Latest news with #FrenchAirandSpaceForce
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
French Rafale Fighters Project Power Forward To Sweden
French Air and Space Force Rafale fighters are among the aircraft taking part in a power-projection exercise including operations over Sweden, which joined NATO a little over a year ago. The latest edition of the Pégase (Pegasus) drill comes as European NATO members look at bolstering their deterrence capabilities independent of the United States, with France very much at the center of these discussions. Notably, the maneuvers are also being accompanied by an exercise in which French military aircraft have been rapidly dispersed to alternative airfields, something that would be required in a large-scale conflict with Russia, for example. Far North | PEGASE 25 kicks off combat power deployed to Northern Europe. A concrete commitment to European security, side by side with our allies, to deter and stop: — The Joint Staff – Military operations (@FrenchForces) April 22, 2025 The French Air and Space Force today published details of Pégase 25, which saw aircraft launch from the airbases of Mont-de-Marsan, Istres, Saint-Dizier, and Orléans yesterday. The aircraft involved comprise six Rafales, two A400M transports, and a single A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), known locally as Phénix. The Pégase Grand Nord phase, described by the service as 'an unprecedented edition of our annual power-projection mission,' saw these assets heading for Sweden and 'demonstrating the Air Force's ability to deploy rapidly, far, and autonomously.' Notably, the French Air and Space Force described this as a strategic exercise, designed 'to assert our presence, strengthen our partnerships, and demonstrate our commitment to European security, alongside our allies.' Writing on X, Etienne Marcuz, an associate fellow of the French think tank FRS, who focuses on strategic systems and nuclear deterrence, noted that at least some of the six Rafales deployed on Pégase 25 have been drawn from the airborne component of France's nuclear deterrent. Specifically, this is the 4e Escadre de Chasse (4th Fighter Wing) of the Strategic Air Forces, home-based at Saint-Dizier. It did not take long, we now have the answer, part of the 6 Rafale taking part of #PEGASE25 operation that flew yesterday to Sweden belong to the French strategic air forces And the word "deter" is once again used (though without "nuclear")This is a significant…1/ — Etienne Marcuz (@Etienne_Marcuz) April 23, 2025 As you can read about here, France has around 50 two-seat Rafale Bs assigned to the nuclear mission, armed with ASMP-A supersonic missiles and supported by a fleet of A330 MRTT aerial refueling tankers. These aircraft are dual-role, however, and are capable of a wide range of air-to-ground missions, and air defense onces, in addition to their strategic strike role. At this stage, it's unclear what particular missions the aircraft are taking part in during Pégase 25, and we have reached out to the French Ministry of Defense for more details. As to the Pégase Grand Nord component, it appears that at least some of the French aircraft have landed in Sweden and will be operating alongside Swedish Air Force assets. However, it's not clear if they will remain deployed in Sweden for a period or if they will move on to another country. | The six Air Force Rafales taking part in the PÉGASE 25 mission are part of the French deterrent. — French Aid to Ukraine (@aidefranceukr) April 23, 2025 Reflecting the overall strategic nature of the exercise, Pégase 25 is also being run concurrently with a second set of maneuvers, known as Exercise Jade (standing for Jaillissement d'Escadre, or 'wing burst'). In the Jade drills, the French Air and Space Force is training to disperse aircraft from their home bases to alternative airfields, reflecting the kind of thinking that was prevalent during the Cold War, but which fell out of favor in the years immediately after that. Having aircraft dispersed over a larger number of bases, including ones that don't have a permanent combat aircraft presence, is also key to avoiding the destruction of these assets in any kind of initial attack launched by an aggressor and for sustained operations to keep ahead of the enemy's targeting cycle. These tactics have been critical to the Ukrainian Air Force's survival and are now underpinning U.S. air combat doctrine in the Pacific with the USAF's ACE and Marines' EABO playbooks. In the latest Jade maneuvers, which began yesterday, all the operational Mirage 2000Ds and Mirage 2000Bs assigned to Nancy Air Base were ordered to disperse to five other airfields, without prior notice. These alternative airfields included two training bases that don't normally host fighter aircraft. …le second exercice, JADE pour "Jaillissement d'Escadre"Il s'agit d'un type d'exercice qui était en vogue durant la