Race against time: How the French army prepares in the case of an air strike

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At the Cazaux airbase in southwestern France, fighter jets took off under unusual conditions this week as part of a major military exercise designed to test the French Air and Space Force’s rapid response capabilities.

The exercise, known as Topaze, simulated an imminent attack on one of the neighbouring airbases, including enemy drones in the air.

Units had only seven hours’ notice to prepare. Their mission was to evacuate aircraft, personnel and equipment while maintaining the ability to conduct fighting operations.

The element of surprise was key. Captain Armand, a Rafale fighter jet pilot participating in the exercise, told Euronews: “The goal is to be taken by surprise. The deployment at very short notice, followed by a huge team effort to configure the aircraft as quickly as possible and prepare ourselves as best we could for this mission under severe time constraints, was the hardest part.”

The Topaze military exercise involved up to 20 fighter jets and 145 personnel, who were deployed across four airbases around France.

The exercise also tested the support chain, including mechanics, technical teams, spare parts, and weapons.

Some aircraft were deliberately given simulated malfunctions to evaluate how quickly crews could repair them.

Twenty-four hours after the evacuation order, the exercise culminated with a simulated strike against enemy planes.

Rafale jets flew in full war configuration, equipped with SCALP cruise missiles — long-range weapons designed to destroy precise targets.

The SCALP cruise missile is on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Monday, June 19, 2023.

This exercise comes amid growing international tensions and reflects the French Army’s focus on what it calls “high-intensity warfare,” particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.

“We never train for nothing and since high-intensity warfare is raging on all fronts…it is in response to this kind of operational requirement that we are doing this exercise,” explained General Pierre Gaudillière, who commands the Fighter Aviation Air Brigade.