New National Component Commander takes charge of Chinook detachment in Mali RAF Press Release | March 12, 2021 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 25 seconds. A new British National Component Commander has taken command of the RAF Chinook detachment serving in Mali in support of the French Counter Insurgency Operation. Commander Colin Kiernan of the Royal Navy has taken over from Lieutenant Colonel Steve Brining of the Army Air Corps during a handover ceremony at Gao Airbase in Mali, West Africa. Chinooks from 1310 flight on Op NEWCOMBE recently visited the Hombori Mountians. UK personnel are deployed in non-combat roles on Op NEWCOMBE (CH47) to provide valuable logistical support to French colleagues deployed on Op BARKHANE to counter violent extremists. RAF Photo