Initially dedicated
to surveillance operations in the Sahel region and a permanently pre-positioned
in Dakar (Senegal), French Navy ATL2 were involved from the beginning
of the operation in intelligence and support missions in profit of
land forces.
The detachment quickly reached a new format of ten crews and six aircraft.
The experience on this theater and joint operations in Africa has
allowed the navy crews to be immediately efficient in air and ground
maneuvers. Thanks to their extremely versatile aircraft, ATL2 crews
successfully
performed:
- Intelligence missions
- Ground forces support missions
- Forward air control and ground targets designation missions
- Command and control missions
and for the first time in operation to bombing missions against enemy
targets.
Initially based in Dakar , the detachment was transferred to Niamey,
Niger . Over time , the size of the detachment was reduced to one
crew and a single aircraft. Nevertheless the pace of flights remains
strong in support of Operation Serval .
