Turkey courts France in $3.4 bln missile project

Though China has been the front runner, Turkey has now turned toward France regarding the tender for a multi-billion dollar air defense system, according to unnamed sources close to the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM) who spoke to Today's Zaman on Monday.

 

The sources said that SSM Undersecretary İsmail Demir held a secret meeting in France with the firm Eurosam regarding interest in the tender, which is expected to be one of the largest military projects in the history of the Turkish Republic.

 

Last year, Turkey chose a Chinese company for the tender, however the deadline for the tender has since been extended several times, allowing Turkey to pursue offers from other bidders.

 

If negotiations with the Chinese do not continue, Eurosam is second in line, while an American company has third priority, according to sources.

 

Ankara said last year that the $3.4 billion high technology offer from China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC) would enable Turkey to co-produce the missiles and thus build a strong national defense industry, a factor that played a critical role in the initial selection of the Chinese firm.

 

CPMIEC is under US sanctions for selling items to Iran, Syria and North Korea that are banned under US law to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Rafale fighter jet deal contract with France almost ready: Indian Defence ministry

The much-awaited multi-billion Rafale combat aircraft deal with France has moved a step further with the defence ministry finalizing a 'draft contract', according to top defence ministry officials.

 

Rafale was declared the lowest bidder in Janaury 2012 but the deal has not been inked so far on account of escalation in the cost. The Cost Negotiation Committee, which was set up in February 2012 to work out the modalities for the deal has not reached a conclusion after 30 months of negotiations.

 

The government raised its concerns over this last month, during the visit of French foreign minister Laurent Fabius to New Delhi.

 

"Yes, we are in the process of finalizing the draft contract for the deal. And we also expect the Cost Negotiation Committee to submit its report soon," said a senior defence ministry official, who was privy to the developments.

 

But the official refused to give a time frame for inking the deal. "It is very difficult to predict any date for signing the contract. But, it should happen in the next few months," the officer said, requesting anonymity.

 

The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is coping with a depleted combat strength, claims that even if the deal is signed by the end of the year the first lot of Rafale aircraft would arrive only by 2017, by which time the IAF would have to phase out its MiG-21 squadrons.

 

The likelihood of an early signing is encouraging. Besides, the ruling NDA government has promised to address all the needs of the armed forces to ensure defence preparedness.

 

According to officials privy to the development, the defence ministry has asked representatives of M/s Dassault Aviation – the French manufacturer of Rafale aircraft – to revise the price structure which has gone beyond expected estimates.

 

Officials claim that when the tender was floated in 2007 the cost of the programme was $12 billion (Rs42,000 crore).When the lowest bidder was declared in January 2012, the cost of the deal shot up to $18 billion (Rs90,000 crore). Now with the inclusion of transfer of technology, the life cycle cost and creation of an assembly line, the deal has climbed to a whopping $20 billion.

 

The air force is seeking to replace its aging MiG-21s with a modern fighter and the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) fits between India's high-end Sukhoi-30MKIs and the low-end Tejas LCA lightweight fighter. The IAF has a sanctioned strength of 45 fighter jet squadrons. However, only 30 squadrons are operational as old aircraft have been retired.

 

Eighteen of the 126 new aircraft are to be purchased directly from Dassault and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will manufacture 108 under a licence, at a new facility in Bangalore.

 

Defence minister Arun Jaitley informed parliament last week that "given the complexity of the procurement case, the process of negotiations with Dassault Aviation on various aspects of the commercial proposal and provisions of draft contract is on."

 

Dassault Aviation emerged as L-1 bidder for procurement of the MMRCA based on its quotation.

Russia's Mistral Warships Won't Have French Weapons

A Russian defense official said two French-built Mistral-class warships on order for the Russian navy will be retrofitted with Russian weapons systems after their delivery, signaling that Western sanctions against Russia may have succeeded in scaling back the military technology transfer proposed in the Mistral sale deal.  

 

"The construction of the Vladivostok [the second Mistral ship] is being completed. … She will be retrofitted with Russian-made weapons at port [in St. Petersburg]," Igor Sevastyano, a spokesman for Russia's state arms import and export agency was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying Wednesday at an arms expo outside Moscow.

 

France's 2011 deal to supply Russia with two Mistral assault ships was part of a 1.2 billion euro ($1.6 million) technology transfer agreement. Officials have remained coy about exactly what cutting edge French technology would be supplied along with the ships, but the expectation was that the deal would be a major boost to Russia's technical military expertise.

 

But since Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March, the West has been expanding sanctions against Russia. In July, the country's defense industry was hit by an EU arms embargo. While stopping short of actually prohibiting the delivery of the ships and transfer of related shipbuilding technologies, this appears to have nixed the possibility of the warships from being outfitted with advanced French gear.

 

The first of the two warships, the Sevastopol, has already been launched and is undergoing final preparations for its delivery to the Russian navy later this year, while its sister ship, the Vladivostok, is not expected to be delivered until November 2015.

 

Washington and several of its NATO allies have pressured Paris to ax the deal, which Western leaders believe will enable potential Russian military aggression against NATO member states and pro-Western post-Soviet states near the Black Sea.

 

France, for whom the loss of the contract would be a major economic blow, has resisted pressure to withhold delivery of the first Mistral. French President Francois Hollande said in July the decision to follow through on the second vessel would "depend on Russia's attitude," referring to Moscow's support of separatists in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported.

 

If everything goes according to plan and Moscow receives its new warships, the vessels will begin their induction into the Russian navy by stopping off at St. Petersburg's Northern Wharf shipyard to receive a full complement of Russian-made weapons systems.

 

Russian sailors are currently training on how to operate the warships, which are unlike anything else currently serving in the Russian navy. Although one Soviet-era aircraft carrier remains in service, it is plagued by technical troubles. The Mistral-class amphibious assault helicopter carriers are significantly more advanced in the areas of command and control systems, as well as communications.

France still considering warship deal with Russia

The crisis in Ukraine has not so far reached the point that the French government is considering halting the sale of assault warships to Russia, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday.

 

The crisis in Ukraine has not so far reached the point that the French government is considering halting the sale of assault warships to Russia, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday, Reuters reported

.

When asked whether the agreement is being reconsidered, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius answered: “We’re not there. For the moment, we are trying to stop Russia’s mobilization in Ukraine and establish a dialogue.”

 

The deal was broadly criticized when France agreed in 2011 to sell two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia despite the concerns of Georgia and some NATO countries.

 

The first ship will arrive by the end of this year.

First Russian Mistral-class helicopter carrier launched in French town of Saint-Nazaire

The ceremony of launching of Russia's first helicopter carrier of the Mistral-class has taken place in the French town of Saint-Nazaire, according to the STX France, the company that assembled the ship's hull.

