Objective : Transport of troops and material for the International Support Mission in Mali. The Tactical Air Detachment “Ivory” carries out the mission of strategic airlift in support of the efforts led by France and AFISMA (International Support Mission to Mali with African Leadership) in compliance with the resolutions of the Security Council and UN UNSCR 2071 UNSCR 2085 .
Detachments : 35th Wing, EADA , UMAAD , GRUMOCA (47 people and a T.21 plane)
In September 2012, the United Nations passed Resolution 2085 calling for the full restoration of constitutional order and territorial integrity of Mali, urging member nations to provide support to AFISMA (International Support Mission in Mali with African Leadership ) in its fight against terrorism.
The Spanish contribution, in answer to a request from France, is framed within the European commitment to promoting security in the Sahel Zone and foster cooperation on security between the countries of the region. In addition to France and Spain, USA, Canada, UK, Belgium and Denmark also move military resources to the area to support the Government of Mali in their struggle against insurgency.
On 18th January, 2013 the Spanish Government authorized the use of Spanish sovereign airspace, the use of certain air bases and the involvment up to 50 trainers in training tasks of the armed forces of Mali and the detachment of a C-130 Hercules from the 31st Wing, based in the French facilities at the international airport of Dakar to provide an airlift to Bamako, capital of Mali, to transport troops and material for AFISMA.
On 26th January, 2013, the first 30 components of the Air Force took off from Zaragoza Air Base aboard the plane C-130 Hercules of the 31st Wing. After a stopover to incorporate personnel of the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA) in Morón Air Base, the C-130 headed for the Canaries from where it continued along the coast of Mauritania and Senegal to Dakar.
The first contingent of the Tactical Aid detachment "Ivory”, was composed of a mission leader, two full Hercules crews consisting of a pilot, copilot, a navigator, one flight engineer and two load supervisors each, two operating teams providing support to Air Squadron Deployment ( EADA ) responsible for security, a team of Air Medical Unit Deployment Support (UMAAD) and medical support to Role-1 and a team of GRUMOCA to establish secure communications to Spain. This first contingent would later grow to complete the deployment of 50 people.
The first mission of air transport between the towns of Dakar (Senegal), Bamako (Mali) and Niamey (Niger) took place on 30th January transporting material and personnel of the French Armed Forces.
The Tactical Aid Detachment “Ivory”, on 5th February, 2013, declared the "Final Operational Capability” (FOC), having operated crews in the fields of Bamako (Mali), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Niamey (Niger) and N'Djamena, Abeche and Faya Largeau (Chad).
On May 31st, 2013 , the 35th Wing took over responsibility for the flights of the Operation Serval with a T.21, relieving the 31st Wing of its detachment from the Senegalese city of Dakar. The Hercules (T.10) and 29 military of the 31st Wing returned to their base in Zaragoza after nearly four months of operations in Mali.
On 15th July, 2013 , the 3rd Ivory Detachment contingent reaches Dakar (Senegal) made up of 38 military, which together with the 9 who had already arrived on 7th July, complete the third contingent of Spanish troops sent to the African country . On the same plane the components of Spain’s 2nd contingent returned, remaining in the area of operations a total of 47 soldiers who take charge of this operation for three months.
The first mission of T.21 of Detachment “Ivory” took place on 24th July, 2013. Within the framework of Opeartaion Serval, it consisted in the transport of French paratroops to the African country, Burkina Faso.
