By RFIPosted on 27-11-2019Modified on 27-11-2019 at 14:27
The tragic accident between two French helicopters Monday night in Mali, which killed thirteen French soldiers, should not jeopardize the helicopter operations. The use of these devices with rotating wings remains prized by the military, the tool is for them a guarantee of effectiveness in the fight against terrorism.
In the Sahel, the bulk of operations are concentrated in the Liptako Gourma region, a vast area stretching across the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. And in this arid environment full of fractures and breakage faults, the helicopter remains, despite the risks, the means to act most effectively.
" Foudroyance "
Because the helicopter vector makes it possible to quickly travel great distances and especially to have what the military call " the lightning ", an effect of surprise. Just like the paratroopers drop.
An effect of surprise that disappears completely when the forces circulate in land convoys. These convoys of dozens of vehicles, slow and heavy are immediately spotted by jihadists and extremely vulnerable to improvised explosive devices.
At present, the problem for the Barkhane force is precisely that it can not operate too few helicopters. Despite this tragic accident, the French military is showing resilience. Operations continue because " the enemy is still there, " they explain.
►Also read: In France and Mali, tribute to the thirteen French soldiers killed
They are also expecting a lot from the arrival in a few months of the "Takuba" force, made up of European Special Forces, a concept that is said to be able to give impetus to operations in the Sahel and so the deployment should be specified by the head of state, Emmanuel Macron in the coming days.
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