Exercise "Orion 23" hosts Indian Airforce Rafale fighter jets at BA118 Mont de Marsan full photo report.

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.

148/30-VA Rafale C 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!

 

Paris flypast 2021 practise day at Orléans-Bricy (BA123)

 Orléans/Bricy airbase BA123 on Monday the 28th of June, the first aircraft observed was a departing CL415 from the 'Securite Civile', Not exactly what I expected early Monday evening ahead of the Tuesday's practice for the 'Paris defile' (Paris flypast). I had a bad feeling about its departure.

 A quick look across the ramp revealed two Alpa jets from the "Patrouille de France." Closer were a Dash 400Q and B200 from the "Securite Civile."

Fingers crossed then for the Tuesday practice of the 2021 "Paris Defile" (Paris flypast). 

Tuesday, the 29th of June, saw fine rain and threatening skies across the flat countryside surrounding BA123. This photo was taken after the departure of both the Dash 400Q and B200.

And yes, the flypast practice had been aborted due to the inclement weather conditions.  

0033/F-RBAI A400M (Atlas)from ET01.061 'Toraine' VB101 'Tete de Hibou' at Orléans/Bricy holds for departure.

As 0033/F-RBAI A400M gets airborne, the sky shows why there will be no practice that day or, in fact, the following.

745/CV DHC-6-300 ET03.061. 'Poitou' F121 'Hibu aux Ailes éployées sure un Croissant de Lune' C/S F-RACV departs, and so did we for 48 hours!

Take two, Thursday morning, the 1st of July 2021. By 8.00 a.m., the Gendarmerie was taping off an area alongside the Rue du Bourg that is directly under the approach for runway 27. 

Minutes later, we had our first arrivals and game on!

 

E149/8-RS Alpa jet E EE03.008 'Côte d'Or' SPA57 'Mouette de passant au natural' C/S F-UHRS arriving from Cazaux. 

E46/8-RF Alpha Jet E EE03.008 'Côte d'Or' SPA57 'Mouette de passant au natural' C/S F-UHRF.

05/709-FG PC-21 EAC 00.315 arriving from BA709 at Cognac/Châteaubernard.

13/709-FO PC-21 EAC 00.315. Sadly, the P-21s are not yet? Wearing individual squadron markings.

04/709-FF PC-21 EAC 00.315.

07/709-FI PC-21  EAC 00.315. Two of the BA709 PC-21s have now formed a new aerial demonstration team.

F-ZBPP Eurocopter EC145 Sécurité Civille.

1372/F-WWRC TBM-940 SOCATA destined for the l'Armée de l'Air. This aircraft was part of the DGA-EV 60th anniversary (1961-2021), which supplied five aircraft types to the flypast. 

1372/ F-WWRC TBM-940. The order for four TBM-940 will allow the DGA to carry out the same missions as their TBM-700s and carry out instruction flights as part of the training provided by the flight school of test and acceptance, all with the added benefit of not having to borrow aircraft from other services. 

0727/JDD Eurocopter E135T2 Gendarmerie.

2897/F-ZAJB H225LP DGA-EV C/S FZAJB.

2897/F-ZAJB H225LP seen landing at Orléans?Bricy.

The DGA-EV 60th anniversary participants really made the trip worthwhile.

80/BY TBM-700A DGA-EV C/S F-ZVBY.

5119/61-PC C-130H departs Bricy.

5119/61-PC C-130H from ET02.061 C/S F-RAPC.

133/30-GL Rafale 'C' EC02.030 leads the practice along with Rafale 'B' 324/30-HW.

R211/64-GK C-160R EEA01.054 'Dunkerque' C/S F-RAGK takes pride in place in the flypast.

Next were fast jets from the DGA; two Alpha jets flank 501 Mirage 2000B of the DGA-EV C/S F-JTX. This was the Rafale nose cone aircraft.

E-3F  204/36-CD heads up 4 Mirage 2000-5s and a Mirage 2000C.

Left to right.

Mirage2000C 124/115-YT EC02.005 'Ile de France'.

Mirage 2000-5's from GC01.002 'Cigognes'.

