CASR
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Canada in Afghanistan – NATO
– Reconnaissance and Air Support – March 2007 Update: Le Figaro reported on 31 Aug 2007 that three Mirage 2000Ds and three Mirage F1 CRs would redeploy to Kanadahar, eliminating 30%-to-40% of mission time spent in transit. The first missions flown from Kandahar in support of the R22Re were done in early October. 
Close Air Support – L’armée de l’Air and L’aviation navale Aircraft Over Afghanistan 
French military aircraft have been active in support of Operation Enduring Freedom since Oct 2001 when
reconnaissance Mirage F1s deployed to Dushanbe, Tajikistan with Boeing C-135 tanker/ transports. In 2002,
the L’armée de l’Air aircraft were joined by the Super Etendard
recce-strike aircraft from the carrier, Charles de Gaulle at sea in the Indian Ocean. The Dushanbe deployment and
flottilles of L’aviation navale are now introducing the latest Dassault Rafale
fighters.
Both the Dushanbe-stationed fighters and carrier aircraft are supported by two Boeing C-135FR air tankers based
at Manas AFB in Kyrgyzstan.[2] The tankers accompany fighters deploying from France ( Djibouti is the stopover point )
as well as flying supplies into Dushanbe. C-135s are part of Forces Aériennes Strategiques (as
were Mirage IVPs which flew Afghanistan recce ).
Since 2002, the Dushanbe deployments have been in groups of six fighters. Mirage F1s were joined by
two-seat Mirage 2000Ds both capable of performing recce or strike. For the latter role, the aircraft
carried 500 lb (225 kg) GBU-12 laser-guided bombs aimed by targeting
pods – either the diurnal ATLIS II or night-and-day PDL-CT S. Now Mirage F1s have been
replaced by new Rafales.
On 11 March 2007, three Rafale F2s of EC 1/7 Provence left France (via Djibouti) for Dushanbe arriving
the following day after flying almost 9400 km. These Rafales will carry either six GBU-12 or 325 kg
GBU-22 laser-guided bombs and may also field the new SAGEM AASM modular 250kg bomb kit.[3]
ISAF will welcome the French deployment but all is not quite what it seems. The Rafales are still working
up. The new aircraft are cleared for bombs but not for operational gun-firing. More importantly, they
have yet to be fitted with the Thales Damocles targeting pods. As a result, the bomb-toting
Rafales will rely on PDL-CT S pod-equipped Mirage 2000Ds to designate targets for them. As an
interim solution, this works but is hardly ideal – while ‘lasing’ targets, Mirages
are unavailable for recce. [4]“ ... and now approaching from the South ...” – L’aviation navale from the Indian Ocean Naval Rafales are also moving in-theatre. The aircraft carrier PA Charles de Gaulle left the Horn of Africa for the Indian Ocean with Rafale M F1s (below, ‘M’ is for Marine) on board. Meanwhile, three of the latest-standard Rafale M F2s left France to join the ship enroute.  In the past, the carrier-launched Rafale M F1s supported older Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM) strike aircraft (with ‘buddy’ refuelling ). This time, the SEMs will support the Rafales since, like their Armée de l’Air counterpart, neither M F1 nor M F2 have targeting pods yet. 
The Super Etendards will ‘ lase’ targets for the naval Rafales just
as the Mirage 2000Ds will for the land-based Rafales. And the limitations are the same
– SEMs targeting with PDL-CT pods cannot also be performing reconnaissance. But, immature as
the Rafale work-up is and imperfect as this situation may be, the French were willing to support ISAF
with the aircraft available.“... players waiting in the wings ... ” the French Support Aircraft in South-West Asia Other than the large C-135 FR tanker/transports, ’Armée de l’Air Transall transport aircraft 
shuttle between Dushanbe and the Afghan capital. Also now in Kabul are two Armée de Terre
helicopters to support ISAF. These Eurocopter EC 725 Caracals were derived from the Aérospatiale AS 532
Cougar.[5]There have been numerous heated discussions among the political leaders of the nations of NATO [see: Germany Faces Pressure and Eyes in the Skies]. The military commanders tend to be closer together in their overall strategic view. NATO must be seen to be effective, to stand together in Afghanistan, or else face “Shame and eternal shame, nothing but shame”. [1] Insets: GBU-12 Paveway II, based on USAF image; BGL-250, based on an MBDA image. [2] There are obvious advantages to basing French C-135s alongside the USAF KC-135s of the 376th AEW at Manas. The two types are very similar, both having CFM 56 engines and ‘flying booms’ (the C-136FR’s being hose-and-drogue as are twin wingtip refuelling HDUs). [3] French aircraft also carry Matra (now MBDA) BGL series laser-guided bombs but the US Paveway types seem to be used in preference in Afghanistan. SAGEM’s AASM Armement Air-Sol Modulaire adds GPS guidance and a range-extension kit to standard 250 kg bombs. [4] This is not a criticism. Indeed, France is to be congratulated for rushing its latest fighter into action to support ISAF. It will make life hectic for Mirage 2000D ‘back-seaters’ though. [5] The original Cougar is also in action in southern Afghanistan (KLu AS 532 U2 Cougars fly in support of Dutch troops and have supplied Canadian Forward Operating Bases). The EC 725’s new Caracal name, appropriately enough, refers to the Persian Lynx (C. caracal ). |