The Cessna Caravan aircraft is seen during the live demonstrations in Hamat, northern Lebanon, on April 11, 2019. The Lebanese army conducted live demonstrations for APKWS laser guided rockets in Hamat on Thursday. (Xinhua/Khalid)
BEIRUT, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army received on Thursday new A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States, according to a statement issued by the army.
The arrival of the new aircraft allowed the Lebanese army to conduct live demonstrations for APKWS laser guided rockets which are a key component for the Lebanese air force's new A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft.
The demonstrations, which took place in Hamat northern of Lebanon, aimed at testing the ability of the integration between two types of aircraft, the Cessna Caravan and the A-29 Super Tucano, and maneuvering units to hit targets with extreme accuracy.
"This is a demonstration for the effectiveness of this type of rocket and the way to use it and the ability to use it not only through super Tucano plane but also its use by projecting laser from a Cessna aircraft and through land devices that can give direction to these rockets that are fired by the planes," said Brigadier General Charbel Dib.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard congratulated the Lebanese army for their great capabilities.
"I just want to congratulate the air force. What you have seen today is an incredible accomplishment. It is an incredible increase in their capabilities. And it is an incredible testament to how smart and how sophisticated military you have here," Richard said.
The United States is the biggest provider of military aid to Lebanon, as the Lebanese army has received a total of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in military aid from successive American administrations since the 2006 war with Israel.
