Latest news with #FrenchAirandSpaceForce
Business Insider
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
French fighter jets practiced shooting down high-altitude balloons as the battle for near space heats up
French fighter pilots shot down high-altitude balloons during a test amid renewed concerns over spy balloons and as France warns that the battle for near space is on. Sébastien Lecornu, France's defense minister, said last month that Rafale and Mirage 2000 aircraft executed the first MICA missile launches at stratospheric balloons operating at very high altitudes. The test was part of France's strategy to operate in near space, a strategic and contested area where nations like China have launched suspected spy balloons. The balloons, which can be massive, hundreds of feet tall, and carry advanced surveillance equipment, are points of concern and interest for the West. Lecornu said very high altitudes were becoming an "area of conflict," calling the recent test a first milestone for his armed forces' strategy for that area. French military officials, as well as MBDA, the multi-national European group that makes the MICA IR air-to-air missile used in the test, define very high altitude as the atmospheric area between 12.4 and 62.1 miles above the Earth. Lecornu said the tests "pushed the technological limits of the aircraft, its pilot, and its weaponry" beyond an altitude of 12 miles. Both of the jets involved have a maximum altitude of around 10 miles. "We must ask ourselves up to what altitude our weapons systems can still operate effectively," Lecornu said. The "very high altitude" region where the recent test occurred is also known as "near space" and is the upper part of the Earth's atmosphere, well above where most planes fly but below where outer space begins. France's armed forces ministry called this "a coveted space" that has operational advantages but, by the same token, can be used to challenge countries' sovereignty. Lecornu called it "a gray area, still poorly regulated," but said it was already "at the heart of the strategic ambitions of several powers." It's an area that's seeing emerging threats and challenges, like spy balloons, and that's getting more and more military attention. Spy balloons France's armed forces ministry said one of the "most emblematic episodes" of how poorly regulated yet coveted this area is was when the US intercepted a Chinese surveillance balloon in 2023. The French ministry noted that it was flying over US territory for several days before it was intercepted. The Chinese balloon, identified by the Pentagon as a surveillance asset, traveled over North America for a week, moving across Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States, before it was shot down by a Sidewinder air-to-air missile fired from an F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft off the Atlantic coast. "This incident dramatically illustrated the difficulty of detecting and intercepting threats evolving in this atmospheric layer, while revealing the strategic potential of very high altitude for intelligence and discreet protest," the ministry said. Gen. Alexis Rougier, who oversees very high altitude operations within the French Air and Space Force, said last month that he spoke to US F-22 pilots involved in the shootdown and that what they shared helped with preparations for the French test. Though there are concerns about unwanted surveillance, especially of sensitive military sites, Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel who now serves as a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider that the balloons, at least for now, pose mostly a political problem. He said the problem the US faced with the 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident was when to shoot it down, because "the problem is: where does it land and who does it land on?" "It's really the political side that's sensitive," he said. Warfare experts have speculated that the spy balloon was intended as a political message, for China to show it could penetrate US airspace and also to test how the US would react. US military officials advised against shooting the Chinese balloon down over land, warning that the debris could harm people and infrastructure. The delay in intercepting it sparked domestic debate and blame. When the American military finally shot it down, there were discussions of the deep cost-imbalance of using a fifth-generation fighter and air-to-air missiles costing around $400,000 each to bring it down. High-altitude spy balloons are not a new capability. They've been around since the 1950s. The technology is relatively cheap and deniable, easy to present as meteorological research tools rather than surveillance assets. Amid the Chinese spy balloon incident, Beijing said the balloon was a weather balloon that had gone astray. Balloons, though now notably improved over the early models, persist because of their altitude, endurance, low cost, and ambiguity of purpose. The balloons offer options outside of spy planes, like the American U-2 Dragon Lady, and satellites. Modern spy balloons are a mix of established technology and ongoing innovation. Newer balloons can carry much more advanced surveillance capabilities, such as high-resolution multispectral sensors, signals and electronic intelligence options, and more. High-altitude spy balloons can cause a host of problems, from hoovering up intel to forcing an adversary to expend significantly more expensive weaponry to bring them down. China, which previously boasted about the ability of its fighter pilots to shoot down spy balloons, has had balloons not only fly over the US but also over Taiwan. India has also experimented with spy balloons, and the US Army still sees value in balloons on the battlefield, opting earlier this year to advance a $4.2 billion program to develop balloons for a persistent tethered surveillance system. Countries, like France and the UK, among others, are exploring how best to beat these and bring them down. A fight for near space Lecornu revealed a new "Very High Altitude" strategy in June for France's military, the purpose being to detect and identify objects maneuvering in that 12.4 to 62.1 mile altitude range. The strategy includes air defense radars, new long-range and ultra-high frequency radars, and satellites for detection, as well as an "interception" component that uses fighter aircraft and missiles, according to France's armed forces ministry. France is also looking into developing surface lasers for space. The new balloon test was part of the new strategy, MBDA said. MBDA described the altitude as "an increasingly contested area of conflict" in a statement on Monday. It called the tests "unprecedented" and said they "demonstrated the feasibility of neutralising this new type of threat." It said the threats in those layers of the atmosphere include espionage and surveillance. Other potential threats beyond balloons include drones and hypersonic missiles. The jets used in the recent test were both French: Mirage 2000s are multi-role, delta-winged fourth-generation fighter jets manufactured by French company Dassault Aviation, the same company that makes the Rafale, which is considered a 4.5-generation fighter. France, unlike many of its allies, prioritizes its domestic defense industry and does not fly foreign fighters like the advanced US-made F-35s that a number of other European nations have bought. France's armed forces ministry said France intends to occupy the very high altitude area "with national platforms, in a spirit of technological sovereignty." This aim includes accelerating some projects, like the BalMaN, France's own developmental spy balloon, and the very long-range solar drone Zephyr. The ministry characterized the near-space region as "legally unclear— neither fully governed by air law nor entirely covered by space law." It said that the uncertainty "fuels growing competition between powers in an area where technical capabilities to detect, intercept, or operate remain limited." Lecornu said it was important to start working in this space to avoid falling behind, like many Western countries have been on drone technology. "This is not about reliving the delay in drones. We must be present in this emerging space now," he said.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Militaries of India, France hold joint drills