Guerre Froide et qui vise à s'exercer à la dispersion des appareils d'une ou plusieurs bases aériennes vers d'autres terrains d'aviation pour éviter…8/ — Etienne Marcuz (@Etienne_Marcuz) April 23, 2025 [Notre Défense] Ce 22 avril 2025, la 3e escadre de chasse de la BA 133 #Nancy a reçu un ordre inattendu : dispersion de ses Mirage 2000D et 2000B vers cinq bases aériennes différentes Une manœuvre sans avertissement baptisée « Jade » — Laurent Albaret (@laurentalbaret) April 22, 2025 Although nuclear-capable aircraft don't appear to be involved in the latest Jade drill, the ability to disperse aircraft at short notice is especially important for the Strategic Air Forces. This reduces the risk of nuclear-capable Rafales being knocked out on the ground in a pre-emptive strike, ensuring the credibility of the French deterrent. Potentially, dispersal of aircraft in this way can also make use of civilian airfields, which opens up many more opportunities to ensure the security of French Air and Space Force assets, by making it that much harder for an adversary to target them. At the same time, sending Rafales and support assets to Sweden opens up the possibility of dispersing these aircraft to airfields outside of France. This could have multiple advantages in times of tension. As well as further complicating an adversary's targeting plans, sending combat aircraft to Sweden, for example, puts them closer to potential targets in Russia. It also sends a clear signal that France will be willing to support its NATO allies should these come under attack. It is likely no coincidence that Sweden, which is that much closer to Russia, and which is strategically located in the Baltic region and in proximity to the High North, was chosen for Pégase 25. Taken together, Pégase 25 and Jade indicate that France is increasingly preparing for large-scale military contingencies that might be fought both on its own territory as well as elsewhere across Europe. For Marcuz, it was not a surprise that the French Air and Space Force would send combat aircraft — specifically nuclear-capable ones — to Sweden, in light of broader security issues in Europe. 'At the end of February, I had identified the dispatch of Strategic Air Forces aircraft along Europe's eastern border as a possible first step towards extending our deterrent to our neighbors,' Marcuz said. 'At the time, I imagined a single long flight, but a mission such as Pégase 25 over several days offers the advantage of 'visiting' countries and training in greater depth with our allies.' Depending on how long Pégase 25 continues, airbases in other countries could also be visited, increasing the opportunities for cooperative training as well as sending a deeper message to potential adversaries. 'However, we'll have to wait for further communications, probably at a higher level, to find out whether this mission has an official 'nuclear' character, or whether it's just implied (with a correspondingly weaker message),' Marcuz added. Whatever the specific function of nuclear deterrence within Pégase 25, this is an area in which France is currently looking to expand, to meet the resurgent Russian threat. Last month, TWZ reported on how France will establish another nuclear-capable air base — its fourth — that will be equipped with two squadrons of the latest version of the Rafale. The new nuclear base will be Luxeuil, in eastern France, which will join those already operational at Saint-Dizier, Istres, and Avord. Notably, the nuclear base at Luxeuil is planned to receive the advanced F5-standard Rafale as well as the ASN4G missile, the next-generation standoff nuclear weapon for the French Armed Forces, which will fly at hypersonic speed. The fact that France operates an independent nuclear deterrent has brought this capability to greater prominence in recent months. As TWZ has noted in the past: France, meanwhile, has both submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-launched nuclear missiles of its own design. More importantly, these weapons are technically independent of NATO nuclear planning, unlike the British nuclear deterrent, which is also closely intertwined with that of the United States. How this would all play out when confronted by the realities of a nuclear conflict involving NATO is unclear, but it does at least provide Paris with more flexibility when it comes to discussions of how its nuclear umbrella might be extended to European NATO allies. Earlier this year, it was reported that France is looking at the possibility of deploying air-launched nuclear weapons to Germany, an idea driven by growing concerns that the United States may no longer guarantee European security under NATO. Before he was appointed German leader, Friedrich Merz meanwhile called talks with his British and French colleagues about European 'nuclear sharing or at least nuclear security.' According to a report in the British newspaper