British Royal Air Force will provide spy aircraft Sentinel R1 to support French Army in Mali 2601132

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Defence News - United Kingdom
 
 
Saturday, January 26, 2013, 12:18 PM
 
British Royal Air Force will provide spy aircraft Sentinel R1 to support French Army in Mali.
A surveillance aircraft Sentinel R1 from RAF (British Royal Air Force) Waddington has been sent to Mali Friday, January 25, 2013, to support France's military action there, the Ministry of Defence said. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the Sentinel R1 aircraft "has proved its worth in Libya and on an ongoing basis for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan". Two British C-17 transport aircraft have already been sent to the region.
     

The Sentinel R1 spy plane is a modified business jet which uses radar to create accurate real-time images of what is happening on the ground.
     

The Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, said:

As the Prime Minister has made clear, the UK supports France’s decision to provide military support to the Malian Government. The National Security Council agreed on Tuesday to look at further French requests for additional logistical and surveillance support for this operation over and above our C-17 commitment.

 Officer Commanding No 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, Wing Commander Al Marshall, said:

Sentinel is deploying to provide a unique intelligence capability in support of French operations within Mali. We look forward to working closely with our French allies, building upon the working relationships established during training and previous operations such as Op Ellamy over Libya in 2011.

The Sentinel R1 spy plane is a modified business jet which uses radar to create accurate real-time images of what is happening on the ground, and was used in Libya during the uprising against Colonel Gaddafi. They continue to be used in Afghanistan.