WASHINGTON: Pakistan will receive six new medical evacuation aircraft from the United States, the US Department of Defence has announced.

The department issued a $14.9 million, fixed-price contract to Cessna Aircraft Company on Thursday for making two Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft and four Cessna T-206H Stationair aircraft for Pakistan. The contract includes sustainment support and associated training.

The aircraft will be modified for aeromedical evacuation.

Each aircraft comes with a 24-month sustainment package, including spares, tooling, and support equipment.

Cessna will also provide pilot and maintainer training to the Pakistan Army personnel.

The aircraft will be built at Wichita, Kansas, and delivered by Dec 30.

This contract is 100 per cent foreign military sales to Pakistan.

The Grand Caravan EX, first shown at the Paris Airshow in 2015, is equipped with a surveillance console, medical stretcher, lightweight seats and stowable utility seat.

It accommodates up to 14 people and a load of 1,593kg.

The T206H Stationair is a smaller aircraft for six people and can take a load of 581kg.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2016