By Godson Umejiego, Bureau Chief, The Americas

Textron Aviation today announced the award of a contract by the US Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL, for two Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprop aircraft. The aircraft will be owned and operated by the Djiboutian Air Force (DAF). This acquisition is the third delivery order under a recently established indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract that allows up to US$100 million for the acquisition of Textron Aviation aircraft over a five-year period.

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc.  company.

“The two special missions Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft will be Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance equipped to ensure the border sovereignty of the country of Djibouti,” said vice president, Special Mission Sales for Textron Aviation Bob Gibbs. “This multiyear contract allows the US Army Security Assistance Command to rapidly procure Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) aircraft and modifications from Textron Aviation for our Foreign Military Sale allies and partner nations. We are honored to assist in advancing US national security and foreign policy interests by providing our solutions under the IDIQ and we look forward to further cooperation with the US Army.”

This order follows the recent placement of delivery orders for three Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft two destined for the Peruvian Naval Aviation Force (Fuerza de Aviación Naval) and one the Ecuadorian Naval Aviation (Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana). With the addition of the two Cessna Grand Caravan EX for the Djiboutian Air Force, five aircraft have been ordered under the IDIQ contract.