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and in Google-translation:
Updated: 10/07/2012 9:12
On July 5, 2012, the detachment of French combat aircraft, armed with a hundred airmen and three Mirage 2000D, conducted its last mission in Afghanistan before its withdrawal in the coming days.
At 9:45 this morning, the last patrol of two Mirage 2000D, flew on a mission of protection in favor of a coalition convoy in Farah province in western Afghanistan.
The mission took place nominally, the planes returned around 14:00.
To symbolically mark the latter returning from a mission, a parade was organized on the basis of KAF (Kandahar airfield), headed by General of the Army Corps of Bavinchove Olivier, the French commander in Afghanistan and Head of HQ ISAF.
General Huggins (Regional Command South commander on), and General Sherzai, representing the Afghan National Army testified to the excellent work and commitment of the French detachment was present in full.
Lieutenant General Anthony Noguier air, the commander CDAOA (Air Defense Command and Air Operations) was also present to greet the work of air.
Combat aircraft of the Air Force have been engaged since October 23, 2001 in Afghanistan for reconnaissance missions.
They operated from a country in the Persian Gulf and Manas, Dushanbe, where the detachment was made permanent from 2006 before being redeployed to Kandahar in September and October 2007.
For nearly five years that this detachment is present in Kandahar, also passed through the Mirage 2000D, Mirage F1 CR, Rafale, and in 2008, a detachment of Super Etendard aircraft for the Navy.
They have conducted air missions presence, support, recognition and surveillance route or area, in favor of coalition troops and Afghan soldiers.
These are approximately 7,200 outlets, more than 26,000 flight hours with 12,700 air refueling that have been accomplished.
The French aircraft intervened to about 1700 times over for ground troops under fire from insurgents, with more than 1500 show of presence and more than 380 weapons issue (gun-passes or bombs).
Initially, the detachment had six aircraft and about 200 airmen.
As part of the early French disengagement, it was reduced to 3 in late 2011.
In pursuit of this disengagement, the return to France the last 3 Mirage 2000 D is expected in the coming days.
The full logistical disengagement from the rest of the detachment will take several weeks.
The Air Force remains committed to the French, especially with a Caracal helicopter in Kabul and JTAC teams that guide air support in Kapisa and Surobi but also with army officers in the Air various staffs of the ISAF.