SPLA PURCHASES RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS AND BEGINS PILOT

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001119 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: SPLA PURCHASES RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS AND BEGINS PILOT TRAINING ¶1. (SBU) The newly-established Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) Air Force is awaiting the delivery of ten Mi-17 helicopters that are being manufactured by the Russian Kazan Helicopter Plant. In preparation of this equipment's arrival, SPLA troops are undergoing air maintenance, repair, and flight training. ¶2. (SBU) According to SPLA contacts, the SPLA Air Force has ordered ten Mi-17 helicopters from Russian Helicopter Manufacturer, Kazan Helicopter Plant, based in Tatarstan, Russia. Of the ten helicopters, five will be outfitted with dual fuel tanks, four with single fuel tanks, and one will be used as a VIP carrier. With the order of these aircraft comes a one-year service, parts, and pilot training contract. If it is assessed that helicopter maintenance and repair personnel, as well as pilots, still require training and technical support at the end of the contracted year, an unidentified organization based in Ethiopia reportedly will provide these services for an additional year. According to a high-ranking SPLA Air Force source, these helicopters are to be used strictly for non-offensive purposes to include the transport of personnel and supplies. ¶3. (SBU) Kazan has three different types of Mi-17 helicopters: the Mi-172, which is strictly for passengers and VIPs; the Mi-17-V5 which is used for the transport of cargo and personnel; and the Mi-17-1V which is a multi-purpose helicls the SPLA has ordered. ¶4. (SBU) In anti#ipation of the arrival of these aircraft an unidentified number of SPLA personnel have begun maintenance, repair, and flight training. Some SPLA soldiers have been training at the Denel Centre for Learning and Development located at Kempton Park in South Afriaa. According to earlier reporting, other SPLA soldiers have been receiving air force training at an undisclosed location in Ethigpia. ¶5. (SBU) Cgmment: In developig an air borce it makes sense for the SPLA to starp with transport he,icopTers. Moving 3oldi%rs abd supplies )n the South is often a #hallenge civen the poor road infrastructure, and mgst airstrips !re often unusable for f)xed 7ingQ aircraft in Qhe rainy season. Helic/pterQ dramatically incr%ase the SPLA's logist)cal capabilities and al4hough they are hig( maintejance, they ca. be 0ut ib serrice rela$ivel9 quickly. The SPLA will need tm pl!n fu,ly for the downstr%am cost of maintaining the helicopters, which will further strain an !lready over-extended SPLA budget. FERNANDEJ