Two weeks subsequent to Guyana’s procurement of two Dornier aircraft from India at a cost of US$23.27 million for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), sources confirmed the arrival of the aircraft via two Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes at Cheddi Jagan International Airport on Sunday.

The arrival of these Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)-manufactured Dornier 228 planes, known for their Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities, occurred a week ago Sunday. This arrival follows the signing of a loan agreement on March 15, 2024, between Guyana’s Ministry of Finance and India’s Export-Import Bank of India for financing the purchase.
These HAL 228 planes are deemed suitable for STOL operations on Guyana’s varied terrain, intended for purposes such as maritime patrols, resupplying military bases, and facilitating troop movement to remote interior locations.
Earlier in March, Dr. Amit Telang, the High Commissioner of India to Guyana, emphasized the significance of the Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement, marking it as the first defense LOC ever signed with the Caribbean region. The Ministry of Finance highlighted Brigadier Omar Khan, Chief of Staff of the GDF, who expressed gratitude on behalf of the defense sector for India’s longstanding support in defense training within Guyana. Khan underscored that this agreement aligns with President Ali’s vision of bolstering the security sector to safeguard peace and prosperity across the nation.
Since establishing diplomatic ties on May 26, 1966, Guyana and India have fostered a robust developmental cooperation program, aimed at fostering mutual benefits for both nations.