French Navy Rafale M Fighters May Conduct Combat Missions From a US Navy CVN in 2017

Navy Recognition ^ | 21 December 2015

[sukhoi-30mki]

French Navy (Marine Nationale) Rafale M carrier-based multirole fighters may conduct combat missions against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier as soon as January 2017. The information comes from French TV channel TF1 (video in French). According to TF1 this subject was discussed between US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and French Navy Rear Adm. Rene-Jean Crignola, Commander Task Force (CTF) 50.

The US Defense Secretary was visiting the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle on Saturday.

The reason why the French Navy would deploy its Rafale M aboard a US Navy aircraft carrier for combat operations is because of the planned major refit (Major Technical Shutdown or IPER in French) for France's sole aircraft carrier. The Charles De Gaulle next refit is scheduled for the start of 2017 and is expected to last a year and a half.

If this was to happen, it would be the first time that French Navy aircraft would fly actual combat missions from an American aircraft carrier. The US Navy and French Navy are used to demonstrate their interoperabilty and Rafale M fighters have landed and launched several times already, almost on a yearly basis. The most recent examples are March 2015 when the two allied navies teste, implemented and improved their interoperability while on theatre and while actively engaged in combat missions in the Gulf. In January 2014, the same type of training happened as well, while on theatre.

According to TF1, as many as 18 Rafale M could be deployed on the US Navy aircraft carrier. Some room would have to be made for the French Navy support crew as US Navy sailors are not familiar with maintaining the Rafale M aircraft. Likewise, room would have to be made for spare parts and ammunitions for the French aircraft.

Contacted by Navy Recognition, the French Navy public affairs didn't want to comment the information.

[sukhoi-30mki]

French Navy (Marine Nationale) Rafale M carrier-based multirole fighters may conduct combat missions against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier as soon as January 2017. The information comes from French TV channel TF1. According to TF1 this subject was discussed between US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and French Navy Rear Adm. Rene-Jean Crignola, Commander Task Force (CTF) 50. ARABIAN GULF (Jan. 13, 2014) A Rafale aircraft, assigned to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, prepares to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during carrier qualification integration. Harry S. Truman, part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, is conducting operations with units assigned to French Task Force 473 to enhance levels of cooperation and interoperability, enhance mutual maritime capabilities and promote long-term regional stability in the U.S. Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Karl Anderson/Released)

[MikeSteelBe]

There is not wrong with tactical carrier air strikes, as long as the right people are being struck.

[Tallguy]

I’d have to think that air operations are similar enough, and that Rafaels have landed on US decks before this... Biggest obstacle that I can see would be the different ordnance load-out. But I’m sure the French will bring their own weapons, fuel & crews.

[wrench]

“There is not wrong with tactical carrier air strikes, as long as the right people are being struck.”

Guaranteed not to happen with 0bama in charge.

[Chode]

wonderful...

[PIF]

All thise Frogs on a carrier with all those US women for a year or more - what could go wrong?

[USNBandit]

The French are going to be upset when they find out there is no wine onboard.

[USNBandit]

A long time ago on a carrier far, far away I got a call to come down to the Flag Legal Officer's Office regarding a member of my flight busting into Iranian airspace.

I was needless to say a bit panicked because I really couldn't see how anybody from my 12 plane package could have spilled over, there's a freaking river between the two countries at that point. My next thought was this is what you get when you let a lieutenant lead a strike package, even when there isn't any shooting going on.

I arrived at the office and they gave me a written report of the incursion. The first thing I noticed was the time being an hour after our group had left the box. I asked for a copy of the Air Tasking Order and pointed to the appropriate strike package sent on almost the same mission I was assigned. It was the French.

[Former Proud Canadian]

They will bring their own.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The French also use U.S. weaponry. Paveways, the most affordable weapon around, come to mind. French weapons are expensive and given a choice, the French military would prefer to economize.

[Does so]

Make a US ship a target?

[wrench]

I’d bet it was easier to blame the US than the French

[tanknetter]

A mentioned the French use a LOT of US weaponry. If you look at pictures of Rafales flying from the deGaulle, they’re generally carrying GBU-12s (or their newer variants)

The biggest issue will be crew integration. The French and USN have significantly different relationships between different grades of officer and between officers and enlisted. Ships are, partly, designed around this and to facilitate the “proper” working relationships.

The same is true with the RN. The French were seriously considering buying a third Queen Elizabeth class carrier (built to the CTOL option) to supplement deGaulle. They figured it would either require a big and expensive redesign of the internals to meet French crew culture, or the modification of crew culture to fit the Brit ship. Neither was acceptable ...

[redfreedom]

That’s why they are planning for 2017.

[libertylover]

The French need to build at least one more carrier so they’re not down to zero when one goes for retrofit.

[az_gila]

I'd have to think that air operations are similar enough, and that Rafaels have landed on US decks before this...

---

Yes... see this Jan 2014 article -

http://theaviationist.com/2014/01/15/rafale-operate-uss-truman/

[rlmorel]

LOL, how bad could it be to have the French aboard????

To coin the old saying “They fight with their feet and they f*** with their faces!”

I think I have pictures of my squadron operating from both British carriers and French carriers back in the mid-Seventies...I think the Clemenceau and Ark Royal. I didn’t go on them, but I think our aircraft did flight ops off of them.

I was at the fueling pits one day, and a Buccaneer landed (kind of similar in function to an A-6) and as it was taxiing towards the fuel pits, smoke started pouring out of the thing, up went the canopy, and the crewmen ran out and stood in the grass next to the taxiway while the emergency vehicles roared up.

I don’t remember, but I think they put out a hydraulic fire or something, but there was something funny about the way they just jumped out of the plane and ran from it! (I am sure I would have done exactly the same thing!)

[Chode]

60 seconds sooner and it'd prolly been a smoking hole in the ground fire