 "The launch ceremony began at 10.45 am local time [12.45 am Moscow time]. It will last until noon," STX France press service said.

 

 Several shipyards built Russia's first Mistral called Vladivostok.

STX France built the ship's hull and Russia's Baltiysky Zavod, which is a part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), built the ship's stern.

 STX France and Baltiysky Zavod are building parts for the second Mistral-class helicopter carrier called Sevastopol.

Rosoboronexpert and France's DCSN signed a contract for two Mistral ships in June 2011.

 

The USC is subcontractor of STX France. The Mistral-class helicopter carrier is 199 meters long. Its beam is 32 meters and draft is 6.2 meters. The ship's standard displacement is 22,600 tonnes. A Mistral crew has 177 crewmembers. It can carry 481 passengers. The ship will carry Kamov Ka-52L helicopters. It may also be equipped with Russia's Serna and Dyugon landing vessels.

Many military pundits say the Mistrals are more than just helicopter carriers. They are in fact a class of multi-purpose amphibian assault vessels capable of carrying armed vehicles, helicopter groups and a command center. The warship built for Russia, the Vladivostok, will be first sent to the Severnaya shipyard in St. Petersburg where it will be outfitted with additional equipment and weapons. The design of Russia’s Mistral helicopter carriers has also been altered. For instance, they got a stronger hull that will allow the navy ship to perform tasks beyond the Arctic circle. Viktor Baranets, a Russian military expert, shared with the Voice of Russia more details on the new ship.

"French vessels will be redesigned to meet Russian standards. They will be equipped with Russian weapons and carry about 16 heavy or 32 light choppers, as well as some serious anti-aircraft systems. They’ll also be provided with tactical nuclear complexes, such as supersonic cruise missiles Kalibri and some serious radar systems," Mr. Baranets said.

Another thing on the list of readjustments is the ship’s deployment system and infrastructure engineering facilities. The Vladivostok is set to join the Russian Navy in the Pacific by 2014.

Vladivostok helicopter carrier due for maiden voyage next March

Russia’s Mistral-type Vladivostok helicopter carrier will make its maiden voyage in March 2014, Yves Destefanis, a senior executive of the French DCNS naval shipbuilding company, told reporters on Tuesday.

"The maiden voyage is scheduled for March 2014. And in October 2014, the ship will set out for St. Petersburg where the finishing touches will be put," Destefanis said at a ceremony of putting Russia’s first Mistral-type helicopter carrier afloat.

Russia to launch its first Mistral-class helicopter carrier on October 15

The Russian Navy will launch its first Mistral-class helicopter carrier on October 15, that is according to Interfax news agency, citing the French company STX France.

The second Mistral-class ship 'Sevastopol' is scheduled for the delivery in October 2014, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

The Mistral-class multipurpose ships have enough capacity to carry 16 helicopters, up to 40 tanks and some 600 troops. With addition of their operational range of nearly 40,000 km, the new-generation vessels are said to be of a strategic importance for the Russian navy.

The 1.2-billion-euro contract for two Mistral-class ships was signed between Russia and France in 2011. Although the bilateral project has been subject to criticism for being 'political,' rather than beneficial, its proponents argue that as well as strengthening the country’s ties, it would also give Russia access to the latest naval technology.

At least one of the Mistral-class ships is said to be intended for Russia’s Pacific Fleet, which has already prompted concerns in Japan.

Pacific Fleet forming crews of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers
The Pacific Fleet human resources department is recruiting contract servicemen to operate the Vladivostok and Sevastopol Mistral-class helicopter carriers, Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said.

"The ships will have crews of over 200 men, and all of them will be officers, warrant officers or contract servicemen. The Pacific Fleet human resources department is recruiting crewmembers. The crews of the helicopter carriers will be formed in November 2013," Martov said.

Apart from the standard fleet recruitment requirements, the recruitment commission will pay attention to the education of candidates.

Warrant officers and contract servicemen need at least to have completed secondary specialized education to qualify.

Psychological tests will also be important.

Qualification rules will be strict for the prospective pilots and technicians, Martov said.

He said that pilots would go on long-distance voyages aboard the helicopter carriers and experience all aspects of the naval service.

After the first helicopter carrier's hull is launched, the crews will be trained in St. Petersburg and accept the ships in France, the fleet spokesman said.

First Mistral class helicopter carrier to be handed over to Russian Navy in 2014 – Russia’s defense industry
The first Mistral class helicopter carrier “Vladivostok” will be handed over to the Russian Navy on November 1 next year, a high official with Russia’s defense industry has said on Friday.

The launch of the ship will take place in Saint-Nazaire, France, on October 15 this year.

“During the year we’re going to finish its equipment and to test it in order to hand it over to the Russian Navy on November 1, 2014,” the official claimed.

After this, the vessel will arrive in St Petersburg where, as planned, it will be armed and the equipment of the ship will be finished at the Severnaya Verf shipyard.

Rosoboroneksport and the French DCNS company signed a $1.2-billion contract for building of the first two helicopter carriers in June 2011.

United Shipbuilding Corporation is involved in a deal as a contractor of a French builder of ships, STX France, situated in Saint-Nazaire. Two other ships of this class are to be built in Russia in accordance with the French technology.

 

France Shows Russia The True Way

Russia recently bought two French Mistral class amphibious ships. Russia has not bought foreign warships for a long time, but this purchase was largely because of an eagerness to acquire Western shipbuilding technology and construction skills. This has already paid off, although not exactly how the Russians had planned. This became evident when a Russian official recently announced that the first Mistral would be built entirely in France. It had earlier been decided to have Russian shipyards build some sections of the first Mistral. It was quickly discovered that the Russian shipyard was not capable of building to the French specifications or do it according to the French timetable. The Russians expected to learn some valuable lessons from the French and, while embarrassing, this was one very valuable lesson. Russian shipyard officials have had their faces rubbed in the embarrassment of not being able to compete with using their current practices. Russian experts on Western production methods and techniques have long complained of the antiquated and inefficient methods still favored by Russian shipbuilders. Navy leaders have been complaining for decades about the poor quality of work coming out of Russian shipyards. The Mistral purchase was to put this to the test.

The Russian Navy has made some changes, in cooperation with the French, of the existing Mistral design. The Russian version of the Mistral will be called the Vladivostok Class and carry 30 helicopters (compared to 16 on the French version). The Vladivostoks will be armed with two AK-630 multibarrel 30mm autocannon for anti-missile defense. There will also be two quad-launchers of shoulder fired type anti-aircraft missiles (with a 5 kilometer range and does well against helicopters) and two or more DP-65 55mm grenade launchers for defense against divers.

The Vladivostoks will also be winterized for use in arctic conditions. The hull will be strengthened to deal with ice and the well deck door will completely close. The flight deck will have a deicing system and the ship will be modified to operate for extended periods in arctic conditions. There is also different electronics and this means a different arrangement of radomes and antennae.

