Dominican Republic acquires 7 T-35 aircraft for pilot training

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic Air Force (FARD) announced that it will soon receive seven T-35 Pillán aircraft from the Spanish Air Force to train its combat pilots. The acquisition involved an investment of 980,000 euros (approximately 1.066 billion dollars), according to a statement posted on the FARD’s official X page.

The FARD described the purchase as a “smart investment” that will enhance the institution’s capabilities. Although the purchase was authorized in early 2023, the bureaucratic process was only recently completed. The first four aircraft are expected to arrive on August 3, with the remaining three arriving on August 10, 2024.

Due to maintenance issues, the Dominican Air Force has not had training aircraft available since 2023, impacting five promotions of officers awaiting pilot courses. In October of the same year, it was unofficially reported that the Spanish Air Force planned to replace its Pillán aircraft with Pilatus aircraft.

“This situation provided the perfect opportunity to acquire a fleet of low-cost aircraft to continue training pilots and fulfill assigned missions,” the FARD stated.

The Spanish Air Force decided to replace the T-35 Pillán aircraft with Pilatus PC-21 aircraft because it is easier for pilots to transition from the PC-21 to the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The incorporation of the seven T-35 Pillán aircraft will enable the FARD to resume training new pilots, with several instructors already trained in this model.

Additionally, the FARD has a team of aviation technicians specialized in the various systems and components necessary to keep these aircraft operational for at least ten more years. “It is important to highlight that these aircraft were acquired at a very low cost, representing an efficient and sustainable investment. This guarantees the training cycle of new pilots and supports the generational change in the different flight squadrons of the FARD Air Command,” the military institution added.