Helicopters hired to aid Irish in Chad

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Helicopters hired to aid Irish in Chad


By Don Lavery EXCLUSIVE

Sunday June 22 2008

TWO Russian helicopters with Ukrainian crews have been hired by the Government to support Irish troops in Chad.

The two aircraft are to be deployed to support the Irish battalion base at Camp Ciara at Goz Bieda in the east of the country and will be used for a variety of tasks, including reconnaissance.

The move comes after a surprise rebel attack on Chad government forces near the town last week which saw Irish Cavalry troopers in a Mowag armoured vehicle return fire for the first time after they came under attack.

Now the Department of Defence has signed a contract through a British brokerage firm Air Partner for two Mil-8T Hip helicopters which will be based at Camp Ciara.

The Russian helicopters are known as sturdy workhorses throughout Africa with over 10,000 manufactured, and they will be used for medevac, troop transport, resupply, and reconnaissance.

The Defence Forces said the helicopters, which will be based at a helipad in the Irish base, will prove very useful in the rainy season when movement by road transport will be particularly difficult.

The helicopters will be used at the direction of the battalion commander and are being seen as a major boost to the Irish unit in Chad where Eufor helicopters are at a premium.

The Hip helicopter was used extensively by Irish troops in Liberia as a troop transport flown by the Ukrainian Air Force to insert patrols into difficult terrain and later extract them, while Mil-24 Hind gunship helicopters provided top cover for Irish mobile patrols.

The Hip helicopter can carry up to 24 troops or 12 stretchers and will be particularly useful resupplying Irish and Dutch Marine long range patrols in Chad with fuel, food, water and ammunition, as well as being available for medevac duties.

However, one difficulty is that the Hip helicopter is also used by Chadian government forces but it is understood the Hips used by the Irish will be "sufficiently different" to ensure they are not fired upon by rebel groups.

One solution, used by Irish Air Corps Alouette helicopters in the Border area to distinguish them from British Army craft during the Troubles, would be to paint a large Irish Tricolour on the underneath of the helicopter.

It is not the first time the Government has hired Russian aircraft to aid the €67m Chad mission; earlier this year giant Antonov-124 transport aircraft were used to ferry Irish Special Forces and their 4x4 vehicles from Dublin to the African country.

Meanwhile, a fifth new AW-139 helicopter will be delivered to the Air Corps this month; while the sixth helicopter on order will land at Baldonnel in October.

Source
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/helicopters-hired-to-aid-irish-in-chad-1418406.html