France deploys NH90 to Mali

France has deployed its NH90 Caiman helicopters on operations for the first time, with two helicopters arriving in Gao on 3 November to take part in France's Operation 'Barkhane' in Mali.
The helicopters are from the 1er Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat, based in Phalsbourg, with the deployment coming less than a year after their entry into service within the Alat (French army light aviation).
The two helicopters arrived in Gao on 3 November after a four day ferry flight. The helicopters made 10 stops and clocked a total of 32 flying hours in the process. The longest branch was from Bamako to Gao, 4 flying hours, most of it being flown close to the deck in a tactical fashion as Mali is considered a war zone by the French authorities.
The NH90s were fitted with three extra fuel tanks (450 kg each) in the cabin for the journey, bringing the total fuel on board at slightly more than three tons. The NH90s were flying at their max gross weight (11 tons), with four crew members and some freight. At an average speed of 130 kt, this configuration gives the NH90 an endurance of five hours.
Coming from Dakar, the two helicopters entered Mali through the border town of Kayes where an Armée de l'Air C-160 Transall transport aircraft, flying out of Niamey, Niger, refuelled them on the ground, providing them each with 1.3 tons of fuel.
Entering Mali, the crew were flying with their flak jacket, guns and ammo. However the FN Mag 58 machine guns, which are due to equip the NH90 in Mali were not mounted on the helicopters yet. After a 24 hrs rest, the NH90 were back in the air to provide the crew with a first taste of the Malian theatre and some training on dusty landing zone in day and night conditions. They are now assigned to the Sous Groupement Aeromobile Hombori VIII, which includes a dozen helicopters (Gazelles, Tigers, Pumas, Cougars and now the NH90).
The NH90 has previously been deployed on operations in Afghanistan by both Germany and Italy.
janes

Netherlands to deploy Chinooks to Mali

After committing four Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopters in November last year to support the UN's stabilisation activities in Mali, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has announced it will also deploy three Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters.
The reason behind the expanding deployment is that the UN cannot guarantee the medical evacuation of Dutch forces on a "24-7" basis. Currently-available civilian helicopters are unable to operate at night or in high-risk areas, due to a lack of self-protection capabilities.
Expected to arrive in the second half of this year, the Dutch Chinooks will be stationed in Gao. In addition to medical evacuation tasks, the rotorcraft will also be used for tactical transport and logistical support.
French helicopters participating in the nation's Operation Serval campaign in Mali will support Dutch ground forces until the Chinooks arrive.
flightglobal

France Eyes King Air, Upgrades for C-130

The French Air Force is eyeing the King Air for ISR missions, while France’s special operations forces are keen to fit mission packages to their Hercules airlifters.
The Air Force is studying the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air as part of its search for a light aircraft to deliver a “development of force”.
Meanwhile, France’s special operations forces are looking to add various capabilities to their 14 Lockheed Martin C-130s, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), gunship and low-level air-drop.
France is studying bids to upgrade the C-130s’ avionics and cockpits.
The French Air Force is flying MQ-9 Reaper UAVs from Niger to back up special forces in northern Mali.
Today, the French Air Force flies two C-160 Gabriel aircraft for ISR missions..
defensenews

First Luftwaffe A400M on the assembly line

With a pair of A400Ms delivered to France’s Armee De L’Air and one known mission successfully completed, the German Luftwaffe is next in line for the new generation military airlifter.
Airbus Defence and Space A400M final assembly line in Seville this week started work on the first A400M for the German air Force.
The arrival of the fuselage for the aircraft – MSN18 – means all major structures for the first of 53 A400Ms for Germany is now being assembled in Spain.
Delivery of the Luftwaffe’s first A400M is set for November this year.
In December the second of the French A400Ms, now known as Atlas, became the first of type to perform an operational flight, delivering 22 tons of supplies in support of France's Operation Serval in Mali.
defenceweb.co.za

French Air France Conducts First Reaper Flight

The French Air Force Thursday flew a first flight, lasting 40 minutes, of a US-built Reaper surveillance drone based in Niger.
That flight was dubbed Dress Down Six, the flight name used by World War II French pilot and author Antoine Saint-Exupery.
The flight was in a local zone and it was still in the preparation phase of the first operational flight.
France has options to buy 10 additional Reaper units, which the government wants to modify to fit French or European payloads, including sensors and datalink transmission.
The two unarmed French Air Force Reapers, dubbed Block 1, use US equipment.
On the tactical UAV front, Sagem said Jan. 15 that France ordered at the end of December three more Sperwer drones and took options for two more units, to maintain the strength of the present four systems operated by the French Army. A Sagem spokesman declined to give financial details. The order follows acquisition of four units in 2013.
defensenews

