Westminster Honours RAF support to Mali

A VIP reception has been held at the Palace of Westminster to honour the RAF’s support to the French forces fighting insurgents in Mali. The Mali Homecoming Reception was held for... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Sentinel comes home

A RAF Sentinel surveillance aircraft has returned back to the UK after nearly four months on operations to return security and stability to Mali. The Sentinel R1 touched down at its home base at RAF Waddington to be welcomed by senior officers who paid... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

Defence Secretary pays tribute to personnel tackling insurgents in West Africa

Defence Secretary pays tribute to personnel tackling insurgents in West Africa. Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond has paid tribute to the Armed Forces personnel helping to tackle insurgents in West Africa after a visit to Senegal and Mali. Mr Hammond was in the region to witness first hand the work of... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

David Cameron views the housing situation at RAF Brize Norton

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, and Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, Mark Francois have visited RAF Brize Norton with a particular interest in welfare and housing on the Unit. Following a brief... More information. If you are using a MOBILE DEVICE please use this link

RAF Support African Mission

A RAF C17 aircraft has flown troops from Ghana to Bamako as part of the UK’s support for the international intervention in Mali. The move was in response to a Ghanaian request. Peter Jones, British High Commissioner to Ghana, said: "This is a moment where the international community is coming together for a shared challenge...See full details

99 Sqn update from Evreux Airbase

RAF C-17 operations in support of the French military in Mali are continuing from Evreux Airbase near Paris. Since the short notice commencement of Op Newcombe, C-17 Globemaster aircraft operated by 99 Sqn have been flying 5000 mile round trip missions on a near daily basis. Wg Cdr Simon Bellamy said: "I genuinely think the French have warmed to us and enjoyed having us around...See full details

Defence Secretary clear about risk of Mission Creep

In response to an urgent question in the House of Commons, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed the UK military commitment and numbers of Service personnel, aircraft and equipment assisting the situation in West Africa. He also very clear about the the risks of mission creep...More information »

350 Military Personnel to deploy to Mali

Downing Street has announced that 350 UK military personnel are to deploy to Mali and West Africa to support French forces. Also offered were: the continued deployment of the RAF C17 and Sentinel aircraft; allowing the US to operate air refuelling platforms from the UK...The UK also offered to set up a combined joint logistics HQ in Mali but the French have declined this offer...More information »

UK poised to contribute more to Mali Mission

A meeting in Brussels today (Tue) is likely to result in the UK agreeing to send more Armed Forces personnel to Mali as part of a joint EU mission. The Prime Minister is said to be awaiting a specific request but it is thought UK personnel will be given in a training role with further uplift of assistance with logistics, surveillance and intelligence already provided by the RAF. There is still insistence that no combat role...More information »

RAF Sentinel deploys to Africa in support of Op in Mali

A Sentinel aircraft from No 5(AC) Sqn has deployed from RAF Waddington to an airbase in Africa, in support of French military operations in Mali. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: “Following discussions with the French, we have decided to deploy Sentinel, a surveillance capability that proved its worth in Libya and on an ongoing basis for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan. We have also agreed...More information »

OPERATION NEWCOMBE

The National Security Council are meeting to discuss the situation in Mali amid continuing ministerial assurances that UK ground forces will not be drawn into the combat operation against al Qaida-backed rebels. OC 99 Sqn, Wg Cdr Stu Lindsell, said: "We started doing some contingency planning on Saturday... the first aircraft left within 24 hours...I have been very impressed by how everyone on the sqn...More information »

RAF fly in Support of the French

Two RAF C17 aircraft from 99 Sqn have flown to France in support of the French military efforts in Mali. The aircraft will be used to transport French hardware and equipment to Barnako in the West African state of Mali where the French are in support of the Malian government in attempting to contain Islamic rebels. David Cameron says no UK Service personnel will be used on the ground in Mali...More information »