France demonstrates operational resilience during agile combat employment

Ramstein: In early November, the French Air and Space Force launched an Agile Combat Employment (ACE), deploying Rafale fighter jets to bases in Germany and Croatia practicing deployment, bed-down and operation of a fighter element from a remote site.

It’s a great opportunity to gather further experience with the ACE concept under NATO’s chain of command

Three Rafale fighter jets from Saint-Dizier Air Base touched down at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, home to the U.S. 52nd Fighter Wing operating F-16s. Applying the ACE concept, the French fighters used U.S. ground support facilities and infrastructure ranging from flightline services and refueling to rearming and mission planning.

A further Rafale detachment landed at Zagreb International Airport, Croatia, to practice the same concept with the Croatian armed forces. “It’s a great opportunity to gather further experience with the ACE concept under NATO’s chain of command,” said a French detachment commander.

During an Agile Combat Employment, Rafale fighter jets from Saint-Dizier Air Base taxi at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, home to the U.S. 52nd Fighter Wing. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.

A French Rafale fighter jet deployed to the U.S. F-16 base at Spangdahlem, Germany, practicing deployed operations from a geographically dispersed location. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin.

Applying the ACE concept, the French fighters used U.S. ground support facilities and infrastructure such as refueling or mission planning. Photo by Arnaud Chamberlin..

A further Rafale detachment landed at Zagreb International Airport, Croatia, to practice the concept and deploy to a combined mission from there. Photo courtesy SIRPA Air.

The deployments were conducted with a temporary transfer of authority to NATO, playing a full integration of French aircraft within the Alliance chain of command, to train pilots and mechanics as well as the command and control procedures.

During the one-week deployment the French Rafale jets joined Romanian F-16, Spanish F-18, enabling aircraft and France’s ‘MAMBA SAMPT air defence system over Romania to train joint air power over NATO’s eastern flank. This multi-domain mission demonstrated the agility of the Alliance and its members.

NATO Allies are increasingly embracing this operational scheme of manoeuvre designed to improve resilience and survivability. The concept envisages generating air combat power from both home bases and geographically dispersed locations. It can be used proactively or reactively involving main or deployed operating bases or contingency locations.

Overall, the ACE programme is designed as a plug and play concept for commanders and planners to use to increase survivability while maintaining uninterrupted operational capability.