Page 56 - World Airnews Magazine March 2020 Edition

MILITARY
REGISTER FOR THE PREMIER BUSINESS

controls, the insurgents can count on spotted in Pemba, capital of the Cabo territory. AVIATION EVENT IN EUROPE
further support from friendly elements Delgado province. They were supplied

who can easily infiltrate southwards across from South Africa on a three-month trial • The use of fixed-wing aircraft for

unpatrolled rivers in any one of thousands by Durban-based Umbra Aviation. reconnaissance, interdiction and close Join thousands of business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, flight
of small boats and pirogues. Having been supplanted by Russia, Prince air support to ground forces.
The country’s vast shoreline is just as withdrew the helicopters he had deployed • The use of helicopters for the day/ department personnel and all those involved in business aviation for the European
vulnerable: the Mozambique navy rarely in mid-September. night any weather deployment and re- Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2020), which will take place
patrols a coastline that extends southwards It is interesting that initially, Prince’s covery of ground forces, as well as the at Geneva’s magnificent Palexpo from 26 to 28 May. This is the perfect venue for

more than 2,400 kilometres from the Tan- Dubai-based Lancaster Six Group (L6G) recovery of any operational casualties.

zania border. private security firm had been in com- • Target acquisition, identification and investors considering aviation as a business opportunity; companies thinking of

There are several other reasons why Rus- petition with Russia’s Wagner Group and destruction using ground and air using an aircraft for business; and flight departments who have long used aircraft as

sia’s Wagner Group pulled back to Nacala. Eeben Barlow’s South African Specialized assets.

While the move might not be permanent Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection • Combined air and ground operations a valuable business tool. Visit the website to learn more and register today.
and could be a simple re-assessment of the International (STTEP) for security con- with other government forces.

situation prior to heading back into action tracts in Cabo Delgado. Prince promised • The ability to transport ground forces

(though satellite images suggest that all its to eliminate the terrorists in three months without detection into and out of

helicopters have returned there) it did not in return for a share of oil and natural gas mission areas. REGISTER NOW | ebace.aero
come as a complete surprise. revenues. • The collection, assimilation and dis-

Earlier, the mercenary leadership had Since then, AFM has acquired details semination of operational intelligence

given the Maputo government notice that linked to the submission made by the when and where required.

conditions in the north were “unsustain- Dubai-based OAM International private
able”, though a reliable South African source military company that would involve The Headquarters Element is detailed

indicated that there have been serious ground as well as air elements to be fielded as a “mobile organistion and will de-
differences between Wagner’s command in northern Mozambique should Wagner ploy to wherever the tactical situation

structure and the Mozambique Defence withdraw. requires offensive operations against the
Armed Forces (FADM) in the region. Comprising a comprehensive 12-page enemy.”
As a consequence, OAM International, document, the proposal covers both Similarly, the Aviation Element “must

the Dubai-based private military company ground and air operations envisioned to be able to simultaneously deploy four
that originally tendered for the security neutralise what is recognised as an effi- teams consisting of 12 x fully armed
contract (and were superseded by the Wag- cient and highly motivated Islamic force. combat soldiers with aerial assets for a

ner Group), resubmitted their application in The 12-month contract, priced at US radius of action of 200 Kks from the base
Maputo in December. $35.4 million, would involve a total of operations.”
What is peculiar though is that both ground and air force of 166 combat
the Mozambique government and the personnel, of which 100 would be of THE UNIT’S AVIATION ELEMENT
Russians have been unusually secretive selected Mozambican military qualified REQUIREMENTS ARE:
about Wagner’s role. personnel. • 1 x Antonov AN-72 or Antonov 26
For instance, while nobody could miss The main focus would be on what is transport aircraft for the transport of

what the Wagner Group has been doing, termed a Tactical Air and Ground Assault personnel, equipment and para-drop-
Maputo’s ministry of national defence Unit (TGAU) with the ability to perform ping of men and equipment.
declared that it knew nothing about the such operations.

matter. • 1 x light aircraft (PC-6 Pilatus Porter)
for reconnaissance, ‘sky shout’ and
Contacted by Carta de Moçambique, medevac support.
Custódio Massingue, the ministry’s OTHER DETAILS INCLUDE WHAT ARE
spokesperson said it was a novelty that TERMED ‘REQUIRED CAPABILITIES’ • 4 x MD600N or similar light gunship
helicopters for fire support and medi-

the country received Russian military • Specialised ground combat troops cal evacuation.

support, in spite of enormous shipments capable of operating day or night and

of weapons and helicopters arriving in in any weather deep inside enemy • 4 x Mi-171 or UH-1 transport helicop-
Nacala by sea and by air. ters for the deployment of
Neither the Wagner Group ground forces and equipment.
nor OAM International are the • Qualified and opera-

first to have attempted to aid tional air and ground crews

Mozambique in its fight against in order to accomplish the
insurgents. required tasks. Q
Among those previously
involved were Cape Town
resident Lionel Dyke who * Note to readers: At the
has been operating a private time of going to press this
military company for several article represented the
years, as well as Erik Prince, situation on the ground as
the American founder/owner best as the author could
of the now defunct Blackwa- manage given the current
ter Group (of Iraqi notoriety). control of media by the
One of his companies, government. The author
Frontier Services Group (FSG) and the publication cannot
chartered two unmarked Ga- be held liable for any
zelle helicopters painted in subsequent changes in a
military camouflage last Au- WAGNER GROUP FIGHTERS, SOME SAID TO BE shift of power or situation
DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE RUSSIAN ARMY
gust and were subsequently on the ground.
World Airnews | March 2020 World Airnews | March 2020
— 54 — — 55 —