of the 208.
C-208 aircraft are increasingly used in counter-insurgency operations around the world, notably in Iraq and Afghanistan. For ISR, it is equipped with L3 Wescam MX-15 cameras which can support up to six sensors simultaneously, and blend electro-optical and Infrared imagery.
The two aircraft will receive an encrypted UHF and VHF communication system, a datalink, an NVIS night vision system for crews and an optronic ball. The amount of this contract, paid by the Tunisian army, is just under $ 10 million, without the airframe.