Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
Russia’s Africa Corps has deployed at least one Su-24 fighter bomber in Mail to support operations against terrorist groups in the African country.
The deployment of the Su-24 was first reported by the the Associated Press on June 10. Citing a satellite image released by Maxar Technologies, the news agency said that the fighter bomber was deployed at Bamako Air Base, located at Modibo Keita International Airport near the Malian capital.
Later, photos purported to show two Su-24s in Mali were posted to social networks. A video that surfaced online was also said to show a recent strike by the fighter bombers.
Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
Click to see full-size image. Via Telegram.
The Soviet-era Su-24 has a top speed of Mach 1.6, a combat range of 615 kilometers and can carry a payload of up to 8,000 kg on nine hardpoints, including precision guided weapons. The strike footage indicates that the fighter bombers deployed in Mali had been upgraded to the M2 standard, which features the advanced SVP-24 navigation and targeting system.
The African Corps is a paramilitary group under the Russian Defense Ministry that was created to formalize Moscow’s security partnerships in Africa.
AP said in the same report that the group has been also deploying all sorts of heavy weapons, from armored vehicles to heavy howitzers in Mali.
Just last week, the Russian private military company Wagner Group officially announced the completion of its mission in Mali.
In a statement, the group said that its fighters had successfully fulfilled their objectives, including the elimination of thousands of terrorists, the restoration of government control over key regional capitals in the country, and the training of the Malian Armed Forces.
Later reports suggested that Wagner was replaced by the African Corps, which explains the group’s recent military buildup in Mali.
Military cooperation with Russia has contributed significantly to the security and stability of Mali since 2021. Moscow offered Bamako solid military support. Mali’s former allies in the West, namely France, never provided such support, likely to keep the country reliant on them for security.
In 2022, Russia restored life to the Malian Air Force by supplying a number of Su-25 close air support and L-39 light attack jets, as well as several Mi-8 and Mi-24 transportation and attack helicopters.
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