Just received this from another forum :
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.
- Don Lavery EXCLUSIVE
