The Commander in Chief of the Fuerza Aerea Boliviana (Bolivian Air Force), General Tito Gandarillas, revealed on January 18 that delivery of six Hongdu K-8 Karakorams would begin in April. Currently 12 FAB pilots and some maintenance personnel are receiving training in China. The aircraft will replace the AT-33 Silver Star in service, the FAB being the last air force to operate the type. President Evo Morales decided to purchase the K-8 in 2009, after the US prevented the sale of Aero L-159s due to an arms embargo against Morales' government (see Bolivia to Get L-159S, February 2009, p7).
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