The island nation of Mauritius and the French department of Réunion Island are only around 175 kilometers (110 miles) apart from each other in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. Consequently, the Réunion Island-based FAZSOI (French Armed Forces in the Southern Indian Ocean) and Mauritius forces regularly cooperate in joint military exercises throughout the region.
Earlier this year, regimental exercise Aubert brought them together once again to test the operational capabilities of the GTIA2 Joint Battle Group, the deployable portion of the 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2eRPIMa), which is the French Army’s only parachute regiment stationed overseas. The Mauritius Police Force participated with its HAL Dhruv helicopter, which is normally based with the Police Helicopter Squadron at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.
The four-day exercise Aubert, led by 2eRPIMa in the high territory of Réunion (at Plaine-des-Cafres and Plaine-des-Palmistes) included practice in a wide range of missions, including infiltration into enemy territory; reconnaissance; exfiltration; and offensive missions in urban areas. All of the GTIA2’s companies and sections took part in the action, while additional 2eRPIMa personnel provided equipment and medical support for the exercise.
As part of the exercise, an air operational base was established to coordinate the various air and ground activities. Personnel from Transport Squadron Overseas 50 Réunion took part in the exercise, as did an Airbus Helicopters AS565 Panther helicopter from the surveillance frigate Floreal, as well as the Mauritius Police Force’s HAL Dhruv helicopter.
The Dhruv is one of three helicopter types operated by the Mauritius Police Force (others include the Aérospatiale Alouette III and Airbus Helicopters AS555 Fennec). Mauritius uses the twin-engine Dhruv, built in India, for a variety of missions, including troop transport, maritime rescue, medical evacuation, and VIP transportation. For exercise Aubert, the Dhruv was in its military logistics configuration.
During their four days with the 2eRPIMa, the Dhruv’s four-person crew, including two pilots and two winch officers/rescuers, conducted air carrier missions, casualty evacuations, exfiltrations of paratroopers and prisoners, and sling missions. Flying in Réunion’s high mountains gave the Dhruv crew valuable experience in high-altitude operations — in addition to strengthening the productive relationship between Mauritius and the forces based at Réunion.
