US company Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has been awarded a $64.2 million contract to refurbish six Pilatus PC-12 aircraft for Uzbekistan. The work will be performed in Uzbekistan and completed by August 2027.
According to the U.S. Defense Department’s website, the contract which was awarded under the U.S. Department of Defense’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, includes not only the restoration of the aircraft but also logistical support and on-site maintenance.
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop aircraft widely used for various missions, including surveillance and transportation.
Since the aircrafts’ proven reliability lends itself to civilian and military applications, their rehabilitation will have a significant impact on the expansion of Uzbekistan’s aviation capabilities, including long-range monitoring and transportation missions.
It is worth noting that the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft is often used in difficult conditions due to its ability to take off and land on short runways, making it indispensable for operations in Uzbekistan’s remote and hard-to-reach regions.
