The Panamanian Air and Naval Service (SENAN) has strengthened its capabilities to combat transnational criminal organizations and support humanitarian efforts in hard-to-access areas, thanks to a U.S. donated fleet of helicopters. Eight Bell Textron UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters are now fully operational and already made an impact in SENAN’s operations.
“These helicopters are crucial to the Republic of Panama in its fight against transnational crime. The aircraft are contributing to improving the success of air missions,” Air Naval Commander Luis De Gracia, SENAN director general, told Diálogo in early November. “These aircraft significantly enhance the operational capability of the Panamanian forces by providing them with greater mobility, range, and security in each of their missions.”
The UH-1N twin-engine helicopters replaced the older UH-1S single-engine helicopters and provide greater safety for air operations. “Technically, the two engines translate into greater operational efficiency due to their improved performance, greater transport capacity, endurance, and versatility,” Panama’s Minister of Security Frank Ábrego told Diálogo. “The security forces are able to carry out longer operations in difficult terrain and adverse conditions, such as the mountainous and virgin jungle areas located on the border with Colombia.”
The twin-engine model of this medium-sized, multipurpose utility helicopter is developed by U.S. manufacturer Bell for the U.S. military.
“The operability of the INL action program is reflected in the more than 9,600 missions we have flown from August 2014 to October 2024, with approximately 125 flight hours per month,” Cmdr. De Gracia said. “These operations are instrumental in countering land, maritime, and littoral criminal activities; conducting counter-narcotics missions; countering irregular migration in border areas; and conducting medical evacuations and emergency humanitarian aid missions.”
The new fleet also strengthen humanitarian missions, including search and rescue and aeromedical evacuations, as well as relief operations at binational posts, daily La Estrella de Panamá reported.
“These aircraft are of utmost value for joint, combined, and concurrent operations, coordinated to be executed with Colombian authorities, facilitating cross-border cooperation in surveillance and control of illegal activities,” Minister Ábrego added. “These helicopters [significantly improve] the air transport and support capacity fundamental for the National Border Service (SENAFRONT), as it will be possible to deploy more units to counter and prevent illegal activities, thus closing in on transnational organized crime.”
The U.S. donation, valued at $11.3 million, expanded the capabilities of the Aviation Program of SENAN and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the U.S. State Department and U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), news site Defensa reported.
“This program is essential for operations against organized crime in the region, especially in the Darién. It is an honor and a privilege for the United States to continue this initiative that brings peace, well-being, and a great deal of security to Panama,” said U.S. Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte during the May handover ceremony, Panamanian daily El Siglo reported. “The initiative is not only a model in security cooperation, but also an example of an efficient helicopter fleet, which benefits the entire country.”
The Aviation Program began in 2014 with six single-engine UH-1H helicopters, officially transferred in 2019 for the continuity of operations against drug trafficking and related crimes. In February 2023, Amendment 27 was signed, to replace the old aircraft with more powerful twin-engine helicopters, with the purpose of expanding the mission’s capabilities and response, Panama’s Ministry of Security said.
The transition from single engine to twin engine helicopters marks an important milestone and is a reference of the cooperation between both nations. Since 2014 to date, the U.S. government has invested some $90 million in aerial equipment for Panama, as a sign of the U.S. commitment to the Panamanian people.