The Telegraph in February, citing an unnamed French official, 'Posting a few French nuclear jet fighters in Germany should not be difficult and would send a strong message' to Russia, which would aim to bolster Europe's nuclear deterrent. More generally, France is currently witnessing an increasing focus on building up Europe's capacity to provide a defensive bulwark against Russia, driven to a significant degree by concerns about U.S. security guarantees. Of course, this includes a wide range of conventional capabilities, underpinned by the nuclear-tasked Strategic Air Forces. The importance of the Pégase 25 drills in the wider European security context is also made clear in the French Air and Space Force's own statement on the maneuvers: 'Pégase 25 is more than an exercise: it's a concrete commitment to European security alongside our allies. Deter, protect, act together.' While we don't know for sure to what degree the Pégase 25 exercise is focused on nuclear warfighting, it's significant that nuclear-capable Rafales and their strategic support assets are involved. More generally, it's notable that the maneuvers are being highlighted as an explicit demonstration of French commitment to broader NATO security in Europe. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Deeply Upgraded Mirage 2000DRMV Strike Jet Enters French Service
The French Air and Space Force has officially reintroduced the modernized Mirage 2000DRMV strike aircraft in a ceremony yesterday. By the end of this year, the force will have 50 upgraded examples of the delta-wing jet, which, despite its relative age, remains a highly capable conventional strike and close air support asset. It will now continue in frontline service until at least 2035, when it will finally be replaced by the Rafale — expected to be complemented by a planned uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) and eventually also an all-new pan-European crewed combat jet. The modernized Mirage 2000DRMV (RMV for Rénovation Mi-Vie, or midlife update) adds various new weapons, with air-to-ground options now including the U.S.-made 1,000-pound GBU-48, 500-pound GBU-49, and 2,000-pound GBU-50 Enhanced Paveway II precision-guided bombs. In terms of locally developed ordnance, there is the laser-guided version of the locally made AASM rocket-assisted bomb — versions of which have seen extensive use in Ukraine. Other offensive options include the Thales/TDA ASPTT (Air-Sol Petite Taille Tactique) lightweight, laser-guided, air-to-surface munition, also known as the BAT-120LG. For the first time, the Mirage 2000D also has gun armament, with the CC422 30mm cannon pod installed on the left chin pylon below the air intake. Aircraft guns, once again, can be a valuable close air support tool. However, since the Mirage 2000D was derived from the airframe of the nuclear-strike Mirage 2000N, this was never fitted with internal cannons. The upgraded Mirage is also better equipped to use these weapons, thanks to the introduction of the more modern Targeting Long-range Identification Optronic System (TALIOS) pod, as used on the Rafale. This replaces the aging ATLIS II, PDL CTS, and Damocles pods that were previously used by the Mirage 2000D. TALIOS is also a dual-use pod, which provides tactical reconnaissance as well as targeting. For reconnaissance, the pod generates high-resolution color imagery, which can be transmitted in real time via the Link 16 datalink. For air-to-air missions, the MICA NG infrared-guided air-to-air missile replaces the old Magic IIs. Meanwhile, the Mirage 2000DRMV is provided with a new centerline drop tank, which carries fuel and also has built-in countermeasures dispensers. This doubles the available chaff and flare launchers on the jet to four. An alternative centerline drop tank also contains an electronic intelligence (ELINT) system, meaning that the jet can fly longer-range missions of this type. Previously, the older ASTAC pod had to be carried on this station, meaning the centerline fuel tank had to be omitted. Stills from a new Russian MoD video showing a French Mirage 2000D escorted by a Rafale C in international airspace over the # 2000D: 2x R.550 IR-guided AAMs, 2x drop tanks & 1x ASTAC ELINT C: 2x MICA AAMs (likely IR-guided variant) & 1x drop tank. — Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) December 8, 2021 In addition to these weapons and stores, the Mirage 2000DRMV has a modernized cockpit, including a more intuitive digital instrument panel. Reportedly, the pilots of the modernized jet are also being issued with the Thales Scorpion helmet-mounted display, an item already provided to French Rafale crews and also notably used by the U.S. Air Force A-10 and F-16 communities, among various other applications. However, other key avionics — including the Antilope 5 terrain-following radar — remain unchanged. All of this is being done at a reported cost of around 