Four French Rafale fighter jets are undertaking an extensive 40,000-kilometer, 40-day deployment named PEGASE 26, traversing from the Arctic through the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East. This mission aims to demonstrate the formidable long-range operational capabilities of the French Air and Space Force and the advanced prowess of the Rafale fighter jet itself. The exercise spans strategically crucial regions, underscoring France's territorial presence, customer base, and commitment to maintaining freedom of air navigation and international law. PEGASE 26 rigorously tests both aircraft and crews against challenging environments and complex logistical demands, including vital air-to-air refuelling operations.

Four French Rafale fighter jets are undertaking an extensive 40,000-kilometer, 40-day deployment named PEGASE 26, traversing from the Arctic through the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East. This mission aims to demonstrate the formidable long-range operational capabilities of the French Air and Space Force and the advanced prowess of the Rafale fighter jet itself. The exercise spans strategically crucial regions, underscoring France's territorial presence, customer base, and commitment to maintaining freedom of air navigation and international law. PEGASE 26 rigorously tests both aircraft and crews against challenging environments and complex logistical demands, including vital air-to-air refuelling operations.

Four French Rafale fighter jets are undertaking an extensive 40,000-kilometer, 40-day deployment named PEGASE 26, traversing from the Arctic through the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East. This mission aims to demonstrate the formidable long-range operational capabilities of the French Air and Space Force and the advanced prowess of the Rafale fighter jet itself. The exercise spans strategically crucial regions, underscoring France's territorial presence, customer base, and commitment to maintaining freedom of air navigation and international law. PEGASE 26 rigorously tests both aircraft and crews against challenging environments and complex logistical demands, including vital air-to-air refuelling operations.

Four French Rafale fighter jets have begun an ambitious 40,000-kilometre journey spanning 40 days, during which the aircraft will travel from the Arctic through the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, showcasing both the long-range deployment capabilities of the French Air and Space Force and the power and prowess of the fighter jet.

The exercise, called PEGASE 26, runs from September 8 to October 15 and involves, apart from the four Rafale fighters, around 300 personnel, three A330 MRTT Phénix tanker-transport aircraft and two A400M Atlas airlifters.

This is the seventh edition of the PEGASE series, which began in 2018.

The mission will take the French aircraft through some of the world's most strategically important regions, connecting the Arctic, Indo-Pacific and Middle East. The route touches regions where France has territories, Rafale customers or strategic interests concerning freedom of air navigation, according to reports.

According to the French Air and Space Force, the deployment will "consolidate operational readiness, strengthen strategic partnerships and promote respect for international law, including the principle of freedom of air navigation."

The long flight

The deployment will test both aircraft and crews through long-distance flights, difficult Arctic weather, air-to-air refuelling and the identification and opening of new logistical locations.

After heading towards Greenland, the aircraft will travel to Canada and Alaska before continuing through Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and India.

PEGASE 26 is aimed at projecting French military capabilities while demonstrating that the country can support distant territories and allies and work alongside strategic partners.

The mission also comes six months after President Emmanuel Macron offered to share France's nuclear umbrella with European partners.

Some Rafale fighters can be equipped with nuclear-armed missiles. Officials said they would probably be paired with the same Airbus A330 MRTT refuelling aircraft to deliver such weapons over long distances.

Rafale and India

According to the French defence ministry, India will be one of the important stops on the 40-day journey, as the French contingent will participate in the multinational Tarang Shakti exercise. The mission will also participate in the Amun exercise in Egypt and make a stop in Réunion, the island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France.

The deployment is intended to demonstrate the French Air and Space Force's ability to project its aircraft over vast distances and promote freedom of access to common spaces and respect for international law.

The India leg of the exercise also comes as the country is set to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets through a government-to-government framework with France. Under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) project, 18 aircraft will be supplied in fly-away condition by Dassault Aviation while the remaining aircraft will be manufactured in India with more than 50 per cent indigenous content to be achieved in phases.

PEGASE 26 also seeks to strengthen French air cooperation with strategic partners including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and India.

The deployment was in planning for almost a year. The four Rafales — two single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft — are being supported by three refuelling aircraft, two transport aircraft and around 300 personnel. The mission is overseen from a headquarters near Lyon.

"In practical terms, we fly together, we land together, we work together," Alice Rufo, Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, was quoted as saying before the Rafales departed France.

"If we are called upon to act together in the face of a threat, we need to be immediately interoperable," she said. "That doesn't just happen. It must be prepared, and these exercises and missions allow us to prepare for that."

Rufo highlighted the strategic importance of the Arctic leg, saying France had responded to Denmark's request by joining the Arctic Endurance exercise in Greenland.

She also emphasised France's permanent presence in the Indo-Pacific.

"France is not merely a passing visitor in the Indo-Pacific. It has territories there. It has citizens there. It has military personnel serving there permanently," she said.

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