In the aircraft handling areas below the deck, there will be more for the taller Ka-52K and Ka-29 helicopters. The Ka-52K is a navalized version of the Ka-52 that went into production last year. In addition to being equipped with coatings to resist sea water corrosion, the K model will also have a lightweight version of the high-definition Zhuk-AE AESA radar used on jet fighters. This radar currently weighs 275 kg (605 pounds), but the helicopter version will weigh only 80 kg (176 pounds) and enables the Kh-52K to use the Kh-31 anti-ship missile. This weapon has a range of 110 kilometers and travels at high speed (about one kilometer a second). The Kh-52K can also carry the sub-sonic Kh-31 missile, which has a range of 130 kilometers. Both of these missiles weigh about 600 kg (1,300 pounds) each.

Russia is buying two French Mistral class amphibious ships for $1.7 billion and the second one is to be built in Russia, with plenty of French supervision and technical assistance. This is the largest Russian purchase of Western weapons since World War II. The deal was delayed for a long time because the Russians demanded the transfer of shipbuilding and electronics technology (which is now agreed to).

The French navy received the first of the 21,500 ton Mistrals in 2006, with the second one arriving in 2007. Both were ordered in 2001. These two ships replaced two older amphibious landing ships. This gave France a force of four amphibious ships. The two Mistrals are also equipped to serve as command vessels for amphibious operations. The French have been very happy with how the Mistrals have performed.

The Mistrals are similar in design to the U.S. LPD 17 (San Antonio) class. Both classes are about 200 meters (620 feet) long, but the LPD 17s displace 25,000 tons. The French ships are more highly automated, requiring a crew of only 180, versus 396 on the LPD 17. On long voyages on the open ocean, the Mistrals require as few as nine sailors and officers on duty ("standing watch") to keep the ship going.

The Mistrals carry 450 marines, compared to 700 on the LPD 17s. Both have about the same room for helicopters, landing craft, and vehicles (2,650 square meters for the Mistrals, room for nearly a hundred trucks or 60 armored vehicles). Both have hospitals on board, with the Mistrals being larger (69 beds). The American ships however have more sensors installed and larger engines (and thus higher speed). The LPD 17 can also handle vertical takeoff jets like the Harrier or F-35. The French believe that the smaller complement of marines, who are very capable troops, are sufficient for most missions. And the smaller number of people on the ship makes it possible to provide better living and working conditions. This is good for morale and readiness.

One thing American marines and sailors notice about the Mistral is the wider and higher corridors. This came about because the ship designers surveyed marines and asked what ship design improvements they could use. It was noted that in older amphibious ships, the standard size (narrow) corridors were a problem when fully equipped troops were moving out. That, plus the smaller crew size, makes the Mistrals appear kind of empty but very roomy. That, plus larger living accommodations (made possible by the smaller ship's crew and marine complement), make the Mistrals a lot more comfortable. The French ships can be rigged to accommodate up to 700 people for short periods, as when being used to evacuate civilians from a war zone.

After the first two, additional Mistrals for the French Navy are being built using more commercial techniques and are expected to cost closer to $500 million each. France has three Mistrals with several more on order. Russia says it plans to base some of its Mistrals in the Far East, where there is an ongoing dispute with Japan over Japanese islands Russia occupied after World War II and never gave back. The Mistrals will probably show up elsewhere because the Russian fleet is again patrolling the high seas and showing up wherever its government needs some muscle.

France Orders Nuclear Sub Base Security Investigation

France on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into security at a nuclear submarine base off its western coast following a report that the ultra-sensitive site could easily be targeted by terrorists.

Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has ordered an immediate review of the ground, maritime and aerial security of the base on Ile Longue, an island off the Britanny coast, officials said.

The move follows a report in the regional daily Telegramme de Brest detailing a string of shortcomings in security at the base.

According to the newspaper, it can be accessed by anyone who has an easy-to-copy identity badge, and there is no system of biometric identification of staff via their irises or fingerprints.

For vehicles, a simple piece of paper with a few basic details is sufficient to get past checkpoints and, as a result of ongoing upgrading work, trucks entering the site have not been subject to systematic checks.

The paper also noted that a large number of the 115 military police deployed to protect the site were part-time volunteers, many of whom were young, inexperienced and poorly paid.

French army expects first A400M airlifter by July 14

The French army hopes to receive its first Airbus A400M military transport aircraft in time for the country's annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, a Defence Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

The aircraft, which is about five years behind the original schedule, is also expected to win certification for military use in time for the biennial Paris Air Show starting on June 17, Pierre Bayle said.

The head of EADS unit Airbus Military, Domingo Urena-Raso, confirmed that this timetable was "absolutely reasonable," adding that he expected a total of four deliveries this year, 10 next year and 21 the following year.

France will be the first of the seven nations behind the 20 billion euro ($25.7 billion) project to take delivery of the European military transport and heavy cargo plane. Germany is due to receive its first A400M at the end of 2014.

France has ordered 50 of the planes, and Germany 53. The other countries involved are Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and Britain.

"Delivery before July 14 would enable a French crew to pilot the French plane above the parade," Bayle said, referring to the traditional Bastille Day military procession.

Airbus Military had said earlier this year it expected to deliver the first of the airlifters to France in the second quarter.

The four turboprop-engine A400M can carry a helicopter, two armoured vehicles or 116 paratroopers. It can land on short, gravel airstrips, making it suitable for transporting troops and equipment to theatres such as Mali or Afghanistan.

The plane has been hit by delays and billions of euros of cost overruns that led to a multinational bailout.

"The A400M got off to a bit of a bumpy start, to say the least, but it's making good progress," Urena-Raso said, adding that there were "no signs" that any of the nations planned to reduce their orders.

He said he hoped the aircraft would fly at the Paris Air Show, adding it had been performing very well in test flights.

Togo, Senegal and Libya order French patrol boats

The navies of Togo, Senegal and Libya have ordered patrol boats from Raidco Marine and will take delivery in the coming months.

Senegal’s 33 metre long RPB 33 offshore patrol vessel will be launched on June 15 and delivered to the Senegalese Navy around August-September, according to the manufacturer. Construction began last year.

The RPB 33 was designed for maritime patrol and dealing with things like terrorism, trafficking, illegal fishing and illegal immigration. A notable feature of the RPB 33 is a panoramic bridge allowing 360 degree surveillance. Weapons options include a 20 mm cannon.

Senegal has apparently also ordered a Raidco 45 metre long offshore patrol vessel, for delivery in September 2014. This will have an endurance of ten days and a range of 2 000 nautical miles. It will be able to launch two small boats. In October 2012 Senegal ordered four FPB 98 Mk I patrol boats from OCEA.

