Three Royal Air Force Chinook helicopters from RAF Odiham, supported by around 90 British personnel are now fully operational and are supporting French counter-terrorism operations in Mali.
The helicopters, from RAF Odiham, are providing niche logistical support to French combat forces conducting counter-terrorism operations as part of Operation Barkhane. UK forces have built three temporary aircraft hangers on the ground, enabling the Chinooks to fly multiple missions each week.
The deployment is in addition to the UK’s long-standing support of UN, EU and G5 Sahel Joint Force operations in Mali aimed at preventing extremists from using the ungoverned space in the Sahel to plan and launch attacks on Europe, as well as countering the illegal trade in people, drugs, weapons and wildlife. This deployment increases the RAF involvement in Africa.
Source: Royal Air Force
Images: Royal Air Force, UK MoD Copyright