530 million euros, or roughly $590 million. The Mirage 2000D emerged as a more flexible, conventionally armed derivative of the Mirage 2000N two-seat, all-weather, nuclear strike aircraft. Originally, the Mirage 2000N had no ability to carry out precision attacks with conventional weapons. The Mirage 2000D addressed this. Externally very similar to the Mirage 2000N, the original D-model also featured an entirely reworked cockpit with new displays and hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls. As well as targeting pods, the Mirage 2000D added an improved electronic self-defense suite. Initial offensive weapons for the Mirage 2000D comprised the laser-guided AS30L missile, the BGL 1000 laser-guided bomb (LGB), as well as the U.S.-made 500-pound GBU-12 and the 2,000-pound GBU-24 Paveway II LGBs. The Mirage 2000D could also carry a single SCALP-EG or APACHE standoff missile on its centerline pylon. The APACHE, which carried cluster submunitions for airfield denial, has since been withdrawn from service, while France has donated considerable numbers of its SCALP-EG cruise missiles to Ukraine. Production of the Mirage 2000D spanned from 1993 to 2001, with 86 Mirage 2000Ds completed. These soon became workhorses of the French Air Force, in the course of extensive operations flown over Afghanistan, in Africa's Sahel region (Operation Barkhane), as well as in the Middle East (Operation Chammal). Reflecting their important role, the Mirage 2000D had already been progressively upgraded, before the DRMV program, adding new weapons including dual-mode GBU-49 laser/GPS-guided bombs, as well as Link 16 datalink, an Improved Data Modem, and encrypted radios. As well as being delayed, the Mirage 2000DRMV program has been scaled back since it was first launched, from 71 upgraded jets to the current 50 due to be redelivered to the French Air and Space Force. However, the aircraft is still very much in demand, including for the kinds of high-intensity conflicts that NATO's European air arms are increasingly preparing for, faced by the growing Russian threat. The first modernized Mirage 2000DRMV was handed over to the French Air and Space Force in early 2021 and was used for evaluation. Today, the operational Mirage 2000D fleet is operated from Base Aérienne 133 Nancy-Ochey in northeast France. The base's three squadrons are equipped with 67 Mirage 2000Ds. With ongoing operations, especially in the Middle East, the upgraded Mirage 2000DRMVs are likely to be deployed sooner rather than later, to make the most of their new capabilities. These French Middle East deployments, targeting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, send rotations of jets to H4 Air Base in Jordan and to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. As it stands, the Mirage 2000D is set to be the last of the illustrious line of delta-wing combat jets serving the French Air and Space Force. The Mirage 2000N was retired in 2018, followed by the basic Mirage 2000C air defense version in 2022. Today, the fleet of improved Mirage 2000-5F air defense versions is also being drawn down, with examples being donated to Ukraine. Mirages of different versions have served the French Air Force since 1961, when the first-generation Mirage III entered service. Suitably modernized, the Mirage 2000DRMV is now set to continue in frontline French service until 2035. At that point, the Rafale should be available in numbers such that the D-model Mirage can finally be withdrawn. Around the same timeframe, the French Air and Space Force plans to also be operating a new crewed combat jet, known as the Next Generation Fighter (NGF), as well as complementary 'loyal wingman' type drones. However those more ambitious plans take shape, the Mirage 2000D looks certain to eventually record an impressive four decades in service. Contact the author: thomas@
Russia Today
26-03-2025
- General
- Russia Today
French military jets collide midair (VIDEO)
Two military jets from a renowned aerobatic team have collided midair during a stunt rehearsal in France, crashing to the ground and erupting in a fireball, footage of the incident showed. Three people – two pilots and one passenger – managed to eject before the crash and were 'found conscious,' the French Air and Space Force wrote on X. The crash took place near an airbase in Saint-Dizier, eastern France, on Tuesday afternoon during a training drill involving six Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France, the French Air Force's precision aerobatics team. Footage captured by bystanders showed the moment the jets, engaged in a stunt and releasing smoke trails, collided in midair. The aircraft then spiraled toward the ground as crew members were seen ejecting and deploying their parachutes. Moments later, the jets crashed to the ground and erupted in a fiery plume. 