Panama approves purchase of six aircraft for its air service

The Panamanian government on Tuesday approved the purchase of six combat and tactical transport aircraft for its air service for an amount of 187.4 million dollars.

The Presidency announced the measure at the end of the weekly meeting of the president José Raúl Mulino with his state ministers. There, the hiring was given the green light for the acquisition of four A29 Super Tucano aircraft of the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer for 78.2 million, as well as two C295 fighters to the European company Airbus Defense and Space for 109.2 million.

The purchase was authorized by an exceptional or emergency procedure. The government offered no more details.

Panama, who has no army, has airplanes and helicopters – many of which they have been donated by the United States – to monitor their coasts and borders, mainly the jungle region that it shares in the south with Colombia that has been used in recent years by hundreds of thousands of migrants such as route on their way to the north of the continent.

This flow was significantly reduced in 2024 and so far from 2025 due to the strict measures that US President Donald Trump has implemented against illegal immigration.

The traffic of people, weapons and drugs has prevailed on that porous border of 266 kilometers.

Panama must also ensure the security of the interoceanic channel, a vital artery for global maritime trade.

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