Rafale fighters and the sky-high transports of the French Air Force for respective days trained in Poland, Sweden and Croatia as part of the Pégase ’25 mission. It was not only a demonstration of force, but besides a evidence that France is able to arrive immediately with the aid of its European allies and to carry out various operations together.
“Pégase’s goal is to send a signal to all European countries that we can scope with our Rafale fighters, the MRTT tanker, the A400M transports to each country,” said the French pilot of the powerful A400M Atlas aircraft (the name of the soldier is not given due to the specifics of the service). He emphasized that the day after arriving, soldiers were ready to execute complex tactical missions. “We want to show what the French Air Force can do for their allies. We practice together, due to the fact that together we are stronger," said the officer.
A minute earlier, he landed at a military airport in Krzesiny. W 31 Tactical Aviation Base he completed 1 of the exercises in the framework of the ‘Pégase Grand Nord ’25’, an global mission organised at the end of April in 3 parts of Europe. First, the crew of French aircraft and ground service moved north. About 150 troops from Saint-Dzier, Mont-de-Marsan, Orleans, and Istres moved to Norrbotten, northeastern Sweden, where the French Air Force first collaborated on specified a scale with a Scandinavian ally. During the first phase of the mission, the Swedish sky became a theatre of action for six Rafale B fighters, 2 A400M transport aircraft and an A330 MRTT sky tanker that practiced with the Swedish Gripens and Finnish F-18. Joint training included fuel replenishment in flight and simulated long-distance raid utilizing exercise bombs and air-to-air missiles in fighters that played an escort role.
Production: Jakub Zagalski, Aleksander Kruk, Marcin Kopieć
After performing tasks in Sweden French component moved to Poland, where he was stationed in 31 and 33th Tactical Aviation Base, i.e. in Poznań-Krzesiny and Powidz (Wielkopolskie Province). Polish F-16 pilots had the chance to face the crew of Rafale aircraft. Offensive exercises were besides carried out to combat ground targets. The last operation was to defend a designated command post by fighters and a simulated military landing from the A400M deck, whose crew had to call for Polish-French support.
“Pégase ’25” is simply a large chance to verify tactics, techniques, procedures. A word to gather our forces. We talk the same language. Natowski's language – emphasized Brig-Gen Tomasz Jatczak, Head of the Board of Air Forces and Deputy Commander-General of the types of armed forces in Poznań. It is worth noting that the French mission was full integrated into the NATO ACE (Agile Combat Employment) system. This is simply a fresh NATO doctrine, which assumes an effort to increase the resilience, endurance and responsiveness of the Alliance's air forces. In another words, the French showed that in a short time they were able to decision their planes and troops to operate in any environment with allies.
– It is very crucial that the air force be agile, resilient and able to supply support whenever and wherever needed," said Brig. gen. pil. Patrice Hugret, commander of the French mission, after reaching Croatia, where the final phase of "Pégase ’25" was held. The arrival of 3 Rafale aircraft, 2 A400M and MRTTs to Zagreb was rather an event for the local community. It was not only operational, but besides symbolic, highlighting the close cooperation of Croatian and French air forces over the last fewer years. In 2021, Croats purchased from the French a twelve Rafale F3R fighters, which replaced the utilized MiG-21. The last aircraft reached them in April.
– We are peculiarly pleased that just a fewer days after the end of the second supply of Rafale fighters and the completion of the full composition of our squadron we had the chance to host a squad of French air force. The exercises showed our common level of training and interoperability," said Colonel Željko Nineć, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of Croatian Air Force, during a conference at the military base in Zagreb.
– We could not ask for better instructors and mentors than the people from whom we bought airplanes and with whom we completed our first training in France," the colonel added. The military base in Zagreb was upgraded in 2024 before the adoption of French fighters. fresh hangars, service station and ground staff facilities were built, where Croatian soldiers welcomed the French.
Fabien Fieschi, the French Ambassador to Croatia, besides emphasized the importance of specified exercises. "Like Sweden and Poland, Croatia has not only become a full integrated associate of NATO and the EU, but besides a strategical partner of France. This shows that our cooperation is deepening. Through sharing equipment and cooperation France and Croatia aid to strengthen Europe and NATO's ability to defend its territory," Fieschi signed.
