Britain to help the French with Transport

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

PS

It's interesting that my original GISP programme question was so difficult or so unworthy of comment.

Anyway, well done the jumping pumas. You can only work with what you are given

[AlphaZuluRomeo]

Britain to help the French with Transport

As KAG said, thanks indeed, UK, Canada, USA, Belgium, Denmark...

Originally Posted by Daysleeper

It seems more likely that the C-17 will carry the various "outsize" equipment loads that can't go on the smaller transports.

Not really outsize things for now, but C-17 clearly brings its big capacity, for lots of stuff.
The only thing that would not have fitted into C-130s or -160s would be a Tigre helicopter or two, but those travelled over there onboard an An-124 instead.

Originally Posted by Daysleeper

Had the A400 been on time they probably wouldn't need the C-17.

Agreed. But it's late (*), so thanks (again).
(*) won't last much longer, now: Aviation Week announced yesterday that the first A400M Atlas airlifter in the colors of the French Air Force has broken cover in Seville.

Originally Posted by Courtney Mil

On the other hand, instability in Mali will potentially affect all nations. Alright, many nations. It's not just the French that should be concerned. In fact I would say 'well done' to them for stepping up to the plate (as they did very quickly in Libya).

So it's not surprising that UK and USA are offering help, even if we aren't actually putting troops on the ground.

Thanks also for that, Courtney Mil and other posters with similar educated & reasonable answers. An appreciated difference over free bashing

[Reinhardt]

Thanks my fellow british ex-colleagues for all your positive and smart comments.
Strategic transport is something any Army/Air Force will never have enough on theater - so yes, any C130 and other C17 trip is welcome. Belgian and Canadian aircraft will also be enjoyed for that reason.
Now regarding combat troops on ground - well, you are enough committed in Afghanistan, from which this time we withdrew quite rightly because we had nothing to do there except "helping" another ally, this one is not even a real friend of you (consider its Falklands diplomatic positioning....) and each country had its own "zone of interest" throughout the world.

That Mali operation does enjoy a 75% approval rate in my country...
and some older heads from yours will remember some support being given from Dakar, to a specific operation in Sierra Leone - which this time is one of your "places"....

and yes as one of you said, MPA or carrier OPS might be part of the deal in the future, so everybody will be happy...

Cheers

Reinhardt, used to fly Hunter and Jaguar in the RAF many years ago.

[Blue Bottle]

It's not only our C17 that went U/S

Canadian C-17 departs for Mali after brief technical glitch

[Pontius Navigator]

GBZ, I wouldn't normally defend keesje but it was not spelling, it was a quote.

Had the A400 been on time they probably wouldn't need the C-17.

or C130J and C17 for us too?

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Pontius Navigator: I did realize that keesje was quoting Reuters and that it was their use of "of" when they meant "off". That's why I asked if English was the second language of the reporter. I was by no means criticising keesje's use of English and I'm sorry if that was the impression I gave.

[Pontius Navigator]

GBZ, the photographer is British so either he made the mistake or someone at Reuters who captioned the image did it.