French Rafales complete a long 14,000 kilometer marathon across 5 nations
Their tour also included Greece, latest Rafale customer.
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| French Air Force Rafale multirole combat aircraft at Tanagra Air Force Base, Greece. |
From January 20 to February 5, the French Air Force (FAF) carried out a long-range power projection exercise involving four Rafale fighters, two A400M transport aircraft and an A330 Phénix tanker. They conducted a 14,000-kilometer tour through Africa, India, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Greece, before returning to France. Called Skyros 2021, the activity involved around 150 military personnel.
Skyros is both a logistical challenge as well as an opportunity to train with other air forces far from national borders. In 2018, under the Pegasus exercise, three FAF Rafales flew to Australia (Darwin), before returning via Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, India and Qatar.
The final plan of the FAF is to be able to project a squadron of about twenty Rafales in two days to Australia. Although that goal has not yet been achieved, French officers believe that with the arrival of the A400M and the Phénix, it will soon be done.
The Skyros allowed the French aviators to fly together with three Rafale customers (India, Egypt and Greece) and a "potential new customer", the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which could purchase about 60 of them. These four countries have long been clients of France and are in favor of the French government's political guidelines in the field of defense.
During the Skyros, the French Rafales trained with various types of fighters from other nations, such as the Indian Sukhoi Su-30s. Their last stop, in Tanagra, attracted the attention of many European media as Greece has recently become the new user of the aircraft. During their stay there, the French fighters trained together with Greek Air Force Mirage 2000 and F16 jets in complex aerial operations, day and night.
The FAF's next major air exercise, called Atlantic Trident, will take place next May in France and will include USAF and RAF F-35s.
Skyros is both a logistical challenge as well as an opportunity to train with other air forces far from national borders. In 2018, under the Pegasus exercise, three FAF Rafales flew to Australia (Darwin), before returning via Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, India and Qatar.
The final plan of the FAF is to be able to project a squadron of about twenty Rafales in two days to Australia. Although that goal has not yet been achieved, French officers believe that with the arrival of the A400M and the Phénix, it will soon be done.
The Skyros allowed the French aviators to fly together with three Rafale customers (India, Egypt and Greece) and a "potential new customer", the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which could purchase about 60 of them. These four countries have long been clients of France and are in favor of the French government's political guidelines in the field of defense.
During the Skyros, the French Rafales trained with various types of fighters from other nations, such as the Indian Sukhoi Su-30s. Their last stop, in Tanagra, attracted the attention of many European media as Greece has recently become the new user of the aircraft. During their stay there, the French fighters trained together with Greek Air Force Mirage 2000 and F16 jets in complex aerial operations, day and night.
The FAF's next major air exercise, called Atlantic Trident, will take place next May in France and will include USAF and RAF F-35s.
Written by Matteo Sanzani
Photo Credit: George Karavantos
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