Relief of aircrew and maintenance personnel at Tactical Air Detachment 'Marfil'.

• Spain continues its mission to support France, the EU and the UN in the fight against terrorism for the stabilisation of the Sahel.

Relief ceremony at the 'Escale Aéronautique Commandant Lemaitre' facilities at Blaise Diagne International Airport. Relay of aircrew and maintenance personnel of the 35th Wing belonging to the 83rd and 84th rotations of the 42nd Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) 'Marfil' Contingent.

After the ceremony, a photo was taken of the entire 42nd Contingent, taking advantage of the presence in the facilities of all the personnel participating in Operation A/M to stabilise the Sahel. Afterwards, the Chief of the 'Marfil' Detachment presented the prizes won in the different sporting competitions organised by the 42nd Contingent.

Air Tactical Detachment 'Marfil'.

The DAT Marfil, of the Air and Space Army, is part of the A/M Operation. Its deployment base is the 'Escale Aéronautique Commandant Lemaitre', located at the French Elements in Senegal (EFS) facility within the Blaise Diagne International Airport.

Under the operational command of the Operations Command, this operation is tasked with intra-theatre tactical and logistical airlift missions, as well as in-flight refuelling (if deployed assets permit) in support of France in its fight against terrorism in the wider Sahel area.

In addition, the DAT Marfil supports the United Nations missions MINUSMA (active until next December) and MINUSCA, focused on the stabilisation of Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) respectively, as well as the European Union missions EUTM CAR and EUTM Mali, in support of the training of their respective armed forces and the G5 Sahel Joint Force.

The Detachment is composed of some 70 military personnel from different Air and Space Army units, mostly personnel from the 35th Wing, the Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA), the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA), and the Second Air Deployment Support Squadron (SEADA).

It operates Airbus C295 aircraft (military designation T-21) belonging to the 35th Wing, a unit located at the Getafe Air Base (Madrid).

The Joint Force Air Component (JFAC) of the mission, located in Lyon (France), is in charge of programming the missions of the Spanish aircraft, which remain on alert to operate D7/H24 in the joint operations area (JOA), being an example of the capabilities that Spain provides to other allied Armed Forces, in this case through the Air and Space Army, in the interests of international Peace and Security.