Document #1144091
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Please find attached some documents that
list or refer to the helicopter forces of Sudan and the United Arab
Emirates, and documentation describing in general and technical
terms the above-mentioned helicopters.
One source states that in 1986 the emirate
of Abu Dhabi had eight SA 330 Puma helicopters, ten AS 332F/L Super
Pumas, and two AB-205s, among other helicopters (World Defence
Almanac 1986-87 Jan. 1987, 284). The emirate of Dubai was
listed as having six AB-205A and three AB-206B helicopters, and
seven AB-212s (ibid.). The same source reported in 1990 that Abu
Dhabi had eleven SA 330 Pumas, ten AS 332F/L Super Pumas and two
AB-206s, while the emirate of Dubai had six AB-205 helicopters,
three AB-206s, seven AB-212s and six BO 105s (World Defence
Almanac 1989-90 Jan. 1990, 179). Another source states that in
1989 the UAE had five 206A helicopters and one 206L (The
Military Balance 1990-91 1990, 121). A 1994 news article
reports that the UAE ordered and received ten IAR SA 330 Pumas in
1994 (The Reuter European Business Report 25 July 1994).
A representative at Bell Helicopters Canada
stated that the 206A is a general utility helicopter that was later
replaced by the 206B (12 Dec. 1995). Both models can be adapted to
serve in a variety of civilian or military missions. The Bell 206L
is essentially the same as the 206A, although it is slightly longer
and thus has greater carrying capacity and weight (ibid.).
The same source stated that the Bell 205A
helicopter is an old general utility model, somewhat similar to the
Bell 206 (ibid.). The model has now been replaced by the Bell 212.
The source stated that the Agusta-Bell helicopters (in helicopter
names the letter B before the number stands for Bell, while AB
stands for Agusta-Bell) are Bell helicopters manufactured under
license in Italy by Agusta helicopters, and may differ in some
details from the same models manufactured by Bell Helicopters
Canada (ibid.).
In 1986 Sudan was listed by one source as
having fifteen Pumas, twenty BO 105s flown by the Police Air Wing,
and five AB-212s (World Defence Almanac 1986-87 Jan. 1987,
281). The same source stated that ten more SA 330 Pumas were on
order, and commenting on the Sudanese Air Force stated that "at any
given moment few serviceable aircraft are available; Egypt has
provided some assistance" (ibid.). In 1990 the same source listed
Sudan as having fifteen IAR/SA 330 helicopters (The Military
Balance 1990-91 1990, 118). A more recent publication lists
Sudan as having twenty Puma helicopters, fifteen BO 105 aircraft
for police duty and five AB-212s (World Defence Almanac
1989-90 Jan. 1990, 177).
The IAR/SA 330 is a version of the
Aerospatiale SA 330 manufactured by Romania's Intreprinderea
Aeronautica Romana SA (IAR) (The Reuter European Business
Report 25 July 1994). By 1989 IAR was the sole manufacturer of
the Puma helicopter, most of which were intended for military use
(Flight International 19 Aug. 1989). Sudan received twelve
IAR Pumas in 1985 (ibid.). As late as 1994, IAR continued to
produce "French Puma SA 300 military helicopters under licence for
sale to Sudan, Pakistan, Ecuador, France and the United Arab
Emirates" (The Reuter European Business Report 25 July
1994). The UAE reportedly ordered ten SA 330 Pumas in 1994, the
last two of which were delivered in July of the same year
(ibid.).
Eurocopter Canada, manufacturer of the BO
105 helicopters and representative of the former manufacturer of
the SA 330/332 Puma helicopters (Aerospatiale of France), provided
the attached specification sheets for models of the BO 105 and the
AS 532 helicopters. According to a Eurocopter representative,
although the BO 105 models described in the attached specification
sheets may not match the exact specifications of the BO 105s used
by Sudan, the general description and specifications should be
similar (14 Dec. 1995). The AS 330 and AS 332 Puma helicopters are
no longer manufactured by Eurocopter; however, the AS 532 Cougar is
based on the Puma and shares similarities in design and role
capacity (ibid.). The attachments include a picture and a fact
sheet on the AS 332 L2 Super Puma.