Indian and French militaries carried out a two-week wargame in France that focused on boosting joint operational preparedness to deal with security challenges. About 50 armoured and tactical vehicles and fighter jets were deployed in the Indo-French army exercise Shakti that was held from June 18 to July 1. The exercise involved more than 500 legionnaires and military personnel from various units of the French Army, the Foreign Legion, as well as the French Air and Space Force, and the French Navy, according to a French readout. The Indian contingent of 90 personnel primarily comprises a battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles besides personnel from other arms and services. The joint drills were held in Aveyron in Monclar district, and in Herault. Exercise Shakti was a vital opportunity for Indian and French military personnel to boost joint operational preparedness for facing the toughest combat situations in a sub-conventional environment, the readout issued by the French embassy said. "Serving as an effective platform for exchanging best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPS), exercise Shakti will pave the way for deeper cooperation and mutual respect between the French and the Indian armed forces as well as significantly reinforcing the Indo-French defence partnership," it added. The participation of legionnaires in the exercise is seen as significant. Created in 1831 and the French Foreign Legion is engaged in all major operations carried out by the French Army. The elite military unit is open to foreigners who want to serve in the French Army. Indo-French defence exercises such as Exercise Garuda between the air forces, exercise Varuna between the navies and exercise Shakti between the armies, are held regularly and have grown in scope and complexity over the years. They attest to the shared commitment of both nations towards peace, stability, and global security, the embassy noted.
Ya Biladi
25-06-2025
- Ya Biladi
Morocco and France launch joint military exercise to boost aerial interoperability
The Royal Moroccan Air Force and the French Air and Space Force have launched the joint exercise Marathon 25 on Moroccan soil. The objective of the training is clear: «to enhance interoperability and mastery of aerial procedures and tactics», the French military announced on Tuesday, June 24, on X. For the exercise, Morocco has deployed «eight F-16 fighter jets, along with Puma helicopters for transport and medical evacuation missions», according to the same source. On the French side, the deployment includes «five Rafale B jets from the 4th Fighter Wing and an A330 MRTT Phénix from the 31st Air Refueling and Strategic Transport Wing». The training program features a live-fire campaign for the Rafale B jets, in-flight refueling of Moroccan F-16s by the Phénix tanker, and a joint exercise focused on tactics, coordination, and realistic combat scenarios. Marathon 25 is being conducted under the banner of cooperation, knowledge sharing, and operational synergy.
Newsweek
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
India Holds Major Air Drill Near Pakistan Weeks After Giant Dogfight
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. India concluded a massive two-day air combat drill along its southern border with Pakistan, according to multiple Indian news outlets. Newsweek has reached out to the Indian Defense Ministry and the office of Pakistan's prime minister for comment. Why It Matters The exercise took place nearly a month after India launched its military campaign "Operation Sindoor" targeting Pakistan in their biggest confrontation in decades following a deadly attack on a tourist bus in Kashmir that killed 26 people. Pakistan denied Indian accusations of involvement in that attack. Four days of fighting was marked by an extensive air battle, one of the largest dogfights since World War II, before the two nuclear rivals reached a ceasefire agreement following U.S. diplomatic efforts. Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jet takes off during Ex Desert Knight-21, a bilateral air exercise between IAF and French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) at Air Force Station... Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jet takes off during Ex Desert Knight-21, a bilateral air exercise between IAF and French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace) at Air Force Station in Jodhpur on January 23, 2021. More PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images What To Know The Indian Air Force issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) earlier this week for a large-scale exercise scheduled for June 7 and 8, taking place in Rajasthan's southern sector near the Pakistan border. Aircraft deployed included the Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Sukhoi-30, according to Indian outlets including Firstpost, The Shillong Times, and Mathrubhumi English. In May, Pakistan said it shot down several Indian planes, including the French-made Rafale and Russian Sukhoi, with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar saying Chinese J-10C jets were used in the operation. Diplomatic tensions have continued despite a ceasefire agreed under U.S. pressure. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Pakistan of disrupting infrastructure development in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack, Reuters reported Friday. Pakistan accused India of using claims of developmenta in Jammu and Kashmir to mask an unprecedented military presence, arbitrary arrests, and efforts to alter the region's demography in violation of international law, according to The Associated Press of Pakistan. Growing tensions also surround India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam attack. What People Are Saying India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh wrote in The Times of India on June 6: "India has made it clear that we have a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Talks and terrorism cannot go hand-in-hand. Any future dialogue with Pakistan will focus solely on terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Also, if Pakistan is serious, it must hand over UN-designated terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar." Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said on June 6, as quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan: "We are deeply dismayed that the Indian Prime Minister has once again chosen to accuse Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam attack, without presenting a single piece of credible evidence." What Happens Next Relations between India and Pakistan remain tense and any incident could easily prompt a resumption of hostilities.
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@
