A second T-21 reinforce the logistic capabilities of detachment 'Marfil'

• This second plane belonging to the Spanish Air Force strengthen Spain's commitment with France to fight terrorism in SAHEL

A second T-21 plane has landed today at the air base Senghor in Dakar. It will temporarily strengthen the Spanish capabilities at detachment ‘Marfil’. There is already a T-21 (CASAC-295M) belonging to the Spanish Air Forces.

Under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS in Spanish), its main duty is providing air trasportation within France’s operation ‘Barkhane’ countering terrorism in Sahel.

The recently landed T-21, whose latest stopover was Gran Canary Island, is joining the detachment to reinforce the mission’s logistic air routes scheduled for Spanish platforms at the Joint Force Air Component Command (JFACC) in Lyon; this is the main activity carried out by this detachment.

The two aircraft will also continue performing in-theatre transportion supporting UN missions MINUSCA and MINUSMA, the European Union operations in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) and Mali (EUTM Mali), as well as the Joint Force of the G5 Sahel countries.

The incorporation of the T-21 is preceded by an agreement with the French government and the concentration of the Air Force's resources at the French base in Dakar. The decision to deploy two transport aircraft and a hundred airmen to the operation is therefore a reality. The aim has been to improve the efficiency and synergy of the operations following the concentration of the "Ivory" and "Mamba" detachments in Dakar since 24 March.