Mauritania receives CN-235 transport aircraft from UAE

The Mauritanian military announced on 13 May that it had received a transport aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The aircraft could be identified as one of the CASA/IPTN CN-235M-110 transport aircraft that the UAE acquired from Indonesia in the 1990s.
The Mauritanian military described it as a Spanish-Indonesian aircraft designed for reconnaissance, parachuting, troop and cargo transport, and medical evacuations. It also released a photograph showing a medium transport aircraft with four-blade propellers.
Airbus announced in November 2017 that the UAE Air Force and Air Defence had ordered five of its C295 transport aircraft to replace its existing CN235s.
janes

Mauritania turns DC-3 into surveillance aircraft

The Mauritanian Air Force has increased its ability to monitor the country's vast, sparsely populated territory by upgrading its Basler Turbo BT-67 with an electro-optical (EO) turret and associated mission systems so it can carry out surveillance as well as transport duties.
The BT-67 is a refurbished DC-3 acquired by the FAIM in 1999. The US Department of State Air Wing operates at least one BT-67 that has been similarly upgraded with an under-nose FLIR Systems Star SAFIRE turret.
L-3 Wescam said it had delivered two MX-15 sensor turrets to Mauritania, but these had been fitted to Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft. Although the FAIM was not previously known to operate Caravans, it is possible that one unit could have been moved to the BT-67 in-country.
The FAIM also operates Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucanos that are equipped with Star SAFIRE III turrets, according to FLIR Systems, but the BT-67 has a significantly longer endurance than these light attack aircraft.
janes

Nigeria interested in buying Super Tucanos

The Nigerian Air Force is considering buying Super Tucano trainer and light attack aircraft from Embraer.
Nigeria has a strong requirement for an aircraft like the Super Tucano as it battles the domestic Boko Haram insurgency and also deploys combat aircraft to foreign countries on peacekeeping operations.
Piracy and oil smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea and a contribution to peacekeeping operations are expected to drive the country's military expenditure to register a growth rate of 13.62% over the next five years. The domestic Boko Haram insurgency is also expected to drive Nigeria’s security needs.


African Super Tucanos

Embraer has recorded a number of orders for its Super Tucano from African countries, which see it as a low cost light attack aircraft that can also be used as a trainer. On the continent, the Super Tucano has been ordered by Angola, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Senegal.
Angola officially received its first three of six Super Tucanos in July this year and is using them for border surveillance, attack and pilot training. Burkina Faso was the first African country to take delivery of a Super Tucano, receiving three aircraft in September 2011 for border patrol missions. In October last year Mauritania received their first aircraft, featuring sensor turrets for surveillance duties, although they will also be used for counter-insurgency missions.
In April Senegal bought three A-29 Super Tucanos as well as a training system for pilots and mechanics.
defenceweb.co.za

Mauritanian, Senegalese air forces order AW109 AgustaWestland helicopters

The Mauritanian Air Force has ordered two AW109 helicopters and the Senegalese Air Force a single AW139 from AgustaWestland.
The contract with Mauritania was signed on June 17 at the Paris Air Show.
The AW109 helicopters would be used for border patrol and reconnaissance missions, and would be delivered in mid-2014 in a multi-role homeland security configuration and the contract also includes training and support package.
Mauritania’s Air Force only flies two other helicopters – Chinese Harbin Z-9As delivered in 2003.
The Mauritanian Air Force has been growing in recent times, especially in response to Islamic terrorist organisations operating in the region. Four Embraer EMB-312F Tucanos were received from France in 2010 and 2011, while the nation began taking delivery of new Super Tucanos in October 2012.
Also at the Paris Air Show, AgustaWestland announced that it had signed a contract for a single AW139 medium helicopter, which will be operated by the Senegal Air Force. It will most likely be used for VIP transport.
The contract marks the entrance of AgustaWestland helicopters in the regional market, and includes in-country support services and training for both aircrew and maintainers.
Senegal is also expanding its air force, with the country recently ordering three A-29 Super Tucanos from Embraer. The contract was signed on April 10 this year.
defenceweb

Embraer delivers Mauritanian Super Tucanos

Embraer has delivered its first EMB-314 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Mauritanian air force, under a deal announced earlier this year.

The aircraft will be used for border surveillance missions. The African nation's Super Tucano configuration includes an electro-optical/infrared sensor turret and centreline hardpoint for air-to-surface weapons beneath the fuselage, plus wing-housed cannons.

Mauritania's purchase was announced by Embraer in March, but the manufacturer has not formally revealed how many aircraft its contract is for.

flightglobal

AFRICOM, Mauritania discuss Mali intervention

U.S. Africa command head Gen. Carter Ham met with Mauritania’s president and an official says the two are discussing a possible military intervention, likely West African-led, in north Mali against al-Qaida-linked group members and their allies.

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