No end in sight for 1-year-old US Air Force mission over Mali

The yearlong U.S. Air Force operation over Mali in support of the French mission there is set to continue for the immediate future.
January marks the one-year anniversary of the U.S. mission over the West African nation. While the Pentagon does not expect it to go on indefinitely, no end date has been set.
Although Mali has regained some stability, holding elections for a new government since French forces intervened to halt the advance of al-Qaeda-linked militants, the French continue to deploy a military contingent there.
French President wants to cut the French presence considerably in the near future and hand over security responsibility to African Union and U.N. forces. Paris plans to reduce the number of its troops in Mali to 1,600 next month, down from the 2,500 now serving there.
351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, which runs the refueling missions out of Moron, Spain, continues flying almost every day to fuel French aircraft, but that the pace of operations has decreased.
Read more

First French Reapers arrive in Africa

France’s first General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reaper unmanned air vehicles have been accepted by the nation’s air force, and deployed to Africa’s Sahel region in support of its ongoing intervention in Mali.
Rapidly acquired following a decision reached by defence minister in mid-2013, France’s first Reaper system was delivered in late December.
The French air force’s first batch of Reaper operators completed their training with the US Air Force at Holloman AFB, New Mexico in late November 2013, around two months after having performed their first training flights using the long-endurance type.
France’s aircraft are for now being acquired in an unarmed configuration, and will be used to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.
General Atomics is also expecting to supply one Reaper system of four UAVs and one GCS to the Netherlands, with the nation having announced its selection of the type late last year. To be operated by the Royal Netherlands Air Force also without weapons, the type is expected to enter service from 2016.
flightglobal

Airbus A400M tactical airlifter makes combat debut in Mali

L'Armée de l’Air (French Air Force) has released images showing the Airbus A400M Atlas tactical airlifter during its first combat sortie in support to Operation Serval in Mali.
The Atlas “F-RBAB” carrying 22 tons of material, took off from Orléans-Bricy airbase on Dec. 29 at 10.30 LT and arrived at Bamako, Mali, after 6 hours and 40 minutes. On Dec. 31, the aircraft flew from Bamako to Gao.
The first A400M was taken on charge by the Multinational Entry into Service Team (MEST) at Orléans on Aug. 2, 2013. The first operational mission therefore came only five months after the induction of the aircraft into active service.
Currently, two A400M Atlas are assigned to the MEST. The first operational mission is a step towards the type full operational capability of the type, expected in late 2014.
theaviationist

The Netherlands mull commandoes, AH-64 attack helicopters for Mali

The Netherlands is considering sending some 400 soldiers including elite commandos, as well as Apache attack helicopters to war-torn Mali following an appeal for more UN peacekeepers.
The plan follows an urgent request by the UN's special representative in the west African country for more blue helmets as its peacekeeping force faced a new surge of Islamist attacks.
It also pondered sending 70 intelligence officers, a small force of training staff and soldiers to protect the task force.
The Dutch cabinet is said to make a decision on the issue within the next two weeks.
The UN special representative to Mali, former Dutch politician Bert Koenders, told the Security Council on Wednesday that Mali's international force needed helicopters and troops as it built up to replace a French force that intervened this year to halt an Islamist takeover.
French troops entered Mali in January to halt an advance on the capital Bamako by Al-Qaeda linked Islamist troops and alleged Tuareg rebels.
A presidential election was held in July but militant attacks have resumed in northern Mali where extremist groups are based.
France still has 3,200 troops in Mali but wants to reduce the figure to 1,000 by the end of this year.
The Netherlands twice attempted to join a European Union-flagged military training mission to Mali, but both times the plans were dropped due to infighting within the ruling coalition.
news.yahoo.com

RAF hopeful of Sentinel role beyond 2014

The future of the RAF’s Sentinel R1 reconnaissance aircraft remains unclear according to service chiefs, despite positive feedback from recent operations in Mali earlier this year.
Speaking at a launch event on 4 July ahead of this weekend’s International Air Show at RAF Waddington, senior service officers said options remained open for the aircraft.
In October 2010, the government’s SDSR announced the Sentinel would be ‘withdrawn once it is no longer required to support operations in Afghanistan’. The main bulk of British forces are due to leave by the close of 2014. However, RAF commanders said any support to Afghan security forces beyond this date would still be classified as a Herrick task.
Additionally, RAF sources said it had not yet begun contemplating winding down the training programmes for pilots, mission commanders and image analysts that is conducted in conjunction with Raytheon at RAF Waddington.
shephardmedia

France to embark on Atlantique 2 upgrade

Thales and Dassault Aviation expect to begin work in the coming weeks on a long-planned upgrade to France’s Atlantique 2 (ATL 2) maritime patrol aircraft. The patroller is supporting combat missions in Mali, providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and close-air support with Paveway II laser-guided bombs.
France modified a number of ATL 2 aircraft earlier this year to deliver GBU-12 bombs using target designators onboard French Harfang UAVs, on fighter aircraft and on the ground. In April, the French Defense Ministry listed ATL 2 modernization as a top priority in the nation’s new defense and security strategy, ahead of a forthcoming multiyear spending plan expected to be issued this summer.
Amy Svitak-aviationweek