The attached excerpt from an article on
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB, the original designer and
manufacturer of the BO 105) international programmes describes the
BO 105 as a multi-purpose helicopter (Military Technology
Sept. 1990, 58). The source states that "the BO 105 is certified
with over seventy optional equipment kits," adding that "the BO
105's operating spectrum comprises the transport of passengers and
loads, rescue missions, offshore operations, general security and
control duties for the police, pilot training ... and military
missions" (ibid.). Please consult the cited excerpt and other
attachments for additional information on this helicopter
model.
The sources consulted by the DIRB do not
list the Mi-24 Hind helicopter as serving in the air forces of the
United Arab Emirates or Sudan. The Mi-24 Hind is described by one
source as "a helicopter designed for the attack function, but which
also has secondary troop carrying capabilities" (Military
Technology May 1990, 20). The Mi-24 Hind helicopters are
capable of delivering "heavy firepower" through a combination of
57mm rockets, bombs and machine-gun fire, and have "good armour
protection and long loiter time" (ibid. Feb. 1990, 39). The same
source states that during the Afghan war in the 1980s, attack
helicopters used "low altitude nap-of-the-earth tactics and
dispensed flares to reduce their vulnerability" to anti-aircraft
missiles and heavy machine-guns, although this resulted in more
frequent hits by small arms fire (ibid.). Finally, the report
states that "the Stinger and other high-technology anti-aircraft
weapons have increased the threat to fighter-bombers and attack
helicopters and prompted military commanders to try new tactics and
more closely integrate air power, artillery and ground forces"
(ibid.).
According to a source, in addition to the
purpose-designed attack helicopters, a range of utility, scout and
cargo helicopters can be modified into an attack configuration with
"very capable weapon and acquisition systems" (ibid. May 1990, 20).
Please find attached a photograph of an Mi-24 Hind helicopter
published in the cited article (ibid., 26), as well as excerpts
from two reports on Soviet air power providing detailed
descriptions of some Mi-24 models.
Some news articles consulted by the DIRB
refer to helicopters operating in Sudan, although without specific
references to the models involved.
For example, one source reports that in
September 1993 in the Southern Upper Nile region rebels of the
Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) shot down a military
helicopter that reportedly carried eight members of a high-level
delegation heading to peace talks with one of the breakaway rebel
groups (AP 7 Sept. 1993). The official Sudan News Agency attributed
the fall of the helicopter to mechanical failure (ibid.).
One 1989 publication states that the Sudan
Air Force has lacked armed helicopters (The World in Conflict
1989 1989, 217). The same source states that
[t]here are forty-four ordinary helicopters
but as they are divided among the ten regional commands most
generals refuse to run risks with them. Helicopters are considered
so precious that in some areas pilots are under orders never to fly
more than 20 km from their base (ibid.).
A more recent report states the following:
The air force had a number of unarmed helicopters available for ground support operations against the southern rebels, although it was estimated that as many as 50 percent were not in flying condition. The newest helicopter models were French-designed SA-330 Pumas assembled in Romania and Agusta/Bell 212s manufactured in Italy (Sudan: A Country Study 1992, 249).
The following reports, however, suggest
some helicopters may be armed.
One report states that in 1992 Iraqi
technicians arrived in Sudan to repair military helicopters
(Jane's Defence Weekly 15 Aug. 1992). The same report states
that the SPLA claimed to have shot down, in July 1992, a government
troop-carrying helicopter with 35 people on board, as well as "a
helicopter gunship near the southern Sudanese capital of Juba"
(ibid.). Finally, the source states that "the Sudanese government
has about 45 helicopters" (ibid.). Iraq reportedly sent "helicopter
gunships and other military hardware to Sudan" in 1987 (Reuters 6
Feb. 1988).
