The T-21 of the 35th Wing achieves 15,000 flying hours in the 'Marfil' detachment

• It has been relieved by the T-10 Hercules of the 31st Wing since 2013

The T-21 of the 45th contingent of the 'Marfil' Air Tactical Detachment has reached 15,000 flight hours as the culmination of the effort and dedication of the personnel who have been part of the various contingents that have participated in Operation Support to Mali since 2013.

This aeronautical milestone proves that the technical preparation and the great teamwork that the members of the Air and Space Force stationed in Senegal have been carrying out for eleven years demonstrates once again the technical preparation and the great teamwork that they have been carrying out for eleven years.

This flight was a cargo and personnel transport mission, with an extensive tour of several countries in equatorial Africa, including 'Côte d'Ivoire', 'Benin', 'Central African Republic' and 'Gabon'.

The aircraft's crew, composed of four pilots and two load supervisors belonging to the 35th Wing and three AMPTs from the EADA, were the protagonists of this aeronautical milestone in the history of the DAT 'Marfil'.

 'Marfil' Detachment

The DAT 'Marfil' of the Air and Space Force, belonging to the Operation 'Support to Mali,' operates from the "Escale Aéronautique Commandant LEMAITRE", in the facilities of the French Elements in Senegal (EFS) at the 'Blaise Diagne' International Airport, 45 kilometres from Dakar (Senegal). Under the operational command of the MOPS, it is responsible for logistical airlift missions in support of France in its fight against terrorism in the Sahel. The Detachment also supports the United Nations mission MINUSCA to stabilise the Central African Republic, as well as the European Union mission EUTM RCA, which supports the training and education of the armed forces of this country.

The Detachment is composed of 59 military personnel from different Air Force units, mostly personnel from the 35th Wing, the Air Deployment Support Squadron (EADA) and SEADA. It operates with an Airbus C295 aircraft (T-21) belonging to the 35th Wing of the 'Getafe' Air Base. The mission's Joint Force Air Component Command (JFACC), located in Lyon (France), is in charge of programming the Spanish aircraft's missions.

This Detachment is an example of the capabilities provided by the Air and Space Force to other Armed Forces, where the availability and operability of what is provided is paramount. The resources operate in a sub-Saharan environment, often in unprepared camps and in extreme weather conditions of high temperatures and heavy rain due to frequent storms. These factors, together with the extensive area of operations where the missions are carried out, are a constant challenge for the Detachment's air crews.

After more than eleven years of operation, the DAT 'Marfil' is consolidated as another example of the contribution of the Armed Forces to the State's external action in its commitment to international peace and security.