The Força Aérea de Moçambique (FAM; Mozambique Air Force) has moved to strengthen its counter-terrorism capabilities with the purchase of two transport aircraft from South Africa-based aerospace/defence company Paramount Group.

The airlifters in question – an Airbus CN-235 (serial FA-801) and a LET L-410UVP-E20 Turbolet (serial unknown) – were both handed over to the FAM during a presentation ceremony – attended by Maj Gen Cândido Tirano, commander of the FAM – at an undisclosed location on November 15. The CN-235 and L-410UVP-E20 are configured with 30 and 17 seats, respectively, and will help bolster the FAM’s combat readiness capacity against insurgents in the nation’s Cabo Delgado province. In operational service, these aircraft will be used to predominately carry out cargo transport operations, but both types possess an ability to deploy special forces personnel and paratroopers into a combat zone.

During the handover ceremony, Tirano outlined the importance of the FAM’s cooperation with Paramount Group, which has provided staff training; supplies and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for various equipment operated by the Mozambican air arm. The FAM commander subsequently thanked Paramount and the Mozambican government for the partnership and the acquisition of the two new aircraft.