Mali receives Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano
Mali’s air force has taken delivery of four Embraer Super Tucano light attack and trainer aircraft, a further two are still to be delivered. They were officially received by the Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita the at the Air Base 101, including the Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga, and Chief of the Air Force General Souleymane Bamba.
The four aircraft (PT-ZTN, PT-ZTI, PT-ZTJ and PT-ZTF) were seen in Recife on 7 July during their delivery flight from Brazil. They stopped there overnight before heading on to Mali, where they arrived on 10 July.
Mali signed a contract with Embraer for the six aircraft at the Paris Air Show on 15 June 2015. Embraer said the contract includes logistic support for the operation of these aircraft and also provides a training system for pilots and mechanics of the Mali Air Force. Ten pilots and 17 technicians have been trained on the new Super Tucanos.
Malian Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano are configured for light attack and close air support while the remaining two will be fitted with surveillance systems and used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, including border patrol. The first two aircraft were first seen undergoing test flights in November and December 2016 at Bacacheri Airport in south-eastern Brazil.
The Malian Air Force is currently modernize its air fleet and would soon receive more aerial platforms. The soon to be delivered aircraft includes Boeing C296W transport aircraft and a Harbin Y-12 is a twin-engined multi-mission light transport aircraft. The Malian Air Force (FAMa) would use the new C295W to supplement the one previously delivered in order to boost it’s logistical. Also, it recently took delivery of two Mi-35M attack helicopter which it ordered a few years back in an effort to boost it’s aerial attack capability.