The Minister of National Defense and Veterans of the Homeland, João Ernesto dos Santos, who was present at the official reception ceremony of the aircrafts, at the Catumbela's Air Bomber Regiment unit, admitted that these aircrafts will help to strengthen the capacity of the air force.
This reinforcement aims, above all, to defend the peace, the territory and the national independence, he considered. The responsible, cited by Angop, also admitted that these aircraft, because they are modern, raise the quality of the FAN to respond to reconnaissance, transport and combat missions.
Revealing that this reinforcement represented a "huge investment", the minister said it was necessary to strengthen the country's security. With these aircraft, FAN becomes able to monitor the airspace in a timely manner.
Yuan Mu, representative of the company CATIC in Angola, left the promise that the Chinese company will be available to ensure the operation and maintenance of the K8-W already delivered.
The aircraft were purchased by the Ministry of National Defense, through Simportex-EP, from the Chinese company CATIC. The first aircraft arrived in Angola in January of this year and have already performed over 1000 flights. The amount paid for the aircraft has not been revealed, writes Angop.
The K8-W aircraft are 11.60 meters long, 9.63 wingspan and 4.21 meters high. They are capable of carrying various types of weapons, two aerial fragmentation bombs, four aerial training bombs, two missiles, among others.
It can hold two passengers, has autonomy to fly 1900 kilometers and can reach 800 km/h.
The ceremony, which coincided with the end of the course for six pilot instructors, was also attended by the FAN commander, General Altino Carlos dos Santos, the vice-governor of Benguela, Leopoldo Muhongo, the Catumbela municipal administrator, Fernando Belo, among others.
