The Dominican Republic has officially operationalized its inaugural fleet of ten TP-75 Dulus military aircraft, assembled domestically through a strategic collaboration with Italian aerospace company Fly Legend. This achievement represents a significant advancement in the nation’s capabilities in aerial patrol and pilot training, operating from the San Isidro Air Base under the Dominican Air Force (FARD).
President Luis Abinader, who championed this initiative from its conceptual stage, presided over the ceremonial first flight on December 12, 2023. The program was established under the Public Trust for the Development of the National Aeronautical and Space Industry, demonstrating the government’s commitment to technological sovereignty. Since becoming operational, the aircraft have accumulated 1,769 flight hours in training exercises and surveillance missions, resulting in approximately RD$208.3 million in state savings. With remarkably efficient operating costs of just $60 per flight hour, the program has substantially optimized national expenditures on air defense and territorial monitoring.
The TP-75 Dulus fleet is currently deployed in critical border security operations along the Haitian frontier and conducts surveillance over protected environmental zones to detect potential ecological threats. Mission coordination is managed through the Southern Command at Barahona Air Base, providing comprehensive coverage across border provinces including Montecristi, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Independencia, and Pedernales.
This successful domestic aviation project has attracted international attention, with multiple nations including Guyana, Honduras, Guatemala, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay, and Peru evaluating potential acquisitions of the TP-75 Dulus aircraft for their own defense needs.