France keen to buy 12 US Reaper drones

France wants to buy 12 Reaper drones from the United States, Frenh Defence Minister said on Tuesday, as ministry officials put the cost at 670 million euros ($889 million).
Defence Minister said he wanted two Reapers to be deployed in sub-Saharan Africa, where France is battling Islamist militants in Mali.
The 10 others would be deployed in French and European skies.
defencetalk

Niger: New Drone Base Highlights A Shift In US-West African Relations

In January 2013, US military officials finalized a Status of Forces (SOFA) agreement with the government of Niger to increase military involvement throughout the country. While the move clearly reflected developments in neighboring Mali, it had long been an operational goal of the Pentagon to establish a drone base in the region.

defencetalk

RAF Sentinel back from mission in Mali

An RAF surveillance aircraft has returned back to the UK after nearly four months on operations to return security and stability to Mali.
The Sentinel R1 touched down at its home base at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire to be welcomed by senior officers who paid tribute to its role supporting French-led military operations against violent extremist groups in the north of the West African country.
raf.mod.uk

French military considering purchase of US drones

France is considering buying US-made unarmed Reaper surveillance drones to boost its military capabilities.
France's deficit of surveillance drones was highlighted during its recent intervention against Islamist rebels in Mali, where the United States deployed several Predator drones in support of French forces.
spacewar

French pilots in Mali doing battle from the sky

As fighting intensifies in northern Mali, the aerial support that French-led forces provide in the battle against Islamist rebels is paramount. FRANCE 24 meets the pilots in charge of the Mirage fighter jets at Bamako’s Airbase 101.

france24

Se cumple el primer mes del despliegue del Destacamento Marfil del Ejército del Aire en Malí

El día 26 de enero de 2013, los 30 primeros componentes del Ejército del Aire despegaron desde la Base Aérea de Zaragoza a bordo del avión C-130 Hércules del Ala 31 que se desplegaba para proporcionar apoyo las operaciones internacionales en apoyo de Malí.
Así pues, se cumple ya el primer mes de esfuerzo logístico del Ejército del Aire para sostener este destacamento, que se añade a los que ya viene realizando para los despliegues en las operaciones en Afganistán y en el Cuerno de África.
Este primer contingente del Destacamento "Marfil" está compuesto por un equipo de 48 personas, entre las que, además de las tripulaciones y personal de mantenimiento del Ala 31, hay miembros del Escuadrón de Apoyo al Despliegue Aéreo (EADA), de las Unidades Médicas Aéreas de Apoyo al Despliegue (UMAAD - Madrid y Zaragoza) y del Grupo Móvil de Control Aéreo (GRUMOCA), todas ellas unidades que son claro ejemplo de la vocación y capacidad expedicionaria del Ejército del Aire.
La primera misión de transporte aéreo, entre las localidades de Dakar (Senegal), Bamako (Malí) y Niamey (Níger) tuvo lugar el día 30 de enero y consistió en el transporte de material y efectivos de las Fuerzas Amadas francesas.
La contribución española en esta operación, que se produjo a petición de Francia, está enmarcada dentro del compromiso europeo de promover la seguridad en la Zona del Sahel y fomentar la cooperación en materia de seguridad entre los países de la región.

ejercitodelaire

American troops in Niger to set up drone base

President Barack Obama said Friday that about 100 American troops have been deployed to the African nation of Niger. Two U.S. defense officials said the troops would be setting up a base for unarmed drones to conduct surveillance.
Obama announced the deployment in a letter to Congress, saying that the forces "will provide support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali, and with other partners in the region."
The move marks a deepening of U.S. efforts to stem the spread of al-Qaida and its affiliates in the volatile region. It also underscores Obama's desire to fight extremism without involving large numbers of U.S. ground forces.
The drone base will allow the U.S. to give France more intelligence on the militants its forces have been fighting in Mali, which neighbors Niger. Over time, it could extend the reach not only of American intelligence-gathering but also U.S. special operations missions to strengthen Niger's own security forces.

militarytimes

France drafting letter of request for MQ-9

France is deepening its interest in acquiring the Reaper UAV from the U.S., a move that would stir political sensitivities over purchasing a weapons-firing UAV, while Paris readies to cut its defense budget, government and industry sources said.

Meanwhile, EADS has submitted an offer to extend the contract for its Harfang medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV, the sources said.

The vast distances and intelligence needs in Mali have underlined the French military’s need for a UAV capable of relatively high speed and a long time in the combat zone, defense sources said.

defensenews

Belgian A109s Operational in Mali

The two medicalized A109 helicopters Belgium deployed to Mali have been operational since the end of last week. Based at Sévaré, the helicopters will evacuate patients whose condition has been stabilized to a surgical unit.

Nicholas Fiorenza- aviationweek