In preparation for its upcoming long-term deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, the French Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has undergone readiness activities in the Mediterranean. These exercises, carried out throughout October, coincided with the completion of a four-month maintenance and refitting period for the flagship vessel.
The preparations, including crew training for the Charles de Gaulle and its escort group, are part of the overall training and readiness efforts for the upcoming long-term deployment, with the Indo-Pacific as the intended operational theater. According to plans disclosed by French Navy authorities, the carrier, along with its embarked air wing and escort group, will be deployed in the coming months across the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and likely into the Pacific. The itinerary may even include first-time port visits in the Philippines and Japan, aimed at strengthening cooperation with key allies and partners in the region.
While the final composition of the carrier’s escort group has yet to be determined, various surface fleet frigates of the French Navy have been conducting exercises in recent weeks as part of the potential escort unit for the Charles de Gaulle. Based on past deployments of this scale, it is likely that some FREMM frigates (Aquitaine-class) in both anti-submarine and anti-surface variants will join the escort group.
In October, the Charles de Gaulle crew underwent intensive preparations in the Mediterranean, which included activities with its embarked air wing, consisting of Rafale fighter jets and E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft.
This period also provided an opportunity to qualify new Rafale pilots from the Naval Aviation School (EAé). The official statement highlighted: “This is an important stage in the training of young naval aviation fighter pilots, where they qualify for carrier landings, performing their first catapult launches and landings on board.” The qualifications also included “five naval aviators and one Air and Space Force (AAE) pilot who obtained their day and/or night qualifications during the demanding carrier-based fighter maneuvers.”
Operations on the Charles de Gaulle’s flight deck also enabled the validation of new capabilities of the Rafale’s F4.1 standard, aimed at incorporating improvements. Dassault and the Naval Aeronautics Experimentation and Reception Center (CEPA) personnel participated in these tests.
According to the French Navy, the Charles de Gaulle will soon set sail again to initiate the next phase of preparations for the aforementioned long-term deployment. This phase will focus on the logistical readiness of the carrier and its embarked air groups, with both port and at-sea activities planned.
Photos: French Navy.
You may also like: The Mirage 2000s transferred by France to the Ukrainian Air Force will be equipped with MICA BVR missiles and SCALP-EG stealth missiles
