Guatemala Army Buys 4 US Aircraft for US$30M
Guatemala's army took four US aircraft on 14 October for about US$30 million to move troops and fight wildfires, La Hora reports. The post Guatemala Army Buys 4 US Aircraft for US$30M appeared first on The Rio Times .
Guatemala’s army has taken delivery of four aircraft bought from the United States for about US$30 million. They will carry troops, evacuate casualties and fight wildfires.
The Guatemala Army has taken delivery of four aircraft bought from the United States, La Hora reports on Friday, 16 October. The planes cost about Q230 million (about US$30 million) and arrived in the country on Wednesday, 14 October.
The fleet is one Twin Otter and three Turbo Thrush, meant to move troops, evacuate the wounded and fight wildfires. La Hora cites the Ministry of Defense, known as Mindef, and conversions here use Q7.64 per US dollar.
The Twin Otter is a twin-engine turboprop that carries cargo and passengers from short airstrips. The three Turbo Thrush are single-engine planes built to drop water or retardant on fires.
La Hora gives the cost only in quetzales, about Q230 million. The formal presentation of the planes has no date yet.
Mindef says the Twin Otter can fly medical and casualty evacuations, carry personnel and set up air bridges for aid. An air bridge is a chain of flights that moves relief to cut-off areas.
The three Turbo Thrush will make aerial drops to support the control of wildfires, the ministry says. Defense Minister Henry Sáenz has said these capabilities also aim to reduce the risks to soldiers who fight such fires.
Mindef describes the aircraft as part of a modernisation of the army, air and naval forces. It says the army lost capabilities after the peace accords and long faced tight budgets.
La Hora adds that more purchases are planned under deals with the United States, Israel and Colombia. It says these planned military purchases exceed US$55 million and cover weapons, tactical gear, communications, aircraft and boats.
Earlier buys came from the US too. Prensa Libre reported that two Bell 412 EPX helicopters arrived in December 2022 for Q213.8 million (about US$28 million).
Aerial Fire Magazine reported in mid-2026 that Guatemala was buying three firefighting aircraft through US Foreign Military Sales. That is the US government’s channel for selling arms and equipment to allies.
State news agency AGN reported in May 2026 that a US C-130 brought equipment for Guatemala’s air force. It also noted two US C-17 transports visited in January 2026 for army training.
For travellers and residents, the aircraft add disaster and wildfire capacity. The sources do not say when they will be operational.
This report rests on a single outlet. La Hora is the only source found for the aircraft, the cost and the arrival date.
La Hora gives no US dollar value, so the US$30 million is a conversion at Q7.64 per dollar. It does not say whether the Q230 million includes training or spare parts.
It is unclear whether the US$55 million in planned purchases includes the aircraft, or how it splits by country. The article does not say who supplied the Twin Otter.
No date is given for the planes entering service. It is also unclear where they will be based.
Mindef has not set a date for the formal presentation of the four aircraft. Further purchases under the deals with the US, Israel and Colombia are still planned.
The army received one Twin Otter and three Turbo Thrush aircraft bought from the United States. They arrived on Wednesday, 14 October.
La Hora puts the cost at about Q230 million, or about US$30 million at Q7.64 per dollar. The paper gives the figure only in quetzales.
The Twin Otter will carry troops and fly medical evacuations and air bridges for aid. The three Turbo Thrush will drop water or retardant on wildfires.
La Hora reports that planned military purchases under deals with the United States, Israel and Colombia exceed US$55 million. They cover weapons, tactical gear, communications, aircraft and boats.
Not yet. Only La Hora, citing Mindef, has reported the details found so far.
Sources: La Hora, 16 October (citing the Ministry of Defense) ; Prensa Libre, 30 November 2024 (earlier army purchases) ; Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias, 29 May 2026 ; Aerial Fire Magazine, Thrush contract (all accessed 16 October 2026).
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