“De Ultimo Minuto”- Magazine

The Dominican Republic consolidates its aeronautical industry with the first ten locally assembled TP-75 Dulus aircraft

SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Republic is advancing its position as a regional leader in the assembly of military patrol and training aircraft, having put into operation the first ten TP-75 Dulus aircraft assembled in the country.

The project has been supported by President Luis Abinader, who championed the initiative from its inception by creating the National Aeronautics and Space Industry through a public trust.

The ten aircraft operate from San Isidro Air Base under the responsibility of the Dominican Republic Air Force (FARD), as part of a strategic alliance with the Italian company Flying Legend.

The TP-75 Dulus’s inaugural flight took place on December 12, 2023, with the president in attendance, accompanied by the then-commander general of the FARD and executive director of the Public Trust for the Development of the National Aeronautics and Space Industry, Major General Carlos Ramón Febrillet Rodríguez.

Operational impact and cost savings

Since entering service, the fleet has accumulated 1,769 flight hours in training and patrol missions, generating an estimated savings of RD$208,388,200 for the Dominican State, thanks to its low operating cost, calculated at approximately US$60 per flight hour.

The efficiency of the model has sparked interest from several countries that have expressed interest in evaluating its potential acquisition, including Guyana, Honduras, Guatemala, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay, and Peru.

Border surveillance and environmental protection

Currently, TP-75 Dulus units are conducting patrol and surveillance missions along the border with Haiti and in protected areas, supporting prevention and early warning efforts against environmental threats.

These operations are coordinated from the Southern Command at the Barahona Air Base, from where the Dominican Air Force (FARD) monitors the airspace over the provinces of Montecristi, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia, and Pedernales, with an average of five flight hours per day and significantly low fuel and maintenance costs.

International projection

The TP-75 Dulus aircraft have represented the country in military cooperation missions and at international aeronautical fairs and events held in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Honduras, among other nations.

At the San Isidro hangar, the aircraft have received visits from official delegations and dignitaries from Costa Rica, Chile, Guyana, Honduras, and Italy, who were interested in learning about the project’s development.

They have also participated in three military parades held every February 27th, commemorating National Independence, thus solidifying their presence in the country’s institutional life.

A milestone for Dominican aviation

The TP-75 Dulus project, developed by the Dominican Republic Air Force, marks a historic milestone by completing the local assembly of the first ten fixed-wing aircraft intended for training and patrol, strengthening operational sovereignty and laying the foundations for a future aeronautical export platform.