🇫🇷 Nouvelle vidéo de l'accident aérien de la Patrouille de FranceL'agence France-Presse a publié une vidéo du crash de l'avion Alpha Jet de la Patrouille de tôt dans la journée, deux avions du groupe sont entrés en collision alors qu'ils effectuaient des… — Grelet J-Christophe (@JCGRELET) March 25, 2025 French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed the incident on X, noting that the emergency services were quickly deployed to the scene. 'Slightly injured, they were taken into care,' he wrote. 'Thanks to the emergency services mobilized, thoughts for our pilots of the Patrouille de France.' Saint-Dizier Mayor Quentin Briere said one of the jets crashed into a grain silo, causing an explosion, while the other came down on agricultural land, as cited by Le Parisien. There were no reported injuries on the ground. Crash de deux Alpha Jet de la Patrouille de France à Saint-Dizier 💥 . — Ivs (@Ivs125034) March 25, 2025 Two people were transported to a nearby hospital in a condition described as a 'relative emergency,' according to Le Figaro. The third person, identified as having sustained multiple injuries, is reportedly receiving treatment from the army. The French authorities said it was not immediately clear what caused the collision. The Alpha Jet is a two-seat light attack and advanced trainer aircraft, developed in the 1970s by France's Dassault Aviation and Germany's Dornier. It is primarily used for pilot training and aerobatic displays.
Web Release
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
BELL & ROSS Launches The NEW BR-05 CHRONO PATROUILLE DE FRANCE
Back in flight with the Patrouille de France for Bell & Ross. The fourth watch born from the partnership with the French Air and Space Force's aerobatic team, the new BR-05 Chrono Patrouille de France chronograph celebrates a spirit of elegance and excellence. Inspired by the blue of pilots' flight suits and aircraft, the BR-05 Chrono Patrouille de France features a sky-blue dial and refined finishes. Its BR-CAL.326 caliber ensures a 60-hour power reserve. This limited edition of 500 pieces celebrates the technical excellence and prestige of the squadron.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
France To Expand Its Nuclear Deterrent With New Air Base
France has said it will establish another nuclear-capable air base — its fourth — which will be equipped with two squadrons of the latest version of the homegrown Dassault Rafale multirole fighter. The change in fortunes for the base, Luxeuil, in eastern France, once threatened with closure, comes as European NATO members, including France, look at bolstering their nuclear deterrence capabilities independent of the United States. The announcements were made today by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Luxeuil Air Base — locally known as Base Aérienne 116. As a nuclear-capable base, Luxeuil is planned to host the new ASN4G hypersonic missile by 2035. The weapon will arm two squadrons of the most advanced F5-standard Rafales — a total of 40 aircraft. All in all, France will invest around 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) into the installation. Pointing to the fact that the war in Ukraine 'has changed the situation,' Cédric Perrin, the senator for the region in which the air base is located, confirmed that the first Rafale squadron will touch down at Luxeuil in 2032, becoming operational the following year, while the second squadron will become operational in 2036. It appears that these 40 advanced versions of the Rafale will be in addition to the 42 examples ordered earlier this year. As well as being compatible with the ASN4G missile, the F5-standard Rafales will also be able to work in conjunction with 'loyal wingman'-type drones. Macron has just announced that the Luxeuil airbase B116 will by 2035 host the ASN4G, the nuclear deterrent's future airborne hypersonic missile, as well as two squadrons of the future F5-standard Rafale fighter jetHe announced this on his way to Germany, and on the day Trump talks to Putin — Sophie Pedder (@ 2025-03-18T13:52:01.486Z Whatever the case with the overall Rafale numbers, adding a new nuclear-capable air base for the French Air and Space Force is significant. Currently, the French Air and Space Force has three air bases equipped with secure weapons storage for nuclear missiles: Saint-Dizier, Istres, and Avord. These bases host roughly 50 two-seat Rafale Bs, which are armed with ASMP-A supersonic missiles and are supported by a fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT Phénix aerial refueling tankers. If the 40 nuclear-tasked Rafales at Luxeuil will be in addition to the existing ones, rather than a direct replacement, that would represent a major expansion of France's nuclear deterrence force. It would also imply that the total number of warheads fielded by the French Air and Space Force will be increased significantly. As of 2015, it was confirmed that France had 54 operational ASMP-A missiles. Also