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Kosovo: NATO allies retain national control of Kosovo air strikes
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NATO allies retain national control of Kosovo air strikes
The deployment of 10 Mirage F-1CT attack aircraft to Istrana Air Base, Italy, in mid-May has allowed the French Air Force contingent to fly round-the-clock strike missions as part of Operation 'Allied Force'.
Along with seven additional Mirage 2000Ds and Jaguar strike aircraft, the deployment brings the number of French aircraft in Italy to 45. They include 12 Jaguars and 15 Mirage 2000Ds at Istrana. A further eight 2000C fighters are at Grosseto in southern Italy.
France is withdrawing the carrier FNS Foch from the Adriatic on 3 June for two months of maintenance work, in a move that will reduce the total of French aircraft engaged in the operation from 91 to 67. Officials said 16 Super Etendard fighters, four Etendard IVPM reconnaissance aircraft and two Super Frelon search-and-rescue helicopters aboard Foch would leave when the carrier withdraws. Armed forces Chief of staff Gen Jean-Pierre Kelche said 16 air force and navy fighters would be put on standby in France for Balkans deployment if needed by NATO.
The detachment commander at Istrana, Col Daniel Bisson, said: "The concept is for the Mirage 2000 to work at night and the Mirage F-1s and Jaguars fly during the day." During more than 1,500 missions, French aircraft have carried 1,000kg laser-guided bombs, as well as Raytheon Paveway-series 500lb (227kg) GBU-12s and 1,000lb (454kg) GBU-16s. Dumb bombs have also been used by the Jaguars in conjunction with the aircraft's laser rangefinder and targeting computer. French Navy aircraft have used the Aerospatiale AS-10 laser-guided missiles to hit "hard" targets.
Finding targets for their bombs is not easy, according to French pilots. "The Serbs have dispersed everything," said one Jaguar pilot. "We have never fought people like this before it was not like this in the Gulf or Bosnia. We have great respect for the Serbs."
Tim Ripley JDW Correspondent reporting from Istrana
AB, Italy,
with additional reporting by J A C Lewis
JDW Correspondent
Jane's
Defence Weekly