38/2-EI, 55/2-EU, 40/2-EX, and 67/2-MH. 

E-3F 204/36-CD EDCA02.036 'Berry', SAL257 'Masse d'armes'.

6x Mirage 2000D from BA133 at Nancy/Ochey, all units are represented, and two aircraft have no marks.

The fighter groups are without their Tanker aircraft.

6x Rafael over the top.

109/4-IM Rafale 'C' ETR03.004 'Acquitaine' heads up...

142/30-GU Rafale 'C' EC03.030 'Lorraine' and 102/30-EF Rafale 'C' EC02.030 'Normandie-Niemen'.

Last wave top to bottom.

328/4-IC Rafale 'B' EC01.004 'Gascogne'.

132/30-GK Rafale 'C' EC03.030 'Lorraine'.

314/4-HP Rafale 'B' EC01.004 'Gascogne'. 

E2C Hawkeye '2' + 8 Rafale M's. Aéronavale.

Rafale 44 leads 16, 3 and E2C, 2. Aéronavale.

Falcon 50 and a pair of Atlantic ATL-2's Numbers 13 and 4. Aéronavale.

0073/F-RBAN A400M (Atlas) from Bricys ET01.061 'Touraine'.

071/62-IE CN235M ET01.062 'Vercors' from Evreux. One CN235M (unknown).

5890/61-PR KC-130J ET02.061 'Frache-Compte'.

5890/61-PR KC-130J ET02.061 'Franche-Compte' Armée de l'Air.

F-ZBFK Beech B200 Séurité Civil.

45/F-ZBMF Canadair CL-415 Sécurité Civil.

Practise finished team leaders return to Bricy for the de-brief.

 

E80 (BO) Alpha Jet E DGA-EV.

E8 (BQ) Alpha Jet E DGA-EV.

668/3-IG Mirage200D EC01.003 from Nancy-Ochey.

109/4-IM Rafale 'C' ETR03.004 'Acquitaine' Armée de l'Air.

344/4-FK Rafale B EC01.004 'Gascogne' SPA37 'Charognard' St Dizier.

One not identified earlier.

16 Rafale M from 12F at Landivisiau.

What a great moment 501 Mirage 2000B from the DGA-EV has to go around again due to runway congestion.

5 Falcon 50MS cutting short for a fast landing.

5 Falcon 50MS 24F from Lann-Bihoué Aéronautque Navale. Just a friendly aircraft?

501 Mirage 2000B on finals.

108/115-LC Mirage 2000C EC02.005 'Ile de France'.

13 Atlantic ATL-2 Aéronavale. Making a steep approach ahead of some heavy aircraft.

13 Atlantic ATL-2 Aéronavale, from 21F at Lann-Bihoué.

5890/61-PR KC-130J ET02.061 'Franche-Comte'.

0073/F-RBAN A400M (Atlas) ET01.061 'Touraine'.

Beech 350ER/ACSR VADOR from SAL259 at Evreux.

F-ZBFK Beech B200, Sécurité Civil at Nîmes/Garons (Groupenment des Avions Bombardiers d'Eau)

45/F-ZBMF Canadair CL-415, Sécurité Civil at Nîmes/Garons (Groupenment des Avions Bombardiers d'Eau).

R211/64-GK C-160R EEA01.054 'Dunkerque' C/S F-RAGK.

The rotary participants now have their moment to practise. Some years, they practice before the fast jets and transports and others after. It is just great to see so many aircraft types flying.

 

6005/BJE EC665 Tigre HAD 5RHC from Pau. 

1451/DBH SA330B 1RHC from Phalsburg.

2 NH90-NFH 10S/CEPA from Heyères

17 NH90-NFH, unit not known.

4140/GBU SA342M 5RHC at Pau.

6005/BJE EC665 Tigre HAD 5RHC.

1451/DBH SA330B 1RHC.

5511/WC AS555AN EH03.o67 from BA107 Villacoubly.

2 NH90-NFH 10S/CEPA.

17 NH90-NFH Aéronautque Navale.

Well worth waiting a couple of days for, indeed!

Happy Days! Again.