Exercise Orion 23 is reportedly the most prominent multinational exercise French armed forces have undertaken. It has been in the planning since 2021 and involved thousands of French troops supplemented with troops and aircraft from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Stage four of the exercise witnessed the Airforcees flying against the hostile forces known as "Mecure". The primary fighter response came from Base Arriene Mont-de-Marsan. It included the Indian Air Force with four French-built Rafales alongside the Hellenic Air Force Mirage 2000s, a mix of home-based Rafales and Mirage 2000s and four St Dizier-based Rafale jets. Stage four of this multinational exercise looked interesting and ran from the 17th of April to the 5th of May, 2023.
Following the visit to Cobra Warrior on 23/1, I looked forward to warm sunshine in the Southwest of France. Unfortunately, things only got worse with three days of continuous drizzle and heavy rain before I threw in the towel (quite literally).
RB 001 Rafale DH from 17Sqn "Golden Arrows" is based at Ambala Airforce Station India.
The Indian Air Force (Bharatiya Vayu Sena) F3 line Rafales have been given fourteen specific upgrades, which include a viewing helmet and a towable anti-missile decoy.
RB 001 Rafale DH Indian Air Force.
The four Bharatiya Vayu Sena Rafale DHs arrived at Mont de Marsan from India via a stopover in Egypt. They were accompanied by two Boeing C-17 transport aircraft and two support IL-78 tankers, both of which returned to Eygpt without landing in France.
RB 002 Rafale DH from 17Sqn "Golden Arrows" Ambala AFS India.
RB 007 Rafale DH lands back at Mont de Marsan, Southwest France.
RB 005 Rafale DH 17 Sqn "Golden Arrows"
RB 005 Rafale DH 17 Sqn "Golden Arrows" landing at Mont de Marsan in the awful weather.
In fact, it was the worst weather I had photographed since the defence week at Landivisau years ago when the Italian F-16s took part in the Defence Week exercise.
309/30-HB Rafale B ECE01.303 Special colours CEAM Tail.
Mixed launches of French and Indian Rafales.
179/30-GH Rafale C EC02.030 'Normandie-Niemen' SPA91 'Aigle à tête de mort' AdlA.
359/30-FZ Rafale B EC03.030 AdlA.
318/30-HM Rafale B AdlA
104/30-HH Rafale C EC03.030 'Lorraine' SPA162 'Tete de tigre' AdlA.
309/30-HB Rafale B ECE01.303 'Côte de Argent' 90 years Special colours.
CEAM Centre d'Expertise Arienes Militaires (Air Warfare Centre).
Thunder over Mont de Marsan.
146/30-GY Rafale C ECE01.303 'Côte de Argent' BR128 'Le Scarabée blanc' AdlA.
552 Mirage 2000-5EG 331Mira HAF.
552 Mirage 2000-5EG.
The Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia) contingent consisted of three Mirage 2000-5EGs 549, 552, and 553 and one Mirage 2000BG 506.
506 Mirage 2000BG 331 Mira with their discreet blue and white chequerboard fin marking.
639/3-JJ Mirage 2000D RMV EC02.003'Campagne' SPA67 'Cicogne de Navarre' AdlA.
622/30-IL Mirage 2000D RMV.
622/30-IL Mirage 2000D RMV.
341/4-FH Rafale B EC01.004 'Gascogne' BR66 'Faucon de Egyptian' AdlA.
344/4-FK Rafale B EC01.004 'Gascogne' SPA37 'Charnognard' AdlA.
327/4-HZ Rafale B 'Gascogne' SPA37 'Charnognard' AdlA.
355/4-FV Rafale B EC01.004 'Gascogne' it still wearing "Casque de bayarol' Sqn Marks.
2626/SD EC725R2 from EH01.067 'Pyrénées'from BA120 at Cazaux.
3455/VT AS555AN EH03.067 'Parisis' from BA107 Villacoublay.
78/XE TBM-7000A 'CEAM' named 'Daligaunobile' lands at Mont de Marsan.
RB002 Rafale DH Indian Air Force landed at BA118 just after midday on my third day.
After three days of rain, I am heading home.
Happy "Damp" Days!
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