British troops from the A Squadron The Light Dragoons, a Light Cavalry Squadron, deployed to Mali as UN Peacekeepers in late 2020. Equipped with their Jackal armoured fighting vehicles, they were to form the core of the Long Range Reconnaissance Group (LRRG). The group was tasked with reaching parts of this vast country previously not seen by UN personnel, and to report on and deter the ever increasing insurgency.

OUTACOM Public Address System was loaned to the LRRG and fitted to a Jackal vehicle in the hope it would allow the troops an additional capability when attempting to interact with the local population. It was a very well received capability, and which proved extremely effective during numerous encounters.

As we see the British Army’s deployment come to an end after over 2 years, we look back on how the system was effectively used to maintain the peace.

When approaching villages who had yet to encounter UN troops and who would perceive the column of heavily armed soldiers as aggressive, OUTACOM allowed the troops to forewarn of their friendly intentions and reduce tensions with the local population. As importantly, it had a positive effect in reducing the possibility of violence when armed farmers and tribesmen where encountered, allowing the de-escalation of a potential engagement and where warning shots would normally have been used.

Being able to communicate with a civilian population at distance turned potential flashpoints into friendlier encounters and which on previous overseas operations, had proven problematic. OUTACOM, now fitted to all AJAX AFV’s, has now proven its value in an operational environment to great effect.