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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Taiwan
 
 
Taiwan donates two UH-1H utility helicopters to Burkinabe armed forces
 
Taiwan donated two UH-1H light utility helicopters to Burkina Faso's armed forces during an official ceremony held on June 6. These helicopters will beef up tactical transport capabilities of the Burkinabe Air Force, involved in the fight against terrorist organizations acting in North Africa.
     
A Burkinabe UH-1H light utility helicopter
(Credit: lefaso.net)
     
The two UH-1Hs, worth USD$8 million, will join a small fleet of 11 helicopters which includes two Airbus Helicopters H130s and two AS365s, as well as Russia-made Mi-8s and two Mi-35 attack helicopters purchased in 2005.

Taiwan "wants to support the efforts already made by the Government of Burkina Faso through this graceful donated aircraft which will make it possible to perform aerial reconnaissance missions, to gather critical informations for urgent interventions," said the Taiwanese embassy in Ougadougou in an official statement.

Burkina Faso technicians previously received training in Taiwan in ordre to perform sustainement of the two rotorcraft.

The UH-1H is an improved variant of the famous UH-1 utility helicopter featuring a Lycoming T53-L-13 engine of 1,400 shp. The Taiwanese UH-1H helicopters built under license by the Taiwanese company Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).