Just less than 48hours after the creation of FRN a new rebel movement in Eastern DRC, a FARDC helicopter has been shot down by the FNR rebels.
Taarifa Congo Desk has established that the heavily armed chopper was flying from Kindu in Maniema Province en route to Burundi’s commercial capital Bujumbura adjacent to Uvira, Bukavu.
The chopper, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift military utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft.
However, sources knowledgeable with FARDC military weaponry argued that the Congolese military doesn’t operate a Blackhawk helicopter.
“The DRC does not have any Black Hawks. Our helicopter fleet is mostly of Russian or Soviet origin,” said Nkosi Vunja Benjamin.
He added that there are approximately 8 to 9 Mi-24/Mi-35 attack helicopters in the FARDC arsenal, a few of which are used for VIP transport; Mi-8/Mi-17 transport helicopters; a single heavy Mi-26.
However, another critic said that the chopper is one of those operated by foreign mercenaries.
