Mauritius police receive new aircraft

A commissioning ceremony was held at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Plaisance to mark the occasion, attended by Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.

The new aircraft are part of plans to expand the MPF’s resources to fight crime more effectively in the east African maritime nation. In particular, the government of Mauritius stated that the Dornier, which was constructed by Hindustan Aviation Limited (HAL) and financed through an Indian loan, is expected to ‘play a critical role in securing our maritime zone’.

The Dornier will be primarily used by the National Coast Guard to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities, in particular over Mauritius’s outer islands, but can also be used to conduct search and rescue (SAR) and air ambulance services.

The Dornier is powered by twin TPE 331-10 engines equipped with five-blade propellers, and is fitted with glass cockpit, sensors and advanced avionics which enable it to be deployed in all weather conditions. The cabin is also fitted for potential use as a neonatal intensive care unit. Two other Dornier aircraft are already employed by the MPF.

The helicopter will provide a ‘major boost’ to crimefighting 

Meanwhile, the Dhruv helicopter will be employed by the MPF in tandem with plans to revamp Mauritius’s existing coastal surveillance radar stations with new technology. Prime Minister Jugnauth stated that the helicopter would provide a ‘major boost in the fight against crime’ and added that the country also planned to acquire an Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III from HAL in the coming years.

Mauritius suffers from a high level of criminal activities in its coastal waters, in part due to its large Exclusive Economic Zone, including illegal fishing, drug trafficking, maritime piracy and illegal levels of pollution. The new aircraft are part of a strategy by the Mauritian government to increase the efficiency and effectiveness with which it polices these territorial waters, to combat this problem.