The keys to Russian-made Albatros L39 type attack and advanced training aircraft and Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 reconnaissance and combat drones were handed over yesterday to the Army Chief of Staff air, General Alou Boï Diarra, by the President of the Transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta. It was at the presidential pavilion of the President Modibo Keita-Sénou international airport, in the presence of the President of the National Transitional Council (CNT), Colonel Malick Diaw, Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga, members of the government, military authorities and ambassadors of the Russian Federation and Türkiye in Mali.
The reception of the new acquisitions comes after another made just two months ago. These new aircraft consist of Russian-made Albatros L39 attack and advanced training aircraft and Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. Indeed, the Albatros L39 is a fighter, ground attack, close air support aircraft. It is also used for advanced fighter pilot training. On the other hand, Bayraktar TB2 is a very modern tactical surveillance drone, equipped with the latest technologies in its category, which can carry out reconnaissance and surveillance missions, adjustment of artillery fire and air strikes.
EFFECTIVENESS OF INTELLIGENCE- The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, in receiving these devices, reiterated his thanks to the authorities for the confidence placed in him and his brothers in arms in the management of the crisis that our country is going through. Faced with the asymmetrical warfare imposed by terrorist groups, according to General Alou Boï Diarra, the priority of operations can be summed up in an essential area that is both simple and extremely difficult to resolve. How to identify and neutralize the enemy hidden within the population without exhausting our own human and material resources, and above all by preserving this civilian population which constitutes the only worthwhile stake?
To achieve this, discussions within the staffs have identified the combination of essential factors for effectively combating terrorism. On the one hand, it is about the efficiency of intelligence to know and anticipate. And on the other hand, to have the ability to analyze, decide and intervene quickly enough to exploit this intelligence before the target has time to disappear. Thus, on the operational level, all FAMa adaptation efforts in recent years can be summed up in the optimal realization of this combination of anticipation and intervention functions. “The results that we observe today sufficiently prove, on the one hand, that the course set is the right one, and on the other hand, that the mode of action chosen actually brings us closer to the objective”, argued the Air Force Chief of Staff.
The general officer welcomed the significant progress and capabilities made in the field of intelligence. “Currently, the Malian soldier no longer depends solely on human sources alone for information. He now has other sensors that range from basic intelligence equipment to the most sophisticated technological jewels that he could only dream of in front of his television, ”he appreciated.
The Air Force has been equipped for some time with several drones which are in permanent operation on the front and obtain remarkable results. These highly versatile devices, according to General Diarra’s testimony, significantly increase the observation, reconnaissance, intelligence and surveillance capabilities of our army. And especially its strike force at any time and in any place.
“The rapid strike and intervention capability is one of the factors of our effectiveness against terrorists. In this field, the Bayraktar TB2 drones represent a perfect combination while being simultaneously capable of collecting intelligence but also of intervening to destroy any target detected, identified and validated by the inter-army command”, explained General Alou Boï Diarra. .
The Air Force Chief of Staff will also indicate that these new devices have already made it possible to accelerate the reversal of the trend. Air vectors such as Albatros L39, Sukoi 25, Super Tucano, attack helicopters allow effective combat against the enemy. Also, he underlined, the combined efforts of the airmen and their comrades in the joint maneuvers allowed a resumption of the initiative which is now established, lasting and supported.
Finally, he promised to make good use of these new acquisitions. Because, he recalled, the regulations and protocols for use are strict to avoid any amalgamation, any confusion between combatants and non-combatants for the best protection of civilian populations.
LAY DOWN ARMS – For his part, the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, these new weapons systems received fit perfectly into a defense architecture that has already proven itself in the field. Reconnaissance and combat drones and fighter planes further increase, according to him, the influence of our maneuver units in the field. “The rise in power of the FAMa is thus consolidated”, he rejoiced. Indeed, the Malian Army maintains its offensive posture for the rout of the terrorists.
Colonel Sadio Camara said that the aggressive operations carried out by our troops against the bandits as well as the professional and protective attitude of our soldiers towards the populations have already convinced dozens of combatants to lay down their arms and come render. “Many of them are already in the process of reintegration, under the surveillance and protection of law enforcement,” he revealed.
With this in mind, the Minister of Defense urged terrorists who want to come to their senses to resolutely follow this path. The nation is ready to open its arms to them, provided they agree to live by the laws of the Republic. To the holdouts who think the depths of the caves and the cover of the forests still offer them some respite, Colonel Camara has warned that our bombs and assault troops will hunt them down.
During this ceremony, a minute of silence was observed in memory of those who disappeared during this war for the restoration of security.
Oumar DIAKITE