A single round of small-arms fire hit French Army Lt. Damien Lame as he flew a helicopter over Mali Gazelle attack on the afternoon of January 11. The bullet severed artery in his leg year, and although he and his co-pilot the helicopter Brought back to base, the French Army Air Corps officer died from his wound.
Small-arms fire in the same actions forced the pilot of a second Gazelle to land the heavily damaged aircraft, a defense official said. A third back-up helicopter flying nearby with a rescue team picked up the crew and destroyed the downed helicopter.
French Forces Were ble to Quickly sponds to Islamist insurgents and Tuareg As They headed Toward Bamako in Mali Because strife-torn equipment Such as Gazelle helicopters was prepositioned in the region. Such light, simple and inexpensive equipment allows rapid intervention goal as the death of Boiteux and the loss of the second helicopter shows, there is a price to pay.
That's just one of the lessons to emerge in immediate days after the French President François Hollande That gave the order unleashed French Air Force Mirages, Rafales and light attack helicopters against two columns of motorized vehicles and 200 rebel fighters headed 1.200 Toward the capital.
Besides by the pros and cons of light, simple kit, the past of fighting Few Days Have Shown That budget is still wracked France willing to project power, while prepositioned bases and reliable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) REMAIN crucial, analysts said.
Those themes are emerging as France draws up a white paper on defense and security, prepared for the new multiyear military budget and seeks to relaunch a European defense initiative as a counter to Spending cuts.
The Gazelle is an "old chopper" that lacks protection goal was France ble to launch into the work force so Quickly Because Have Such light, "rustic" equipment, Said Etienne de Durand, director of security studies at the French Institute think tank Relations international.
This shows the advantage of keeping kinds of platforms thesis Rather Than Relying totally on modern, sophisticated equipment, Which is expensive, Heavier and difficulty to deploy, he said.
France and other nations must Maintain ranks of equipment has to face not just aim symmetrical asymmetrical terrorism threats, rebel fighters Such as in pickup trucks, experts said. That simplicity of equipment is linked to quantity.
"You need numbers - troops, planes and equipment," Durand said. A large number of troops is required, you need to be Rotated units, aircraft and equipment while in aussi numbers are needed, not just a FEW high-tech units.
Credit SIRPA Earth ADC JC Thorel
To boost striking power, France is rushing to Mali the Tiger attack helicopter, Which armor on the sides caries and cockpit floor, and a 30mm cannon in a turret, a source familiar with the circumstances said.
"The Tiger is engaged," Army Col.. Told journalists Thierry Burkhard January 18. An air mobility unit of around 15 helicopters for maneuver, support and logistics will be Formed in Mali, he said.
The Gazelle HAS fixed 20mm cannon, requiring the helicopter to be lined up with the threat Directly to fire, Whereas the Tiger can fly in parallel, with crew icts protected by the armored side, and fire from the rotating turret under the cockpit.
Along the ranks of the Tiger's gun cuts the risk from AK-47s and light machine guns.