Meanwhile, Togo has ordered two RPB 33s, for delivery in March and July 2014. They will be constructed of glass fibre reinforced composites, with an aluminium superstructure.

Another recent Raidco customer from Africa is Libya, which ordered two Raidco Marine RPB 20 boats, which will be delivered to the Navy on April 26. As part of the deal, Raidco is training 32 Libyan sailors (including four officers) as well as maintenance and other personnel in Lorient. They will remain in France for a month before sailing for Libya.

The RPB 20 series is 20 metres long, has a top speed of 28 knots (thanks to its double-chine deep-V hull) and can launch a small boat.

Teething Troubles For Tiger

France recently received the first of 40 of the ground support (HAD) version of the Tiger helicopter gunship. Five years ago the German Army received its first Tiger HAD. This version of Tiger first entered service eight years ago. The HAD version has 14 percent more engine power and better protection from ground fire than the original model. While earlier versions were mainly for anti-vehicle work HAD is more like the current U.S. AH-64 Apache and optimized for ground support. Development of Tiger began in 1987, before the Cold War ended. So the anti-tank aspect took a while to disappear and get replaced by a gunship optimized for hunting and killing a large variety of targets.

 

Tiger is made by European firm Eurocopter and has shown up just in time. Until the arrival of the French and German Tigers, American AH-64s provided gunship support for all foreign troops in Afghanistan. France also has some Tigers in Somalia, and Mali, where they have performed well. Tiger has spent over 1,500 flight hours in combat zones so far and a hundred have been delivered to Germany, France (which has ordered 80), Spain (24), and Australia (22). A total of 206 Tiger helicopters have been ordered. So far Tigers have spent over 45,000 hours in the air, most of it for training.

 

The Tiger costs about as much as the AH-64, a ten ton gunship that has been in service since the 1980s. The six ton Tiger has a crew of two and a max speed of 280 kilometers an hour. It cruises at 230 kilometers an hour and usually stays in the air about three hours per sortie. It is armed with a 30mm automatic cannon, 70mm rocket pods (19 rockets per pod), and various types of air-to-ground missiles (eight Hellfire types at once). It can also carry four Mistral anti-aircraft missiles.

 

Germany appears to have lost its enthusiasm for Tiger and is cutting its order from 80 to 57. Germany has had a lot of problems with Tiger during the last few years. Besides, Germany has better uses for the money, like bailing out the many European nations having financial problems.

 

It was only last year that Germany got four of its new Tiger helicopter gunships ready for service in Afghanistan. These ASGARD (Afghanistan Stabilization German Army Rapid Deployment) models included sand filters, additional defense systems, a mission data recorder, and communications gear able to deal with systems used by allies. Four more ASGARD Tigers are being prepared. The first four are now in Afghanistan. But all Tigers were grounded on March 4th after one of them crashed and burned during a training accident in Germany. This is the third Tiger to crash so far, although none of the six crewmen involved were killed.

 

German troops in Afghanistan wanted this aircraft badly but delivery was delayed several times due to various problems. In addition to the ASGARD upgrades, there were problems with the wiring and a number of less serious shortcomings as well.

Bespoke French Frigates For Malaysia

A year ago Malaysia ordered six Gowind corvettes from France. As part of the deal the French builder agreed to set up production in Malaysia and to modify the Gowind design to meet Malaysian requirements. Because of this arrangement the first Gowind will not enter service until 2019, two years later than if they were built in France. Malaysia is using this deal to develop its own warship building capability.

 

The Malaysian Gowinds were originally to be 2,400 ton corvettes, but the Malaysian modifications have increased them to 3,000 ton frigates with a crew of 106. The Malaysian Gowinds are still armed with a 57mm gun, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, and an EC-275 helicopter. It has a top speed of 48 kilometers an hour. Some of the modifications made include the turret for the 57mm gun being modified to maintain its low-radar visibility aspect in the expanded superstructure. Design modifications like this were part of the basic Gowind design, which can be applied to ships using the basic Gowind design but varying from 1,100-4,000 tons displacement. These ships have a maximum endurance (assuming mostly using cruise speed) of 21 days.

 

With the Malaysian sales, French warship builder DCNS has won its first export customer for the new Gowind concept. Malaysia is buying the Gowinds for about $500 million each. DCNS has had a very difficult time finding any export customers for Gowind. The French Navy wasn't buying either. So three years ago DCNS began building one of the 1,100 ton OPV Gowinds with its own money and persuaded the French Navy to provide a crew to operate the ship for 18-36 months. Thus, DCNS could pitch potential customers with the fact that at least one Gowind has been built and successfully served with the French Navy. This worked for Malaysia, as did the willingness to move construction  (and assembly of some of the electronic subsystems) to Malaysia. France is supplying eight Exocet anti-ship missiles for each Gowind, along with quad launchers of VL-MICA anti-aircraft missiles (with a range of 20 kilometers) and two 30mm anti-missile autocannon.

Logistics - Old Reliable Over Mali

The U.S. continues to play a crucial supporting role for French air operations against al Qaeda forces in Mali. France lacks the aerial tankers needed to keep enough of its warplanes in the air over Mali. American KC-135 aerial tankers have so far (since last January) delivered over 3,000 tons of fuel to French warplanes, allowing for these aircraft to spend hours more in the air, waiting for a request from troops below for a smart bomb or missile. The American KC-135s are operating out of a base in Spain.

 

French warplanes are delivering smart bombs to their troops below, or African peacekeepers that have French air controllers with them. As in Iraq and Afghanistan, the GPS or laser guided bombs were a decisive weapon against the fanatical Islamic terrorists, especially when these guys are trapped and willing to die in a hail of gunfire. But that is dangerous for the attackers and it’s easier to blow the fanatics up with a smart bomb or missile. 

 

Despite having 14 KC-135 tankers of their own these are, like the 400 the U.S. Air Force has, elderly and often out-of-service. France has a dozen new A330 tankers on order. But they need more tankers than they possess to sustain the vital air operations over Mali, so they called in their ally the United States. Even the twelve new A330s would not have been adequate to sustain the current French effort over Mali. Most of the French warplanes fly in from France, largely because the fuel supplies and maintenance facilities in Mali are limited. For decades its been common for America’s European allies to depend on U.S. aerial tankers in situations like this.

 

While a quarter of the American tanker aircraft are sidelined because of age and maintenance needs, there are enough to sustain the French operations. As these tankers are also used for many training exercises and the movement of air cargo, it was not easy for the air force to collect enough for the Mali operations. But the U.S. has so many tankers that it had the flexibility to shuffle them around to keep everyone in the air. That may not be the case in the future. 

