Guyana delivered two Indian-manufactured Dornier 228 aircraft
India’s HAL made Dornier 228
Guyana and India had established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1966. India and Guyana share close and cordial relations based on strong people-to-people ties, economic linkages and commonalities of approach on multilateral issues. India and Guyana are separated geographically, however, the two nations have many aspects in common, including their historical past, predominantly agricultural and rural-based economies, and multicultural societies.
Last month, India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang had announced the Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement as the first ever defence LOC signed with the Caribbean region. The arrival of the two Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft followed the March 15, 2024 signing of an INR 190 Crores loan agreement between the Ministry of Finance and India’s Export-Import Bank of India for financing the purchase.
The HAL 228 planes are said to be ideal for Short Take Off Landings s on Guyana’s terrain and would be used for maritime patrols as well as, resupply of military bases, troop movement to interior locations. Dornier-228 can carry 19 passengers or 1960 kg maximum load.
The Dorniers were ordered early last year, in January 2023. The versatile Dornier 228 would mean a welcome addition to the cash strapped GDF Air Corps. The Dornier can be used for maritime patrol and transport duties to protect Guyanese interests, which have significantly increased since the fairly recent discovery of huge oil fields off Guyana’s coast. Exploration of these gives an unprecedented boost to Guyana’s economy. The GDF is planning to add more equipment for its military, in light of Venezuelan claims of vast areas of Guyana.
HAL holds a licence for production of the Dornier 228. These two aircraft were entirely produced and marketed by HAL in a direct sale to Guyana.
India has now delivered two Dornier-228 aircraft to Guyana Defence Force as part of the Line of Credit, initiating a new chapter in the partnership between the two countries. Notably, an Indian Air Force team comprising two C17 transport aircrafts visited Guyana to deliver the HAL-228 aircraft. The two Dorniers will be assembled in Guyana and will be taken on strength with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps.
In a post on social media platform X, the High Commission of India in Guyana wrote, “High Commissioner welcomed IAF team visiting Guyana to deliver the HAL-228 aircrafts as part of Line of Credit from India to Guyana.”
“A new chapter in India-Guyana partnership begins,” it added.
“The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited @HALHQBLR delivered two Dornier 228 planes to the Guyana Defence Force. The planes arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport last evening aboard two Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes,” the Guyanese President wrote on X.
“A new chapter in – bilateral relations! Two aircrafts manufactured by HAL were delivered to Guyana. These would help in connecting remote areas, medical evacuation and disaster response,” the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X.
The planes were transported to Guyana by two Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes
President Irfaan Ali posted pictures on his Facebook page, showing the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Dornier 228 planes arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport aboard two Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes.