One attachment refers to an apparent plot
to "bomb the general staff headquarters during a meeting of Sudan's
leaders" in which military officers "had planned to use two
helicopters to attack the military HQ" (AFP 6 Feb. 1992).
A Sudanese military helicopter carrying 16
people, including military personnel and their family members,
crashed on its way from Kassala to Khartoum in late July 1989 due
to a sandstorm (UPI 1 Aug. 1989).
In March 1988 rebels in southern Sudan
claimed to have shot down a military helicopter that was evacuating
wounded soldiers from Liria, killing all 42 soldiers aboard
(Reuters 31 Mar. 1988). However, a Sudanese army spokesman denied
the claim, stating that a malfunction had forced down the
helicopter in the district of Torit and that no one was hurt in the
incident (ibid.).
In April 1989 a Libyan pilot, reportedly on
a military mission in southern Sudan, landed his helicopter in
Egypt and requested political asylum (Xinhua 30 Apr. 1989). The
Sudanese prime minister denied that Libyan troops participated in
military operations in the south, and added that "the planes of the
armed forces are piloted only by Sudanese military men"
(ibid.).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below a list of
sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Associated Press (AP). 7 September
1993. AM Cycle. "Sudanese Rebels Claim They Downed Military
Helicopter." (NEXIS)
Agence France Presse (AFP). 6 February
1992. "Sudan in Brief: Authorities Reportedly Arrest 41 Officers
for Bomb Attempt." (BBC Summary 8 Feb. 1992/NEXIS)
Bell Helicopters Canada, Mirabel,
Quebec. 12 December 1995. Telephone interview with
representative.
Eurocopter Canada, Fort Erie, Ontario.
14 December 1995. Telephone interview with representative.
Flight International. 19 August
1989. "Military Aircraft of the World: IAR-330 Puma." (NEXIS)
Jane's Defence Weekly [London].
15 August 1992. "Iraqis Repair Helicopters." (NEXIS)
The Military Balance 1990-1991.
1990. London: The Institute for Strategic Studies.
Military Technology [Bonn].
September 1990. "MBB: Partner in International Programmes."
_____. May 1990. John Zugschwert.
"Attack Helicopters Reviewed."
_____. February 1990. Lon O. Nordeen.
"The Close Air Support Debate."
The Reuter European Business
Report. 25 July 1994. BC Cycle. Adrian Dascalu. "Romania in
Helicopter Deal with UAE." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 31 March 1988. AM Cycle.
"Sudanese Helicopter Downed, 42 Soldiers Killed: Rebels."
(NEXIS)
_____. 6 February 1988. PM Cycle. "Iraq
Helps Sudan Militarily, Sudanese Leader Says." (NEXIS)
Sudan: A Country Study. 1992.
Edited by Helen Chapin Metz. Washington, DC: Secretary of the
Army.
United Press International (UPI). 1
August 1989. BC Cycle. "Helicopter Crashes in Sandstorm, Killing
16".
World Defence Almanac 1989-1990.
January 1990. Bonn: Mönch Publishing Group.
World Defence Almanac 1986-1987.
January 1987. Bonn: Mönch Publishing Group.
The World in Conflict 1989. 1989.
John Laffin. London: Brassey's Defence Publishers.
The Xinhua General Overseas News
Service. 30 April 1989. "Sudanese Premier Denies Libya's
Involvement in Military Operations in South Sudan." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Air Force Magazine [Washington,
DC]. March 1991. "Gallery of Soviet Aerospace Weapons;
Helicopters." (NEXIS)
Defense Electronics [London].
March 1989. Scott Gourley. "The Soviet Army: Air Defense and
Aviation." (NEXIS)
Eurocopter Canada, Fort Erie, Ontario.
BO 105 and AS 332 L2 fact sheets received by DIRB.
The Military Balance 1990-1991.
1990. London: The Institute for Strategic Studies, pp. 118, 121,
235.
Military Technology [Bonn].
September 1990. "MBB: Partner in International Programmes," pp.
58-59.
_____. May 1990. John Zugschwert.
"Attack Helicopters Reviewed," p. 26.