 

The elderly KC-135s are difficult to keep running, and many of them still have to serve another twenty years until completely replaced by the new KC-46A. Operating aircraft this old is unexplored territory because this is the first time in history that so many large, and fast, aircraft have gone on flying for so long. Commercial freighter aircraft fly more frequently than their military counterparts, putting more strain on them and forcing their operators to develop new maintenance techniques the air force can use. The KC-135s are the oldest transports the air force is still using, and keeping them working is proving to an expensive and challenging effort.

 

The basic problem is that, despite constant maintenance and careful monitoring, unexpected failures still occur with elderly aircraft. Nothing that is cause for alarm but it is more expensive to keep them flying and problems are more difficult to predict. Older aircraft are grounded if any unexpected failure seems imminent. While that just about eliminates these aircraft having fatal failures while in the air, it also makes older aircraft less available for service. For a long time it was considered more cost effective to keep the old birds flying than to buy new ones. Eventually advanced age made replacement a necessity, not an option.

 

After over a decade of effort the U.S. Air Force finally managed select a replacement in 2011. The air force procurement process has been cursed with corruption, incompetence, meddling politicians, and litigious suppliers, all combining to prevent the acquisition of a new tanker. The air force might order over a hundred KC-46As, but the exact number depends on what kind of future aircraft the air force will be using. If there are a lot of unmanned aircraft (UAVs), fewer tankers will be needed (because UAVs are smaller and need less fuel). 

 

The KC-46A is based on the Boeing 767-200 airliner. The 767 has been in service since 1982, and over 800 have been manufactured so far. Boeing also developed the original KC-135 tanker in the 1950s, and has since built over 2,000 of these. The Boeing entry was competing with the A330 the French, and several other air forces are buying. Had Boeing not been the home team, the air force may well have selected the A330. 

 

The KC-46A was selected partly because it is about the same size as the KC-135 (wingspan is 50.3 meters/156 feet, 6.8 percent larger than the KC-135). Thus the new tanker can use the same basing and repair facilities as the 135. The KC-46A can carry up to 94 tons of fuel (compared to 90 tons for KC-135). It can also carry up to 114 passengers or 18 cargo pallets or 58 patients (24 on litters).

France aims to keep firepower while cutting military

France, which launched an armed intervention in Mali earlier this year, has declared its determination to sustain its punch as a leading military power, despite making fresh cuts to its defence forces.

Juggling severe budgetary pressures with its longstanding strategic ambitions, President François Hollande’s socialist government on Monday laid out plans to retain the country’s nuclear deterrent as well as preserve its ability to project significant force beyond its borders, both on its own and with its allies.

A white paper, or policy document, on defence, delayed for several months by wrangles over the potential budget consequences, said the armed forces would be reduced by 34,000 between 2014 and 2019, from a total of 218,000 today and on top of a 40,000 reduction over the past five years

France to slash 24,000 military jobs, seeking savings

France will cut a further 24,000 military jobs by 2019 as it faces up to its decades of deficit spending while still trying to maintain a force ready to deal with global threats, the government said Monday.

Uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, France's war in Mali and the civil war in Syria are among the events shaping France's defense outlook that were unforeseen in the last version of its defense strategy five years ago. But the effects of the global financial crisis and in particular Europe's ongoing economic stagnation are also major factors, according to the defense ministry's "White Book on Defense and National Security."

This is the only the fourth time in the past 40 years that France has undertaken such a top-to-bottom review of its defense posture, although the broad lines of the country's defense strategy — maintaining its nuclear deterrent and its place in NATO — are unchanged in the new review.

The previous review already decided to cut 55,000 jobs, most of which have gone already. The government says that France currently has 228,000 military personnel, with 10,000 jobs due to go soon. The cuts announced Monday will be in addition to those.

The government insisted France will remain the second-largest defense force by spending in the European Union. And France is far from alone in making defense cuts.

France has begun withdrawing its 4,000 troops from Mali, where it intervened in January to combat radical Islamists threatening to overrun the capital. It also keeps troops in Chad, Ivory Coast and Djibouti. France spends around 10 percent of its annual budget on defense, or around 1.5 percent of its gross domestic product.

President Francois Hollande underscored the need for the review, saying that all the threats identified five years ago — nuclear proliferation, terrorism, cyberattacks — "far from diminishing, have increased."

The plan foresees overall defense spending for the 2014-2025 period of 364 billion euros ($474 billion). That compares with the 377 billion euros that the previous plan forecast for the 2009-2020 period. The equipment budget, which had been forecast to reach 18 billion euros annually, is only 16 billion euros now, almost flat compared with the 2003-2008 average.

Actual decisions on what to cut and by how much will only come later this year when the government presents its military spending bill for 2014-2019. "We are going to see an extremely bloody set of discussions over the next few weeks between the defense and finance ministries," said Francois Heisbourg, an international analyst with the Foundation for Strategic Research.

According to Heisbourg, the United States' "pivot to Asia" and away from a front-line role in Europe is another strong motivator for France's new defense outlook. "That's a big change from 2008, and defense planning has to change accordingly," Heisbourg said.

But already Monday's white paper gives some insight into the French military's priorities and strategic outlook.

Smaller, more reactive forces are one area of emphasis, with a capability to field up to 7,000 troops in three separate zones concurrently.

The white paper puts particular emphasis on France's intelligence-gathering and cyber defenses, and calls for corporations in militarily strategic industries to step up their own protection against cyberattacks.

France is far from alone in making defense cuts. Across the Channel, its historic rival, Britain, is also in the midst of cuts that are expected to see the size of the army shrink from 102,000 troops to 82,000 by the end of the decade. Last year the government announced the scrapping of 17 major defense units. Plans for a new fleet of military jets and an aircraft carrier have been axed, while the introduction of new attack submarines has been put on hold.

France’s defence minister reaffirmed Friday that his country will keep 1,000 troops in Mali to fight radical Islamic militants even after the arrival later this year of more than 12,000 UN peacekeepers.

In a visit to the volatile northeastern city of Gao, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian addressed reporters a day after the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of the peacekeeping force.

“From now on we are in the post-war phase. The UN resolution adopted yesterday will allow for the arrival of a force to stabilize the country,” he told reporters. “But France will keep about 1,000 soldiers to carry on with military operations.”

During Mr. Le Drian’s visit to Mali, he met with the country’s interim president as well as with General Ibrahim Dahrou Dembele to discuss efforts underway to train the Malian military.

Gen. Dembele also highlighted the difficulties that remain in the Kidal region of Mali despite the French military successes.

The area has been patrolled by French and Chadian forces, as local authorities have refused the presence of Malian soldiers whom they accuse of human-rights abuses.

Gen. Dembele, though, said that secular Tuareg rebels in the area, known as the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, were complicating efforts.

“The problem is right now they are going out into other small villages,” he said.

Some Malians are already questioning how successful the United Nations peacekeeping mission to their country will be, given its limited mandate and the volatile mix of armed groups across the north.

