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http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #362 MAY 2018 // 27

NH90s into the An-124’s

cargo hold. Preparation

for the transport took

three to four days.

Weight is of paramount

importance when operating

in a very hot environment,

so de-icing equipment was

removed to compensate

for additional ballistic

protection for crew and

passengers. Additionally,

the leading edge of the

main and tail rotor blades

have been covered with a

resistant coating to counter

the effects of abrasive

desert dust and sand.

Excessive engine erosion

is prevented by sand

filters installed on the air

intakes for the engines

and auxiliary power units.

Maintenance data on the

helicopter’s most sensitive

systems will be shared

regularly with the airframe

and engine manufacturers,

monitoring their

condition and providing

for timely preventive or

corrective measures.

The Belgian detachment

comprises 50 personnel

who fly, maintain and

support the two helicopters.

It will be integrated with

the German NH90 and

Tiger contingent, which

has operated from Gao

since March last year. The

Belgian team comprises

three helicopter crews

(pilots and cabin operators),

maintenance personnel,

intelligence and mission

support specialists and

medical personnel.

Contrary to fast jet pilots,

the helicopter crews will

remain deployed for the

duration of the rotation

with maintenance and

support personnel rotating

after two months.

The main task of the

Belgian NH90s will be

troop transport and

medical evacuation

(medevac) missions, flown

in pairs with German

helicopters providing

armed escort. Medevac

is a vital assignment in

Mali and MINUSMA is

considered one of the most

dangerous of the UN’s

operations, with around

150 casualties to date.

A team of 12 technicians

accompanied the NH90s

in the An-124 and

began reassembling the

helicopters immediately

on arrival at Bamako, a

task that took around

three days. It was the

first time the anti-abrasion

coated blades had been

used, so special attention

was given to balancing

the main and tail rotors.

Test flying started on

February 9 and was

followed by familiarisation

flights, in close co-operation

with their German

counterparts. The pre-

deployment phase allowed

the detachment to fulfil all

in-theatre UN requirements

before the mission started

on March 1.

Preparation

Precision preparation was

paramount for the Belgian

NH90 crews deployed to

Mali. A pair of NH90s was

first transported to Africa

during Exercise Tropical Storm

2017. It involved 800 Belgian
      military personnel operating
      in Gabon from September
      15 to October 15 last year.
      The Caimans were transported
      from Beauvechain by an
      An-124 on September 11.
      Tropical Storm was a general
      rehearsal for the helicopter
      crew deployment to Mali,
      although the humid Gabonese
      rainforest offered somewhat
      different climatic conditions.
      Missions trained included
      tactical transport and medevac
      in support of special operations
      forces and paratroopers.
      Last November, crews for the
      first Belgian rotation to Mali
      participated in Exercise Duster
      III-17 in Germany. The Duster
      series has been organised

regularly since early 2017 by the

German Army’s Faβberg-based

Transporthubschrauberregiment

10 (Transport Helicopter

Regiment 10) to prepare units

designated for participation

in MINUSMA. The regiment

has previous experience

of Mali and MINUSMA.

Exercise Duster III-17 allowed

the Belgian 18 MRH Squadron

to become acquainted with

the unit that is now leading

the detachment. German and

Belgian aircrews, air marshallers

and medical personnel trained

together during two weeks

in Faβberg, Celle-Scheuen,

Lüneburg and at the Klietz

military training area to enhance

interoperability and establish

common procedures. From

late January onwards, Exercise

Duster I-18 offered similar

training for members of the

second Belgian rotation, which

is scheduled to relieve the first

at Gao between May and June.

Above: Already sporting UN markings for the type’s fi rst ever operational deployment in

Belgian service, NH90s RN-06 and RN-07 await loading into Volga-Dnepr An-124-100 RA-

77082 for transport to Mali. Jos Schoofs Below: The two NH90s from 18 ‘Ares’ MRH Squadron,

RN-06 and RN-07, kick up dust during one of their fi rst missions from Gao. The base is

located approximately 500nm east-northeast of the capital Bamako. Johan Lievens/Belgian

Defence Above left: NH90s RN-05 and RN-07 are accompanied by A109BA H22 during Tropical

Storm 2017. Unlike the NH90s, the two A109s that also took part in the exercise were brought

to Africa by ship. Bart Rosselle/Belgian Defence

AFM