Editing Timor-Leste Defence Force (section)

===Air Component===
[[File:2020-01-12 Plane of F-FDTL.jpg|thumb|The F-FDTL Air Component's Cessna 172 in 2020]]
As of 2020 the F-FDTL's Air Component operated a single [[Cessna 172|Cessna 172P]] aircraft.{{sfn|International Institute for Strategic Studies|2020|p=317}}

In 2019 the East Timorese Government was considering purchasing three Chinese variants of the [[Mil Mi-17]] helicopter, and a small number of F-FDTL personnel were trained to operate the type in the Philippines.<ref name="Dodd China’s navy is making friends" />

The United States and East Timorese governments reached an agreement in June 2021 through which the United States will contribute funding to upgrade [[Baucau Airport]] to support F-FDTL and commercial operations and donate a [[Cessna 206]] to the F-FDTL. Rehabilitation work on the airport began in January 2022. The US military has stated that the purpose of this agreement is to support the creation of an Air Component to "help the Timorese government improve its maritime awareness, respond to natural disasters, and promote economic development".<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. and Timorese Military Engineers Start Joint Rehabilitation of Baucau Airfield |url=https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/2897846/us-and-timorese-military-engineers-start-joint-rehabilitation-of-baucau-airfield/ |publisher=U.S. Indo-Pacific Command |access-date=26 January 2022 |date=12 January 2022 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126065243/https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/2897846/us-and-timorese-military-engineers-start-joint-rehabilitation-of-baucau-airfield/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Cessna 206 was handed over in June 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Government Hands Over a Cessna 206 Aircraft to Timor-Leste |url=https://tl.usembassy.gov/u-s-government-hands-over-a-cessna-206-aircraft-to-timor-leste/ |website=Media release |publisher=United States Embassy in Timor Leste |access-date=2 October 2023 |date=27 June 2023}}</ref>