# Gabon’s C-295 aircraft arrives home

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2023/09/gabons-c-295-aircraft-arrives-home/
- Published: 2023-09-11T08:35:55+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

Gabon has welcomed its recently ordered Airbus C295 transport aircraft, a significant
development that follows the approval of the contract several months ago.

The aircraft, bearing the registration TR-KJF, took off from Spain on August 8th
and touched down in Libreville, Gabon, on August 11th. However, tracking data indicated
that the aircraft was flying in the vicinity of Libreville on August 18th. The impact
of the coup that occurred on August 30th on subsequent flight operations remains
uncertain.

Former Gabonese [President Ali Bongo Ondimba had given the green light](https://www.military.africa/2023/07/gabon-acquiring-airbus-c-295-transport-aircraft/)
for a CFA31 billion (approximately $52 million) loan from Spain’s Santander Bank
to purchase this military transport aircraft for Gabon’s Air Force before he was
overthrown.

Gabon’s Air Force already operates a CN235M, which made its first flight in 1991
and was recently refurbished by Airbus in Spain. Additionally, the Air Force has
a few serviceable aircraft, including a Puma, three Gazelles, an ATR 42 for VIP 
use, and a Falcon 900 also designated for VIP use. Its fighter force comprises six
former South African Air Force Mirage F1 AZ fighters, and for pilot training, South
Africa supplied two MB326 Impalas in 2013.

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The Gabonese Republican Guard operates a couple of EC135T2+ helicopters, two EC120Bs,
and an EC225LP Super Puma.

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Over the past decade, Gabon has been actively acquiring various batches of military
equipment. In 2019, it was revealed that [Chinese VN1 8×8 armored vehicles](https://www.military.africa/2019/08/gabonese-military-displays-norinco-vn1-8x8-ifvs/)
were in service with Gabon, an export variant based on the fully amphibious ZBL-
08 (Type 08) IFV, weighing 21 tonnes. Other recent acquisitions include Dongfeng
EQ2050 vehicles and, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(
SIPRI), 19 Type-07P infantry fighting vehicles, also sourced from China. France 
recently [delivered](https://www.military.africa/2023/08/gabon-receives-aml-90-armoured-vehicles-from-france/)
a number of AML-90 armoured fighting vehicles to the Gabonese military.

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Between 2015 and 2016, Gabon [received](https://www.military.africa/2019/01/gabonese-military-displays-nexter-aravis-mrap/)
eight Aravis IFVs from the French company Nexter, along with 24 Matador APCs from
Paramount in 2010, followed by ten Maverick internal security vehicles. Additionally,
France provided five VAB-VTT vehicles second-hand for Gabon’s UN peacekeeping forces.
In the past year, [Chinese VP11 4×4 armored vehicles](https://www.military.africa/2022/09/gabon-military-parades-norinco-vp11-armoured-vehicle/)
were observed in service for the first time.

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