Military Africa
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
Military Africa
No Result
View All Result
Home Aerospace

RAF Chinooks deployed to Mali reaches operational milestone

Kazim Abdul by Kazim Abdul
May 8, 2020
in Aerospace
Reading Time: 2 mins read
RAF Chinooks deployed to Mali reaches operational milestone
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CH-47D Chinooks belonging to the Royal Air Force detachment supporting the French-led Operation Barkhane in Mali have now completed more than 2,000 operational hours, including nearly 340 hours so far this year.

The Chinook helicopters from RAF Odiham have been supporting the ongoing French military-led insurgency countering operations in Mali since  July 2018.

Since then, the RAF says that they have moved more than 1,000t of freight and over 12,000 passengers, even in temperatures up to 47 degrees centigrade which has been accompanied by frequent dust storms.

You Might Also Like

Nigeria’s C-130H completes in-house PDM

Belgium delays Chad’s plans to arm it’s Cessna 208 aircraft

USAF KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft in South Africa to enhance partnership

British Air Force Chinook, Super Puma and Apache helicopter
British Air Force Chinook, Super Puma and Apache helicopter

Each of the CH-47 aircraft are operated by 18(B) Squadron and are usually based at RAF Odiham in the UK.

Si Elsey, RAF detachment wing commander, said: ‘We have not lost a sortie due to COVID-19 and the French have maintained a high tempo of operations throughout. Once their troops are in the field, we re-supply them and can lift vehicles in and out as required.’

‘Unfortunately, terrorism does not recognize pandemics, so the deployed personnel have maintained their operational focus while observing COVID-19 measures’, Elsey continued

“The deployed personnel have endeavored to maintain communications with their families and generate a level of mutual support for isolated loved ones back home during this period of worldwide turmoil caused by COVID-19. Unfortunately, terrorism does not recognize pandemics, so the deployed personnel have maintained their operational focus while observing COVID-19 measures,”

ADVERTISEMENT

On 14 June 2018, British troops numbering about 100 arrived West Africa in support of French Operation Barkhane, a spokesperson for the French armed forces Colonel Patrik Steiger, disclosed that: ‘The first troops from the British Chinook deployment, which will comprise three heavy transport helicopters and will be deployed in Gao (Northern Mali)have arrived.’

At the sidelines, crew members manning the Royal Air Force CH-47 Chinook helicopters as part of UK’s Operation Newcombe in Mali were equipped with Inzpire’s GEKO beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) tablet-based mission system in September last year.

Recommended posts

Tags: Mali

Join 154,765 others in receiving our trusted defence news

Unsubscribe

Related News

Despite conflict in Europe, Russia fulfills Mali’s airpower agreement

Despite conflict in Europe, Russia fulfills Mali’s airpower agreement

January 20, 2023
Mali Bayraktar TB2 arrives but without Canadian sub-system

Mali Bayraktar TB2 arrives but without Canadian sub-system

January 4, 2023
Turkish Turaç completes firearms and explosives handling training  to Mali military

Turkish Turaç completes firearms and explosives handling training to Mali military

December 21, 2022
US donates URO VAMTAC tactical armoured vehicle to Mali

US donates URO VAMTAC tactical armoured vehicle to Mali

November 30, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Facebook

ADVERTISEMENT
No Result
View All Result
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release

© 2022 Military Africa