Early Lessons Learned from Operation 'Serval' in Mali

摘要

In an interview with MILITARY TECHNOLOGY correspondent Georg Mader at ME-Airpower-2013, Abu Dhabi, Lt.Gen. (Ret) Jean-Patrick Gaviard spoke about modern airpower, operations in Mali and politics. MT: General, since 2011 the Armee de I'Air repeatedly demonstrated itself in active combat operations. What does modern airpower mean for your country today? Lt.Gen. (Ret) Gaviard: We can discuss Armee de I'Air's operations "Harmattan" over Libya and "Serval" over Mali, but before we go into details, I want to emphasise that the Air Force and moreover airpower are a political tool. And for this tool's most value today, in the hands of the political leaders, is what we call First Entry.