News story

RAF flies second wave of vehicles to French peacekeepers

The RAF has delivered more French armoured vehicles to the Central African Republic in support of France's peacekeeping operation.

• From: Ministry of Defence and Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Published: 12 December 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

A member of the RAF Police and a French serviceman stand guard

The troop-carrying vehicles were loaded into the hold of a C-17 transport aircraft yesterday morning at an air base near Marseilles.

The unique abilities of the C-17 Globemaster, flown by 99 Squadron out of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, make it the ideal aircraft for this type of strategic airlift.

Five armoured vehicles have already been delivered by the RAF to the French, who entered the Central African Republic following a UN resolution.

They are there to support an African Union peacekeeping force which will be transported into the country from neighbouring Burundi by the US Air Force.

RAF movements staff and French troops unload military equipment from the C-17 on its arrival at Bangui Airport in the Central African Republic [Picture: Corporal Neil Bryden RAF, Crown copyright]

The captain of the C-17, Squadron Leader David Blakemore, said:

It’s great to work so closely with the French, especially on such an important peacekeeping mission as this.

The RAF’s contribution to the French peacekeeping effort is part of the Lancaster House security co-operation treaty signed by Britain and France in 2010.

This resulted in the RAF providing assistance during France’s campaign earlier this year against Islamic rebels in Mali.

Published 12 December 2013