Mali inducts Bayraktar Combat Drones, L-39 Jets

Mali’s Air Force received over a dozen aircraft and drones on March 16, including Turkey-made Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs and Czech-designed L-39 Albatros jets.

A ceremony to induct the aircraft was held at the Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako, the capital of Mali. During the ceremony, 3 Bayraktar TB2 drones and 4 Albatros planes were displayed.

L-39s jets were initially designed for training purposes, but are now also been used as attack aircraft.

Bayraktar-TB2s are capable of reconnaissance and surveillance missions. It is unclear how many of these drones Mali has procured from Turkey. “Their observations can help make artillery and air strikes more accurate,” said Mali’s defense minister, Colonel Sadio Camara.