First Grand Caravan for Tunisian Air Force seen
On 8 January 2023, Tom Smart photographed one of the first Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX utility aircraft destined for the Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya At'Tunisia (Tunisian Air Force) at South St Paul/Municipal-Richard E Fleming Fld (MN).
The Grand Caravan EX is temporary registered as N692EX. Its future Tunisian serial is W41702/TS-UDB and has construction number 208B5692. The first aircraft will most probably be TS-UDA, but no details can be found yet for this aircraft.
In March 2022, Textron Aviation secured a contract from ATI Engineering Services for the delivery of four Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX utility aircraft to the Tunisian Air Force. ATI Engineering Services will equip the aircraft with an electro-optical/infrared sensor, tactical radio, operator console, video data link and night-vision compatible lighting to meet requirements for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
On 30 September 2021, the US Department of Defense awarded ATI Engineering Services a USD 10 million contract for an ISR system to be fitted to two Cessna Grand Caravans for Tunisia. The work will be performed in Johnstown (PA) and is expected to be completed by 30 November 2022. This ISR contract might have been altered to four aircraft.
Photo by Tom Smart (via Jetphotos.com)