significant is Macron's announcement of this nuclear expansion as he traveled to Germany to meet officials there, and on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump had talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. This kind of signaling serves as a demonstration of French independent nuclear deterrence toward Russia and, at the same time, is likely geared toward encouraging Germany to approve major new defense investments of its own. Meanwhile, in Berlin, the parliament is voting to remove constitutional limits on defense spending. Ahead of Macron's trip to Luxeuil, it was stated that the primary aim was to underscore 'the key role of the air base' and its importance 'in collective defense and regional security.' That latter point also refers to the growing momentum behind the idea of some kind of expanded nuclear deterrence among European NATO members, separate from the nuclear-sharing program that relies on the United States. This idea has emerged out of the deepening crisis in the transatlantic alliance under President Trump, emphasized by recent calls from German leader-in-waiting Friedrich Merz for talks with his British and French colleagues about European 'nuclear sharing or at least nuclear security.' Last month, as TWZ reported at the time, it also emerged that France was apparently looking at the possibility of deploying air-launched nuclear weapons in Germany, another measure that could come to pass if it's determined that the United States may no longer guarantee European security under NATO. Macron's announcement today of a new nuclear-capable air base on French territory also points to a willingness to develop this kind of deterrence infrastructure, although establishing a base of this kind in Germany, whether on a permanent or temporary basis would be a lot more complicated. Furthermore, Luxeuil was a previous nuclear-capable base, before that mission was removed in 2011. As for the F5-standard Rafale, this latest iteration is planned to keep the multirole combat aircraft in frontline service until around 2060. Initial studies for F5 were started last year, with full-scale development to begin in the 2026-27 timeframe. Modifications to the Rafale's airframe are also being considered, including the adoption of conformal fuel tanks and of radar-cross-section reduction kits, to increase the stealthiness of the jet. The Rafale F5 is expected to have a focus on collaborative combat, including crewed-uncrewed teaming with drones, as well as incorporating new-generation weapons like the ASN4G, the next-generation standoff nuclear weapon for the French Armed Forces. Work on the ASN4G (Air-Sol Nucléaire de 4e Génération, or fourth-generation nuclear air-to-ground) missile began in 2016. The munition remains in the early stages of development, but it will be capable of hypersonic speeds — defined as speeds greater than Mach 5 — with a range in excess of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). The sucessor of the ASMPA-R is already in the works with the ASN4G. It will be hypersonic (Mach 6/7), and stealthier. In 2024, the program MIHYSYS was launched to began development of components for hypersonic flight. 20/22 — VLS Enjoyer (@VLS_Appreciator) March 3, 2025 This compares with a speed of over Mach 3 for the current ASMP-A, which is powered by a liquid-fuel ramjet engine over a maximum range of around 500 kilometers (310 miles), depending on the flight profile. The ASMP-A is equipped with a thermonuclear warhead of around 300 kilotons. For the French Air and Space Force, today's announcement of major investment in the (nuclear) future of the base is significant. But the decision also has wider relevance, pointing to a growing feeling within Europe that its future nuclear deterrence guarantees will increasingly have to be developed using local resources and offer a much greater degree of independence from U.S. decision-making — while remaining within the framework of NATO. In this regard, France already has a headstart. The French deterrent includes both submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-launched nuclear missiles of its own design. More importantly, these weapons are technically independent of NATO nuclear planning, unlike the British nuclear deterrent, which is also closely intertwined with that of the United States. How this would all play out when confronted by the realities of a nuclear conflict involving NATO is unclear, but it does at least provide Paris with more flexibility when it comes to discussions of how its nuclear umbrella might be extended to European NATO allies. Now, with another nuclear-tasked air base on the cards, France is making a very clear statement of intent about its independent nuclear deterrence, which is set for a major expansion just at the time when other NATO partners in Europe are seeking more reassurance in this regard. Contact the author: thomas@
