EUNAVFOR Med Strengthening its Air Capabilities; New Air Base in Pantelleria
(B2) THE European operation against human smugglers in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med Sophia) has reinforced its air operation. A Greek Airborne team joined the operation.
Greek Aircraft Detection
The Greeks thus provide an Erieye aircraft (EMB-145H), allowing use of air as detection surface and airborne command (1).This aircraft operates from Greek Elefsis air base - 20 km from Athens - but is made available to the European operation. The Spanish Navy, meanwhile, replaced its HS 60 helicopter, onboard since October 5, on the frigate ESPS Canarias Spanish (F-86), by a helicopter AB-212.
Airplanes and Helicopters
The air component of the Sophia operation can thus rely on today three helicopters (two Italian EH101, embarked on the Garibaldi, and Spanish AB-212 on the ship ESPSCanarias) and four aircraft (2): the Erieye Greek , based in Greece, a P3 Orion Spanish and a Falcon 50 French (part time), normally based in Sigonella (Sicily) and a plane from Luxembourg SW3 Merlin III recognition that comes from testing a new base in Pantelleria.
New Air Base at Sea
The Europeans are, in effect, to set up a new Forward Operating Base (FOB), the small airport of Pantelleria. This small island of volcanic origin, is located at sea, northwest of Lampedusa and halfway between the Tunisian coast and Sicily. This base has the advantage compared to the usual Station Sigonella, near Catania, avoiding the south of Sicily, and saving valuable time (about 1/2 hour). Another advantage for the crews, the heat is less intense. Life is certainly less hectic than in Sicily. But if they have 5 minutes, they can always go to taste the 'wine of the devil' actress Carole Bouquet who acquired land and a vineyard.
(LH & NGV)
(1) In fact a R99A, the military version of the Embraer ERJ 145, with the Swedish Saab Erieye airborne radar;
(2) The two types of aircraft, however, have very different uses: the aircraft which flies over an area, does so very discreetly, from a distance, without the target of interest knowing. It also allows a depth of action, and nothing prevents it (technically), it can also equally conduct covert surveillance of what is happening in Libya, including the side of Sirte and other port cities where Daesh / ISIS seems to have been installed. The helicopter has a shorter range, less discreet, allowing detection by human visual. There is more in a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission.
Source: Bruxelles2 [French language]
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