China donates two Y12E aircraft to Costa Rica

On October 18, 2016, the Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) delivered two Y12E aircraft to the Government of Costa Rica to support its security forces at the Omar Santamaria International Airport in San Jose. An official presentation of the aircraft occurred on October 24, 2016. The two planes are for the Aerial Surveillance Service's (SVA) fleet and will be used for special missions such as coastal patrol, air rescues, and combating organized crime and drug trafficking. SVA and the Costa Rica Ministry of Public Security completed the administrative admission process. Technical services on the aircraft were completed in October 2017, and the handover certificate from the People's Republic of China to the Government of Costa Rica was signed on November 1, 2017. The total cost of the aircraft is unknown; the media source Infodefensa estimates that the grant was worth about USD $12 million, while Elmundo estimates that the grant was worth USD $18 million. Through this project, a delegation of four pilots and six aviation mechanics from the SVA fleet were also trained for six weeks in China to pilot, maintain, and repair these aircraft.

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