Operation Newcombe

On 13 January 2013, two Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft from No. 99 Squadron RAF took off from RAF Brize Norton en route to Évreux-Fauville Air Base in France. The aircraft were loaded with French armoured vehicles and other military equipment before airlifting them to French forces in Bamako, Mali's capital.[8] Defence Secretary Philip Hammond later announced the UK would also deploy a Sentinel R1 surveillance aircraft.[9][10] The aircraft, from No. 5 Squadron RAF, was based in Dakar, Senegal alongside 100 support personnel. In four months, it had flown for a total of 697 hours across 66 sorties and had delivered 100 intelligence reports to French commanders.[11] It returned to the UK on 22 May 2013.[12]

On 29 January 2013, 330 British military personnel were deployed to West Africa in a training role, including 40 destined for Mali in support of the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali).[13][14] In addition to assisting French and EU forces, the UK also assisted the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) with the deployment of a 200-strong military training team and RAF C-17 transportation flights.[14]

In 2016, the UK pledged to continue its C-17 support on a monthly basis.[15]

In 2018, No. 1310 Flight RAF, consisting of three RAF Chinook transport helicopters and up to 60 support personnel, were deployed to Mali to assist French operations.[16][17] A C-17 was used to transport supplies necessary for the deployment, which landed at Gao International Airport.[18] In November 2019, the aircraft were involved in the response effort following the 2019 Ménaka helicopter crash which killed 13 French soldiers — the largest loss of French service personnel in nearly four decades.[19]

In 2019, the UK announced its intention to deploy 250 military personnel to Gao in 2020 as peacekeepers in support of United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).[20] In April, Sierra Troop, 244 Signal Squadron (Air Support), Royal Signals arrived in Gao via an RAF A400M Atlas transport aircraft to provide information and communication services (ICS) support. The troop constructed a permanent communications shelter with the assistance of the Royal Engineers.[17]

An A400M Atlas prepares to leave RAF Brize Norton for Mali.

By May 2020, the Chinooks had passed 2,000 flying hours, moved over 1,000 tonnes of freight and transported 12,000 passengers.[21] The aircraft were flown by No. 18 Squadron RAF and had their deployment extended in June.[22] The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2019, had not impacted operations.[21] Additionally, the Light Dragoons and The Royal Anglian Regiment prepared to deploy as the 250-strong peacekeeping force announced previously in support of MINUSMA.[22] Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles were also deployed by the British Army.[23]

During a four-month tour between May–July 2020, British Chinook helicopters took part in several intensive operations, including a series of company-sized airlifts of French Army units. One phase of the operation saw a Chinook flying during the night alongside French Caiman helicopters to insert over 130 troops for a clearance patrol before returning them back to Gao 36 hours later.[24]

In November 2020, 300 British troops from the Light Dragoons and the Royal Anglian Regiment arrived in Mali to undertake their MINUSMA peacekeeping mission. Arriving via an RAF Atlas aircraft, the troops began operating out of a British section of a UN camp in Gao, named Camp Bagnold in honour of the desert explorer and soldier Brigadier Ralph Alger Bagnold. As part of their mission, the troops provided a reconnaissance capability, carrying out patrols and gathering intelligence for the local population. Additionally, the three Chinook helicopters and 100 logistics personnel remained committed to the operation.[25]