The UN force is tasked with helping to restore peace after a French-led military operation was launched in January to dislodge radical Islamic fighters who had seized control of the country’s vast north.

However, the UN peacekeepers will not be authorized to launch offensive military operations or chase terrorists in the desert, which French forces will continue to do, although France is aiming to downscale its presence in its former colony by year-end.

Daouda Sangare, an entrepreneur in Bamako, questioned how much the peacekeepers would do to protect civilians because of their limited mandate. Other UN peacekeepers i

“The UN forces will only be coming to collect their salaries,” he said. “We have seen the example in Congo, where the M23 rebels entered Goma and the UN’s blue helmets were there in the city and did not protect the population. There were deaths and injuries.”

On July 1 the UN peacekeepers are supposed to take over from a 6,000-member African-led mission now in Mali, although the deployment date is subject to change depending on security conditions.

The transformation into a UN-led mission will be a positive step because it will have considerable financial backing, said Ousmane Diarra, a Bamako-based politician.

“Until now, the African forces that have been in Mali have been financed by their countries,” he said. “That was a worry for us because it was not clear that the African countries could continue to finance their military mission in Mali.”

“We know it’s going to be a fairly volatile environment and there will certainly be some attacks against peacekeepers where they will have to defend themselves,” UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous told reporters on Thursday.

France is gradually reducing its presence in Mali – currently just under 4,000 troops – and French officials said they expect to have roughly 1,000 there by year-end. Some 750 of those will be devoted to fighting the insurgent groups, officials said.

The UN force will also operate alongside a European Union mission that is providing military training to the ill-equipped Malian army, which was left in disarray by the March, 2012, coup.

French defense minister visits northern Mali

France's defense minister reaffirmed Friday that his country will keep 1,000 of its troops in Mali to fight radical Islamic militants even after the arrival later this year of more than 12,000 United Nations peacekeepers.

In a visit to the volatile northeastern city of Gao, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian addressed reporters a day after the U.N. Security Council authorized the deployment of the peacekeeping force.

"From now on we are in the post-war phase. The U.N. resolution adopted yesterday will allow for the arrival of a force to stabilize the country," he told reporters. "But France will keep about 1,000 soldiers to carry on with military operations."

Some Malians are already questioning how successful the United Nations peacekeeping mission to their country will be given its limited mandate and the volatile mix of armed groups across the north.

The U.N. force is tasked with helping to restore peace after a French-led military operation was launched in January to dislodge radical Islamic fighters who had seized control of the country's vast north.

However, the U.N. peacekeepers will not be authorized to launch offensive military operations or chase terrorists in the desert, which French forces will continue to do, although France is aiming to downscale its presence in its former colony by year-end.

Daouda Sangare, an entrepreneur in Bamako, questioned how much the peacekeepers would do to protect civilians because of their limited mandate. Other U.N. peacekeepers in Africa have been accused of failing to protect local populations from attack, he said.

 

"The U.N. forces will only be coming to collect their salaries," he said. "We have seen the example in Congo, where the M23 rebels entered Goma and the U.N.'s blue helmets were there in the city and did not protect the population. There were deaths and injuries."

On July 1 the U.N. peacekeepers are supposed to take over from a 6,000-member African-led mission now in Mali, although the deployment date is subject to change depending on security conditions.

The transformation into a U.N.-led mission will be a positive step because it will have considerable financial backing, said Ousmane Diarra, a Bamako-based politician.

"Until now, the African forces that have been in Mali have been financed by their countries," he said. "That was a worry for us because it was not clear that the African countries could continue to finance their military mission in Mali."

Mali fell into turmoil after a March 2012 coup created a security vacuum that allowed secular Tuareg rebels to take over the country's north as a new homeland. Months later, the rebels were kicked out by Islamic jihadists who carried out public executions, amputations and whippings.

When the Islamists started moving into government-controlled areas in the south, France launched a military offensive on Jan. 11 to oust them. The fighters, many linked to al-Qaida, fled the major towns in the north but many went into hiding in the desert and continue to carry out attacks including suicide bombings.

"We know it's going to be a fairly volatile environment and there will certainly be some attacks against peacekeepers where they will have to defend themselves," U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told reporters on Thursday.

France is gradually reducing its presence in Mali — currently just under 4,000 troops — and French officials said they expect to have roughly 1,000 there by year-end. Some 750 of those will be devoted to fighting the insurgent groups, officials said.

The U.N. force will also operate alongside a European Union mission that is providing military training to the ill-equipped Malian army, which was left in disarray by the March 2012 coup.

Mali - Forward to the Past

The cause of the rebellion in northern Mali (corrupt southern officials running the north in a corrupt and inept fashion) has not been dealt with. The Tuareg rebels still want autonomy (self-rule) and the black African majority (90 percent of the population) in the south does not want to allow it. But the Mali Army, dominated by black Africans, is still a corrupt bunch of ill-trained poorly equipped and ineptly led gunmen who tend to serve whoever pays them. This army is still incapable of defeating the MNLA (Tuareg rebels) and not sure if they can persuade the peacekeepers to do it for them.  The MNLA expects the July elections (the 7 ^th for the president the 21 ^st for parliament) to bring another group of corrupt southerners to power.

 

Fixing the corruption in the Mali government and military is seen as the solution to the problems with the Tuareg north. But that corruption, fueled by tribal ties and tradition, has proved extremely difficult to eliminate or even just tone down. One thing there is no shortage of in Mali is challenges.

Speaking of corruption, the decision by Chad to withdraw its 2,250 troops from Mali was, as many expected, just a negotiating ploy. Chad leaders want more money and no criticism if a lot of it disappears into their pockets. 

 

In Europe, Africa and the Middle East police are detecting, and increasingly arresting, Islamic terrorists who have fled Mali. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) had members from all over North Africa, but mostly from Algeria and while defeated in Mali it was not destroyed there. 

Hundreds of experienced Islamic terrorists have scattered and are reorganizing via email, cell phones and hand-carried documents. Recruiting has taken a hit, as the operations in Mali this year showed once more that Islamic radicals cannot stand up to professional soldiers and their governing methods tend to turn the population against them. This caused over a thousand AQIM members to desert, while nearly 500 were killed in the Mali fighting. Hundreds of local Islamic terrorists (Tuaregs and black Africans from countries in the region) have stayed in northern Mali and are carrying out a terrorism campaign. There are a few larger groups of these Islamic terrorists still wandering around the far north but they are being hunted by French aircraft and hit with smart bombs. Some of these Islamic terrorists have renounced their alliance with al Qaeda and are trying to evade attack by just being another group of Tuareg separatists. 

