France To Deploy Jets At Entebbe
Jun 08, 2003
FRANCE is to deploy up to 10 hi-tech fighter jets in the Ugandan airspace to protect their troops being deployed in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By Grace Matsiko
FRANCE is to deploy up to 10 hi-tech fighter jets in the Ugandan airspace to protect their troops being deployed in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Colonel Denis Koehl, the logistics officer for the French-led-emergency multinational interim force for Bunia on Saturday said five Mirage 2000D Bombers and five Mirage Fox 1 fighter jets were assembled for the operation to be commanded by a two-star General Paul Thonier.
Koehl and French ambassador to Uganda Jean-Bernard Thiant were addressing a press conference about the three-month Operation Artemis spearheaded by France.
“The troops have to be protected on landing and take-off,†Koehl, an airman said.
“In normal situations, we may not deploy them but put them on standby,†he added.
Military sources said the French version fighter jets can release a series of bombs at ago, re-fuel mid-air, intercept enemy aircraft, launch missile attacks and take pictures on the ground and relay them to the Central command in France for analysis.
Koehl said a reconnaissance mission comprising Commandos entered Bunia town to assess the situation in readiness for the deployment of the main body of the troops.
“The speed of troop deployment is conditioned by the extremely low number of rotations that can be effected on Bunia runway given its condition. The deployment will undoubtedly be long. We must think in terms of several weeks before the force can be completely deployed with all its material and combat vehicles,†the colonel said.
He said the military build up is inevitable as the forces are susceptible to attacks from heavily armed militia groups that are equipped with armour and ground to air missiles.
Koehl said a part from the geographic constraints in Bunia, the airport there could not sustain more than 10 airlifts per day and may deteriorate at each landing and takeoff.
“Strategic aerial transport will be effected upto Entebbe airport where the force will install a (Joint-Military Support Base besides the MONUC aerial plan of action. The aerial tactical projection will be carried out in a distance of 300km between Entebbe and Bunia,†he added.
Thiant said the force is not to engage in combat with the militia but to stabilise the chaotic situation in order to facilitate the work of the humanitarian agencies as the condition of the population appears catastrophic. Ends
FRANCE is to deploy up to 10 hi-tech fighter jets in the Ugandan airspace to protect their troops being deployed in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Colonel Denis Koehl, the logistics officer for the French-led-emergency multinational interim force for Bunia on Saturday said five Mirage 2000D Bombers and five Mirage Fox 1 fighter jets were assembled for the operation to be commanded by a two-star General Paul Thonier.
Koehl and French ambassador to Uganda Jean-Bernard Thiant were addressing a press conference about the three-month Operation Artemis spearheaded by France.
“The troops have to be protected on landing and take-off,†Koehl, an airman said.
“In normal situations, we may not deploy them but put them on standby,†he added.
Military sources said the French version fighter jets can release a series of bombs at ago, re-fuel mid-air, intercept enemy aircraft, launch missile attacks and take pictures on the ground and relay them to the Central command in France for analysis.
Koehl said a reconnaissance mission comprising Commandos entered Bunia town to assess the situation in readiness for the deployment of the main body of the troops.
“The speed of troop deployment is conditioned by the extremely low number of rotations that can be effected on Bunia runway given its condition. The deployment will undoubtedly be long. We must think in terms of several weeks before the force can be completely deployed with all its material and combat vehicles,†the colonel said.
He said the military build up is inevitable as the forces are susceptible to attacks from heavily armed militia groups that are equipped with armour and ground to air missiles.
Koehl said a part from the geographic constraints in Bunia, the airport there could not sustain more than 10 airlifts per day and may deteriorate at each landing and takeoff.
“Strategic aerial transport will be effected upto Entebbe airport where the force will install a (Joint-Military Support Base besides the MONUC aerial plan of action. The aerial tactical projection will be carried out in a distance of 300km between Entebbe and Bunia,†he added.
Thiant said the force is not to engage in combat with the militia but to stabilise the chaotic situation in order to facilitate the work of the humanitarian agencies as the condition of the population appears catastrophic. Ends