The German Bundestag agreed on 09 March 2007 with a large majority on the deployment of six Tornado reconnaissance (recce) aircraft to Afghanistan. The Tornados will be part of the German contingent of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The aircraft will be employed for imaging reconnaissance and aerial surveillance as well as for photographic interpretation.
After their landing in Afghanistan, the Tornado aircraft from German Air Force Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 51 "Immelmann" in Jagel will be employed by the ISAF Headquarters within the framework of the decisions taken by the NATO Council and the mandate of the United Nations. The German Bundestag mandate permits Germany's participation in ISAF until 13 October 2007. Up to 500 soldiers can be deployed in addition to the previous mandate for air reconnaissance and aerial surveillance. The troops will be based in Mazar-e-Sharif in the north of Afghanistan.