 

French troops continue to search for and attack Islamic terrorist groups in the north. French intelligence has identified dozens of camps and equipment storage sites al Qaeda constructed in the north during the last year and, in the far northern mountains near the Algerian border, over the last decade. France is using its warplanes and smart bombs to attack these bases and supply dumps. 

Sending in ground troops is a less attractive option because of the al Qaeda use of landmines and the possibility of ambush by nearby terrorists. The French troops can go in on foot, but there are more targets to be hit than there are infantry to hit all of them. It takes time and manpower to clear the mines. 

 

April 25, 2013:  The UN approved a Mali peacekeeping force of 12,600 soldiers and police. Most of the troops would be from Africa and include the 6,000 African peacekeepers already in Mali and at least a thousand French troops. 

 

April 24, 2013: The MNLA means (in French) “Liberation Army of Azawad” and the Mali government is upset that MNLA men control most of the rural (and very thinly populated) areas in the north. These rebels like to approve documents (like passes) with rubber stamps that say “State of Azawad”. That is the Tuareg term for their homeland in northern Mali. MNLA refuses to disarm but is willing to negotiate their role in the north. After invading in January France tolerated the MNLA as long as the rebels cooperated and did not fight the Mali army or government officials. Several hundred Tuareg Malian soldiers work directly for the French as scouts and translators. These men help the French determine which Tuareg rebels can be trusted and which are Islamic terrorists (usually members of MUJAO or Ansar Dine.) 

 

April 23, 2013: The French transferred responsibility for security to a battalion (650 troops) of peacekeepers from Burkina Faso. 

 

April 22, 2013:  France officially agreed to keep 2,000 troops in Mali through July and at least a thousand by the end of the year. 

 

April 21, 2013: MNLA (Tuareg rebels) took control of Ber, a town of 9,000 some 50 kilometers east of Timbuktu. The town had been taken over by an Islamic radical group that had arrived to protect Arabs living there. The Tuareg and Arabs are ethnically similar and sometimes unite against the black Africans who live in the north. But after months of harsh rule by Islamic terrorists, even the Tuareg are hostile to “Arabs” and locals will still try and drive them out. The only defenders of the local Arabs (who have often been there for generations) are the remaining Islamic radicals or the French troops. Local leaders in Ber called on the MNLA for help in keeping the peace. 

 

April 18, 2013: Mauritania has agreed to send 1,800 peacekeepers to Mali. Mauritanian troops are particularly valuable because they have years of experience chasing down Islamic terrorists and bandits in the desert. Mauritania borders Mali and sees this peacekeeping duty as self-defense. One of the groups Mauritanian troops will be fighting is MOJWA (Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, largely composed of black African Islamic radicals and led by Mauritanians). MOJWA is unique among Islamic terrorist groups because its leadership is black African. Mauritanian security forces have made it very difficult for MOJWA to operate in Mauritania and that’s why so many MOJWA members moved to Mali in the last year. Many are still there and not looking forward to the arrival of Mauritanian troops.

 

April 16, 2013: Algerian soldiers and police continue to intercept arms smugglers from Libya trying to get to northern Mali. It’s unclear if these weapons were headed for the Islamic terrorists still operating their or tribesmen. Both are regular customers for weapons dealers.

UN Peacekeeping Force Proposed for Mali

France has circulated a draft U.N. resolution that would authorize a U.N. peacekeeping force to stabilize key towns in northern Mali and help promote a return to democracy and extend government authority throughout the conflict-wracked country.

Mali was plunged into turmoil after a coup in March 2012 created a security vacuum. That allowed secular rebel Tuaregs, who have long felt marginalized by Mali's government, to take half of the north as a new homeland. But months later, the rebels were kicked out by Islamic jihadists who imposed strict Shariah law in the north, including amputations for theft.

France launched a military operation Jan. 11 against the Islamic extremists, many linked to al-Qaida, after they suddenly started moving south into government-controlled areas and captured key towns. Backed by Chadian soldiers, French troops ousted the radical Islamic fighters from the major towns in northern Mali, though many went into hiding in the desert and continue to carry out attacks.

The new draft resolution, obtained Monday by The Associated Press, would authorize French troops to intervene to support U.N. troops "under imminent and serious threat," and at the request of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. It makes no mention of counter-terrorism operations, currently being carried out by France, which is likely to continue doing so under an agreement with the Malian government.

The draft would authorize a U.N. force comprising 11,200 military personnel and 1,440 international police to take over from a 6,000-member African-led mission now in Mali on July 1. But it says the U.N. Security Council could delay the transfer if terrorists pose a major threat in areas where the U.N. troops would operate or if international military forces are conducting major combat operations in those areas.

Chadian President Idriss Deby announced Monday that his 2,000 troops — considered the best desert fighters — would not be sticking around for a protracted guerrilla war with the radical Islamic insurgents. But he didn't rule out a Chadian contribution to the U.N. peacekeeping force.

The mandate of the U.N. force, as spelled out in the draft resolution, does not involving going after insurgents.

It would authorize U.N. troops to "use all necessary means" to "stabilize the key population centers, especially in the north of Mali and ... to prevent and deter a return of armed elements to those areas," to re-establish government authority throughout the country, and to protect civilians threatened by violence.

It would also authorize the U.N. force to support the transitional government's roadmap "towards the full restoration of constitutional order and national unity in Mali," including by promoting a national political dialogue and supporting the organization and conduct of presidential elections scheduled for July 7 and legislative elections scheduled for July 21.

Chad begins withdrawing troops from Mali

Chad's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to begin withdrawing the country's 2,250 troops from Mali. Soldiers from Chad have played an instrumental role in rooting out Islamists in Mali's mountainous northern region. 

Chadian President Idriss Deby told French journalists on Monday that he had already begun withdrawing an army battalion from embattled Mali, saying that his country's troops were not trained to wage a guerrilla war in Mali's mountainous north.

"Chad's army has no ability to face the kind of guerrilla fighting that is emerging in northern Mali," Deby said in an interview jointly conducted by France's Le Monde newspaper, TV5 Monde and Radio France Internationale (RFI).

"Our soldiers are going to return to Chad," the president added. "They have accomplished their mission."

But Deby went on to say that Chad would contribute troops to a UN peacekeeping force, which is supposed to replace the French-led military coalition in Mali.

Key role in Mali intervention

Chad has played an important role in helping French troops root out Islamist militants from their redoubts in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains. France intervened in Mali last January, halting an Islamist advance toward the capital Bamako and subsequently driving them from northern Mali's major cities.

Chad has claimed responsibility for the deaths of two top Islamist militant commanders in northern Mali. France has confirmed the death of Abou Zeid, a top commander of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

But Paris has not been able to confirm Chadian claims that its troops killed Moktar Belmoktar, another top Islamist commander. Belmoktar is responsible for the siege of the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria last January, which left scores of foreign oil workers dead.

