Air force and navy to deploy six aircraft to Tajikistan in support of ISAF mission
France is in the process of sending six Dassault Rafale C/M fighters to support ground troops serving as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Three air force and three navy F2 software-standard aircraft were scheduled to leave for the region on 10 March as part of France's Operation Serpentaire. Their deployment follows the recent completion of ground and flight tests and crew training activities at the air force's CEAM test centre at Mont-de-Marsan in south-west France.
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France could eventually send as many as 10 Rafales to Afghanistan |
Gen Eric Rouzaud, head of the test centre, says the aircraft will be stationed at Dushanbe airbase in Tajikistan, to the north-east of Afghanistan, for an initial period of "at least four months". A decision on whether to prolong their stay will be taken during the deployment, he adds.
The detachment will work alongside French air force Dassault Mirage 2000 strike aircraft already operating over Afghanistan, and is expected to receive refuelling support from French, UK Royal Air Force and US Air Force tankers depending on availability. In addition to three single-seat Rafale Cs, the air force's new contingent will also comprise about 50 support personnel and aircrew.
Paris could eventually send about 10 Rafales to support coalition operations in Afghanistan, says Rouzaud, who adds that a decision on this is also expected within the next four months.
France's new fighter aircraft commitment will support ISAF ground troops, with the navy's three single-seat Rafale Ms to be armed with GBU-12 225kg (500lb) laser-guided bombs (LGB). Air force examples will carry GBU-12s and 325kg GBU-22 LGBs, which the service says are now performing well after minor modifications were required when they were first integrated with the fighter. Both models are also to deploy with 250kg "dumb" bombs modified with Sagem's AASM precision guidance kit, and MBDA Mica medium-range air-to-air missiles.
The joint Rafale force began ground tests in support of the new deployment during January, and flight-test activities started in mid-February. Tests performed over recent weeks at Mont-de-Marsan have included seven GBU-12 releases from air force aircraft and five from navy platforms.
France's new deployment will be the first combat use of the air force's Rafale F2 fighters, squadron deliveries of which began in mid-2005. The navy has previously deployed F1-standard Rafale Ms to operate over Afghanistan from its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle. The services will eventually receive 60 and 234 Rafales each.
Source: Flight International
