A French Atlantic 2 in Irini. German P3 Orions broken down
(B2) A French navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft is currently assisting the EUNAVFOR Med Irini operation. ATL2 operates from La Sude Air Base in Greece.
A related means
The device was deployed since the end of last week announces the General Staff on February 6. This is what is called " an associated means ". That is to say that the aircraft performs missions on an ad hoc basis, but is not permanently subject to the command and control of the operation.
The German Navy's P3 Orion broken down
This contribution is however very useful. France is thus making up for a German slump. The German Navy had to suspend its participation in the operation in January because its P3 Orion C patrol plane suffered a breakdown, as our colleague fromAugergeradeaus. This is not an isolated case.
German P3 Orions at their wit's end
As our German colleague, Thomas Wiegold, tells us, the fleet of maritime surveillance aircraft is at the end of its rope. Of the eight P3 Orion devices, four are no longer serviceable and have been virtually decommissioned. Two machines are in the process of a major overhaul (with new wings): the first should be available before the end of February. For the second, no date is specified, it will be later. The seventh aircraft is also not available: returned from the EU anti-piracy operation (EUNAVFOR Atalanta) it is on a '600 hour' inspection. The last operational machine, engaged in the EUNAVFOR MED Irini operation, was taken out of service on January 8, with a failure in the fuel supply system!
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
- Initially, this modernization was to concern all devices, but it was stopped in June of last year, and will only be completed for the two machines whose process has already begun.