"We have proof that he is dead, but we could not film it because he blew himself up," Deby said. "We would not have wanted to distribute images like that. But we know that people who were taken prisoner identified him."

'Heavy price'

Pockets of resistance remain in Mali, particularly in the region around the city of Gao. Suicide bombings and ambushes have become increasingly common. At least three Chadian soldiers were killed in a suicide blast in Kidal, north of Gao, last Friday.

"We paid a heavy price for this mission," Chad's prime minister, Dadnadji Djimrangar, told parliament during its session on Monday.

At least 36 Chadian troops have been killed in Mali and another 75 wounded. Chad has spent some 57 billion CFA francs (87 million euros, $114 million) on its military campaign in the West African nation.

Mali – A Legend dies, or does he?

France will keep its troops in Mali a month later than planned, with withdrawal beginning in April. France is still not sure which senior Mali leaders were killed recently, because definitive identification of these senior but definitely dead men has proved difficult to confirm. In the last two weeks days France rapidly moved troops into the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains near the Algerian border, where France already knew of al Qaeda had bases. French warplanes have been bombing these bases as more recon aircraft and UAVs are available to confirm al Qaeda targets. 

France and its African allies (especially the desert experienced Chadians) are making an effort to kill or capture as many veteran al Qaeda men before they can scatter to more distant sanctuaries. To this end the recent arrival of American UAVs and electronic intelligence collecting aircraft have proved crucial in detecting and tracking Islamic terrorists who attempt to leave the mountains and head for Libya, Algeria or more distant points. France would prefer to capture as many of these terrorists as possible, but second best is killing them and searching the bodies. French aircraft have to do the killing because the American UAVs are unarmed. The American aircraft have apparently provided target information for at least sixty of the French air strikes in the last few weeks. France is also seeking to rescue seven French civilians believes held captive in the Adrar des Ifoghas. So far the French force of 4,000 in Mali has lost four troops killed during eight weeks of fighting. There are 1,200 French and 800 Chadian troops in the mountains near the Algerian border and dozens of al Qaeda safe houses and weapons and ammo storage sites have been captured or destroyed from the air. 

An African peacekeeping force of about 5,000 troops is occupying the cities and large towns in northern Mali and fighting with al Qaeda men who did not make it to the mountains or across the border.  The destruction of so many al Qaeda bases in Mali, and the death of hundreds of hard-core Islamic terrorists there have demoralized Islamic radicals throughout North Africa. At the same time all counter-terrorism forces in the region are trying to take advantage of all this by seeking out Islamic terrorists fleeing Mali. 

In the end it may be that driving al Qaeda out of Mali was easy while dealing with the rebellious Malian Army proved to be much more difficult. At the moment the Mali Army has about 10,000 people on the payroll and about 6,000 of these are soldiers while the rest are support personnel. The army has always been more of a political than a military force. Jobs in the military are much sought after and those who get them are expected to bring the support of their family for whoever runs the military. Until last year it was senior politicians who controlled the military. Then a coup by junior officers, seeking better weapons and equipment for the army displaced the political control. 

Politicians are notoriously corrupt in Mali but the new army leadership, calling for clean government, has now become a force to contend with in Mali politics. To the foreign nations that supply much of the government budget (via foreign aid) the coup is not acceptable. The foreigners want the elections back, even though the elections were rigged by the corrupt politicians that the younger officers despise. Unfortunately, these officers are not immune to the endemic corruption and are turning into the kind of men they seek to replace. It’s a messy situation that mixes rebellious troops with corrupt politicians. While the EU (European Union) training force (220 military trainers and another to train civilian officials) is planning to train and equip four battalions (about have the troops in the Mali Army) to a higher standards, forcing out the officers who support the coup will be a lot more difficult. The training program begins on April 2^nd. 

March 6, 2013:  A French soldier was killed a hundred kilometers north of Gao in northern Mail while accompanying a force of one hundred Chadian troops that encountered some al Qaeda men. Four Chadians and an unknown number of terrorists were wounded. In the last few days over a hundred al Qaeda men have been killed or wounded. These men were part of a larger force (of several hundred al Qaeda) that were either trapped in Gao or entered from Niger, which is just across the Niger River. 

In the northern mountains 2,000 French and Chadian troops killed at least 15 Islamic terrorists in several clashes today. This fighting took place in the Ametetai valley, where over a hundred Islamic terrorists had taken refuge. The valley has water, as do many other valleys in these mountains near the Algerian border. The locals want no part of this fighting, but will provide information with the right incentives (cash will often work, as it worked for al Qaeda, which operated their lucrative and drug smuggling operations from bases in these mountains). 

March 3, 2013: Over the last three days more than fifty Islamic terrorists were killed during several clashes in northern Mali. Ten Chadian and one French soldier were also killed. Dozens of vehicles and large quantities of weapons and documents were captured. All this took place between Gao and the Adrar des Ifoghas Mountains near the Algerian border.

 

March 1, 2013: The Chadian government went public with the news that Chadian troops in northern Mali had killed two al Qaeda leaders on February 22^nd. 

Mali announced that presidential elections will be held in July. It’s still unclear if the army leadership will obey whoever is elected. 

February 28, 2013: France has spent $131 million for its Mali operations so far and some French officials want to keep French troops there until July. Other French leaders want to get the troops out beginning in March. Apparently a compromise on the withdrawal date is in the works. 

February 26, 2013: In the northern city of Kidal a suicide car bomber killed six armed Tuaregs manning a check point. The Tuareg rebel militias split with al Qaeda over eight months ago and shifted their allegiance to the French when French troops showed up in northern Mali. Kidal is the nearest city to the Adrar des Ifoghas Mountains. 

February 22, 2013: Chadian troops in northern Mali believed they killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar (the planner of the January natural gas facility attack in southern Algeria that got 37 workers killed) and Abdelhamid Abou Zeid (leader of the other al Qaeda group that was long based in these mountains. 

Al Qaeda later said Belmokhtar was still alive but offered no proof. The loss of Belmokhtar would be a major blow to al Qaeda morale as Belmokhtar had a reputation for always escaping the many efforts to kill or capture him. When a legend dies, it is always demoralizing for the followers. The supreme leader of al Qaeda in North Africa (Abdel Malek Droukdel) is believed to be still hiding out in northern Algeria and he would be the one to appoint a successor to Belmokhtar, who was number two or three in the North African al Qaeda organization. There has been no such announcement yet. 

The battle that got the two al Qaeda leaders cost the lives of 13 Chadian troops and over 40 other Islamic terrorists. 

The U.S. announced that it had set up a UAV and intelligence base in nearby Niger. About a hundred American troops were there to maintain several Reaper UAVs. 

February 21, 2013: Two suicide car bombers attempted to attack a French camp outside the northern town of Tessalit. In addition to the bombers, three others were killed.