Instructors from Grob Aircraft France are currently training teams of Ivorian Air Force personnel at the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry airbase in Charente-Maritime, western France. The specialized training scheme encompasses flight training on TPX Cobra aircraft alongside advanced flight simulator sessions. Funded by France’s DCSD security and defence cooperation directorate, this multi-year support initiative is slated to continue until 2027 under an agreement with the air component of the Ivorian Armed Forces (FACI).
The strategic objective of the training program is to prepare the Ivorian pilots for the arrival of new K-8 Karakorum aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery by the end of the year. Designed by China’s Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation, these aircraft can be equipped with light armament to conduct vital counter-insurgency operations.
The procurement contract, which also spans the acquisition of helicopters and attack drones, was negotiated in 2024 by Ivorian Defence Minister Téné Birahima Ouattara. While initial pilot training commenced in China, language and communication barriers prompted the FACI high command to pivot toward European instruction. Looking ahead, Grob aims to expand its footprint in Ivory Coast by establishing a dedicated flight school in Bouaké and positioning its G-120 TP training aircraft to equip the future facility.
