Coalition Assigns French Navy ATL 2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft Broader Tasks over Iraq

: Posted On Monday, 01 December 2014 11:00

Naval Forces News - France

Coalition Assigns French Navy ATL 2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft Broader Tasks over Iraq

On 21 November 2014, a French Navy Atlantique 2 (ATL2) Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) conducted its first SCAR-C (Strike and Reconnaissance Coordination - Coordinator) flight over Iraq. The ATL2 with its FAC-A (Forward Air Controller Airborne) was appointed commander of an Air Interdiction mission consisting in two patrols (US Air Froce and Danish Air Force F-16s). This capability was already proven in combat during Harmattan and Serval operations.

For this first mission over Iraq, the FAC-A coordinated action of the ATL2, coalition warplanes and JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) CAOC (Combined Air and space Operation Center) based in Qatar in order to detect, identify and strike any target of opportunity.

Complementing the ISR missions (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) since the beginning of the Shamal operation, the ATL2 was given SCAR-C mission roles and should regularly be given this type of assignement by CAOC. Personnel of the Chammal Force carry out their ISR missions on a daily basis in support of Iraqi troops on the ground.

15 French Navy ATL2 are currently being upgraded with new sensors and computers that will significantly improve their ISR ability. Picture: French Navy

Deployed in the Persian Gulf since early September, French Navy's Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) belonging to naval air squadron 23F are currently deployed to Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates. On Sept 17, it flew its first reconnaissance mission in Iraqi airspace and on the 19th it provided ISTAR (Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) support for the first French raid against ISIL and then povided damage assessment reports.

The ATL2 is a multirole aircraft developed for air-sea operations whose initial version dates back to the 1990s. This aircraft is characterized by its broad interoperability with other services and allied forces, and its versatility of use make it an outstanding military asset that is regularly engaged in combat missions as well as public service missions at sea. Developped for aero-maritime superiority missions, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, its capabilities may also be used over land, where it operates regularly in support of French ground forces and special forces.

Deployed in the Persian Gulf since the beginning of the month, French Navy's Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) belonging to naval air squadron 23F are currently deployed to Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates. On Sept 17, it flew its first reconnaissance mission in Iraqi airspace and on the 19th it provided ISTAR (Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) support for the first French raid against ISIL and then povided damage assessment reports.

French Navy ATL2 are operating from Al Dhafra air base in the UAE. Picture: French Navy

Its main missions consist in:
» security operations for the benefit of the Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST) for the protection of SSBNs, and benefit of the naval forces;
» air and naval combat operations, especially anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare;
» maritime security operations and security of the national maritime approaches.

The ATL2 is deployed regularly to answer the operational needs of the Defense Staff, in support of land and combined air-land operations, particularly in terms of:
» Information gathering;
» Target search and acquisition (convoy or enemy positions);
» Forward air control for aircraft and attack helicopters;
» Direct engagement of targets with GBU-12 bombs.