Ongoing operations
Relief at Tactical Air Detachment "Marfil" of aircrews and maintenance personnel from the 'Ala 35' of the 43rd contingent.
In Thies, Senegal
December 9, 2023
- Spain continues its mission to support France, the European Union and the United Nations in the fight against terrorism and the stabilisation of the Sahel.
At the facilities of the "Escale Aéronautique Commandant Lemaitre" at the Blaise Diagne International Airport, where the Marfil Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) operates from, the changeover of crews and maintenance personnel of the 35th Wing belonging to the 85th and 86th rotations of the 43rd contingent for Operation A/M took place.
After the arrival of the 86th, both rotations, with great dedication and professionalism, were able to carry out the handover in the 43rd contingent, allowing the 85th to return to national territory and the 86th to quickly join the contingent in full conditions to continue its work.
Taking advantage of the presence of the entire 43rd contingent of Operation A/M, the entire team that contributes to guaranteeing stability and peace in the vast Sahel area was immortalised.
Detachment Marfil
The DAT Marfil, from the Air and Space Army, is part of Operation A/M. Its deployment base is the "Escale Aéronautique Commandant Lemaitre", located at the French Elements in Senegal (EFS) facility inside the Blaise Diagne International Airport.
Under the operational command of the MOPS (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 territory.
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.
The Detachment is composed of some 60 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.
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