Captain Ibrahim Traore, on Monday, handed over a large delivery of aerial vehicles to the Burkina Faso army, to help in the fight against terrorism.
The Burkina Faso army has received a dozen combat drones, mainly Bayraktar TB2s and Bayraktar Akincis from the Turkish manufacturer Baykar.
“All the tests were conclusive, so we’re proud to confirm that these aircraft are joining the Burkina Faso army’s fleet,” said a delighted Captain Traore, while handing over the equipment to the Air Force.
“The TB2 needs no introduction. It has proved its worth since the beginning of this war, and I think that what is new is that Akinci has surpassed the technical capabilities that the manufacturer had envisaged. It has been put to severe tests in terms of its carrying capacity, endurance, ceiling, speed, performance and so on. These are high-performance, reliable aircraft that we now have,” said the head of state of Burkina Faso.
He also praised the “healthy and sincere cooperation” that Turkey, which manufactures the drones, enjoys with Burkina Faso.
The acquisition of the equipment is part of the implementation of the Strategic Equipment Plan for the national armed forces.
Captain Ibrahim Traore has on several occasions expressed his desire to equip the army, which has been plagued by terrorist attacks since 2015.
DS/ac/fss/as/APA