Photo Royal Air Force / Crown copyright |
Photo Royal Air Force / Crown copyright |
The milestone was passed by 1310 Flight, the RAF detachment that operates the CH-47 Chinooks in Mali and is primarily committed to conducting flight operations in support of the French Operation Barkhane, a counter-terrorist operation across the Sahel region of West Africa.
The RAF Odiham based helicopters from Joint Helicopter Command, first arrived in West Africa during July 2018 to provide a heavy lift helicopter support capability to Operation Barkhane. The Chinooks therefore regularly carry out troop movements, resupply missions and logistical support to the French forward operating bases and desert locations around Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Since the inception of the task in 2018, the CH47 Chinook detachment has have moved over 1,500 tonnes of freight and over 18,000 French soldiers. The aircraft are currently flown by pilots and aircrew from 27 Squadron, supported by personnel from across the RAF, British Army and Royal Navy drawn from Joint Helicopter Command.
Photo Royal Air Force / Crown copyright |
Since arriving in mid-January 2021, the current detachment has transported over 1000 soldiers while operating in temperatures over 45°C and overcome frequent dust storms. The Chinooks are an important asset to the UK’s French partners, with missions covering a range of tasks including large-scale combat troop moves, VIP transport, under-slinging armoured fighting vehicles and deploying Commando formations into pre-assault forming up points.