Guyana Plans to Purchase New Aircraft from India for its Military

Defense News ,India :- The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) wants to buy two new airplanes from India. They're getting a $23.27 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of India to make this happen.

The finance minister of Guyana and the deputy GM of the EXIM Bank signed an agreement last Friday. Guyana, which has many people of Indian descent, aims to buy two HAL (Dornier) 228 planes from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

These planes are great for taking off and landing on short runways, which is important for Guyana's landscape. They'll be used for keeping watch over the sea, supplying military bases, and moving troops to remote areas.

This agreement is the first of its kind between India and any Caribbean nation. Guyana also plans to buy patrol vehicles, radars, and armored vehicles from India.

The finance ministry of Guyana says this deal is part of their plan to make the GDF stronger. They've been working with India since President Ali visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in January 2023.

Guyana's finance minister says they're investing a lot in improving the GDF, especially the Air Corps and Coast Guard. Buying these two planes is the biggest investment they've made in the force so far.

The Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan, thanked India for helping with defense training for many years. He says this agreement supports the president's goal of a strong security sector for peace and prosperity.

This agreement is just one of eleven loans Guyana has received from the Indian EXIM Bank over the years. India also offered 19 defense training slots to GDF under its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. These slots cover courses for the army, navy, and air force.