French air campaign - Mali

[Mildave]

According to Le Point, the operation would be costing 400 000 euros a day in Mali with Rafale costing 27 000 euros an hour (estimate).

And Areva had had plans to mine Mali for a while now, as well as other natural ressources by other companies. The intervention in Mali might not be entirely dictated by generosity, but I do believe not allowing Islamic groups lead by Al-Quaida to get control so close to Europe is a good thing.

[Mildave]

Picture taken in N'djamena, Chad.

Canon cover out (and only 2 GBU's)

I wonder if they made some straffing like the F1 used to make in Africa. Would be interesting to know and with which results.
Let's note that A to G modes for the canon has been fully opened not that long ago.

Very nice picture, thanks. But wouldn't there be some black smoke near the gun if they had used it?

[c-seven]

Very nice picture, thanks. But wouldn't there be some black smoke near the gun if they had used it?

It depends if they are about to take off or if they've just landed

I bet on the first one.

[Kovy]

According to Le Point, the operation would be costing 400 000 euros a day in Mali with Rafale costing 27 000 euros an hour (estimate).

That's a poor calculation method as the planes would fly in France anyway if they were not being used for that operation.

What they should take into account are only the additional flying hours and crew salaries bonus as compared to peace time training in France.

[Mildave]

A glimpse on French SP and their high mobility vehicules (or how to deal with Toyota wars lol).

@ c-seven: It seems like a very odd configuration for a Rafale leaving... or maybe they haven't done loading the bombs yet?

[j_jza80]

Picture taken in N'djamena, Chad.

Canon cover out (and only 2 GBU's)

I wonder if they made some straffing like the F1 used to make in Africa. Would be interesting to know and with which results.
Let's note that A to G modes for the canon has been fully opened not that long ago.

The front Rafale looks tiny compared to the one behind!

[thobbes]

It was called "Operation Manta" and "Operation Epervier" (read it in French).
The Chadian troops were suported, armed and trained by the French.
The hundreds of pickup´s equiped with MILAN (read it in French) ATGM´s who gave the name to the war were provided by the French, the training to use the ATGM´s was provided by the French and (just like Merlock pointed) there is enough evidence to point to the presence of French special troops right beside the Chadians in that war to conclude that the "Frenchies" have quite an experience in that particular scenario.

I am well aware of that. I was trying to be sly!

Very interesting war that one - Libyan armoured columns annihilated by pickups with Milans and Tu-22 bombers used by the Libyans. The French Jaguar raid on a Libyan airbase was also noteworthy as an extremely well planned and executed operation.

[Mildave]

Air operation over Mali

[Rourkey]

Mirage 2000 knocked out? Hard to believe (see the last paragraph)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...-garrison-town

[thobbes]

Just did a Google news search and found nothing.

Bosnian Serbs knocked out a Mirage 2000N with a 9K34 Strela-3.

If the Chadians got ex-Libyan MANPADs than a shoot down is possible.

With gun cover off on that Rafale it seems the Armee de'l Air is flying lower level gun runs, which opens them up to MANPADS.

[Nicolas10]

They're calling him a wizard? Why?

My bad it was the warlord.

Nic

[TooCool_12f]

the linked article is dated of yesterday, yet in today's news there was nothing about a mirage 2000

the only flying thing that was hit was a gazelle helicopter and it flew back to base (pilot dying a couple of hours later in hospital)

[AlphaZulu]

Air operation over Mali

Nitpicking: This first image is not from Mali, but from archives.
1/ 3x Mirage F1 on the pic, but we know only 2 are deployed @ Bamako (detached form 'Epervier' forces usually in Chad) ;
2/ The second aircraft, with its green nose, is an F1-CT, not a -CR. The last -CT were decommissioned earlier this year.
3/ it's an old pic. click.

[AlphaZulu]

With gun cover off on that Rafale it seems the Armee de'l Air is flying lower level gun runs, which opens them up to MANPADS.

Not necessarily. Gun cover off may simply mean "there is a reasonnable chance the gun could be used on that flight, let's not take the risk to waste a cover when it's simple to avoid it".
It doesn't mean the gun was actually fired in anger. Indeed, no smokes traces.

[thobbes]

Not necessarily. Gun cover off may simply mean "there is a reasonnable chance the gun could be used on that flight, let's not take the risk to waste a cover when it's simple to avoid it".
It doesn't mean the gun was actually fired in anger. Indeed, no smokes traces.

Didn't say they've done gun runs with the Rafales just that there appears to be an intention to do strafing runs.

As that one still has both GBU's on, I suspect it's pre-mission anyway.

[H_K]

Nitpicking: This first image is not from Mali, but from archives.

Good catch. Let's fix that, shall we?

Always nice to see the much-underrated Mirage F1 still providing sterling service 34 years after its combat debut. Come to think of it... I believe the F1 now holds the record for the longest combat career among Western fighters!

[Cherry Ripe]

Air operation over Mali

Someone's An-12 at N’Djamena.

[obligatory]

How many M2000 does France have at the moment ?
Speaking of which: how many Rafale at the moment ?

[Mildave]

There are currently 6 Mirages 2000D and 4 Rafales, with 2 Mirages F1 and 5 Tankers.

@AlphaZulu: Good catch indeed

[AlphaZulu]

Didn't say they've done gun runs with the Rafales just that there appears to be an intention to do strafing runs.

As that one still has both GBU's on, I suspect it's pre-mission anyway.

"intention" is too strong IMO.

"Both GBU" ? Standard loads are 4 or 6. Don't see why they would limit à departing mission to only 2 bombs.
Hence I suspect it's post-mission.

[thobbes]

2 GBU's for long range mission perhaps (save weight)?

I'm not sure if there's a lot of viable targets in Mali especially for more strategic long range missions.

[Stan hyd]

Bet they wish they had Brimstone right now. Perfect for this mission.

[j_jza80]

Bet they wish they had Brimstone right now. Perfect for this mission.

I reckon a few A10s wouldn't go amiss.

Even though they're an older design, they're far more relevant in this type of conflict than 4th gen fighters IMO.

[TooCool_12f]

2 GBU's for long range mission perhaps (save weight)?

I'm not sure if there's a lot of viable targets in Mali especially for more strategic long range missions.

their targets are pretty much small and spread on large distances... there are good chances they'd load their fighters with as many and as small bombs as possible (no need for big ones, usually)

[Stan hyd]

A-10s would be sitting targets with MANPADS in the field

[19kilo10]

[QUOTE=H_K;1975942]Good catch. Let's fix that, shall we?

Always nice to see the much-underrated Mirage F1 still providing sterling service 34 years after its combat debut. Come to think of it... I believe the F1 now holds the record for the longest combat career among Western fighters!
Does the Mirage F1 predate the F-4 Phantom?

[Nicolas10]

He was comparing combat career, from 1st combat mission to last combat mission. When was the F4 last used in anger by the way? Or the F5?

Nic

[19kilo10]

2008 by Turkish AF in extended attacks against Kurds in northern Iraq, and very possibly in Aug 2011 attacks in same area. 2012 one was shot down by Syria.

[19kilo10]

Not sure bout F-5.

[j_jza80]

A-10s would be sitting targets with MANPADS in the field

Other jets are certainly vulnerable to MANPADS too, but at least the A10 stands a good chance of surviving a strike, a Mirage or Rafale would be finished.

I would think the main danger would be small arms, in which case an A10 would be fine.

A10s could be operated from makeshift bases behind the line. On that note, what did we do with all those Harriers?...

By the way, why are the Rafales carrying A2A missiles? What possible airbourne threat could they encounter?