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Bundestag Approves Reconnaissance Tornadoes for Afghanistan
With a comfortable majority, the German Bundestag has approved the deployment of German reconnaissance Tornadoes to Afghanistan. The reconnaissance mission is to provide enhanced protection for military personnel and the Afghan civilian population. As of mid-April, between six and eight Tornadoes will be supporting the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The jets are to produce reconnaissance photos for NATO from all over Afghanistan, boosting the effectiveness of the anti-Taliban operation. They will be stationed at the German armed forces' base at Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. The current ISAF mandate will be expanded by this new mandate, which will, like the original, run until 13 October 2007. This new deployment will mean the assignment of up to 500 troops over and above the contingent of German troops already in Afghanistan. On 28 September 2006 the Bundestag approved extending German participation in the NATO-led ISAF. Currently almost 3,000 German soldiers, male and female, are serving in Afghanistan. Tornado deployment to step up security Because of their mandate and the equipment they carry, the Tornadoes will be used for reconnaissance. They will not be providing direct combat support because the armaments they carry are designed for self-defence only. The Tornado crews are particularly well trained because they are currently part of NATO's response force. The multi-role aircraft were first used by the German armed forces in 1980. The German Air Force has a total of 262 Tornadoes of various types, of which 30 are fitted out for reconnaissance work. The planes belong to the Reconnaissance Wing 51 "Immelmann" based in Jagel (in Schleswig-Holstein). Better protection for civilians Improved reconnaissance will help protect ISAF troops throughout Afghanistan, including the members of the German armed forces. Civilian helpers too and the Afghan population will see their security situation improved thanks to the new mandate. March 12, 2007 Links
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