Exercise VOLFA 2025 French Air Force Base 118 at Mont de Marsan hosts this annual air operations.

Exercise 'Volfa' 2025 kicked off at Base Aérienne BA118 Mont-de-Marsan on the 22nd September until 10th October. Fifty aircraft and multiple crews joined the exercise. For the fighter jets, coming from numerous French bases and the Greek and Italian Air Forces, all were based at Mont-de-Marsan. The transport aircraft were assembled at Base Aérienne 123 Orléans-Bricy; they included aircraft from the Air Forces of Canada and the UK, as well as the helicopter element based at Cazaux.  

This annual French Exercise is a test of operational readiness. I visited Mont-de-Marsan, where the French, Greek, and Italian air forces were simulating up to 20 complex air raids, both day and night, across a full spectrum of air operations, including air superiority and reconnaissance missions, in a high-intensity warfare environment. Sadly, the weather was not at its best, but one has to take the opportunities as they come.

EXERCISE VOLFA 2025.

 u

The objective: to demonstrate mastery of tactical know-how, strengthen the preparation of forces and affirm air superiority.

Before the sun has risen above the mass of conifers surrounding  Base Aérienne BA118 Mont-de-Marsan, the first Rafales are getting airborne, followed by Mirage 2000-5Fs, Mirage D's, Greek air force F-16's and Italian Tornado ECR jets. 

The light is terrible, but it is worth the memories: Mirage 2000-5F 41 2-FZ from GC01.002 at Luxeuil reheats out of M de M. Three Mirage 2000-5F are deployed here for Volfa 25, the other two being 54 2-EZ and 47 2-EP.

47 2-EP Mirage 2000-5D heading for TRA43, an airspace reserved for military operations.

Mirage 2000D 637 3-XQ leads, followed by 606 3-JC, 626 3-IC and 615 3-JY, all from EC03.003 at Nancy-Ochey.

637 3-XQ Mirage 2000D on a mission to the Massif Central area of France.

Greek air force F-16CGs 518, 520, 510, and F-16DG 610. 

By the time the sun is up, some aircraft are returning.

Italian air force Tornados break for landing.

6° Stormo Italian Air Force patch.

MM7055 6-65 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf coming from GEA 6° Stormo based at Ghedi.

MM7024 6-50 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf coming from GEA 6° Stormo at Ghedi.

MM7036 6-06 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf also coming from GEA 6° Stormo.

Greek F-16CG's tactical landing.

337 Mira  'Fanasma' Hellinic Air Force.

510 F-16CG 337 Mira named 'Fanasma' (Ghost) HAF, their home base being Larissa in Greece.

518 F-16CG 337 Mira HAF.

520 F-16CG 337 Mira HAF.

610 F-16DG 337 Mira HAF.

A330 MRTT from BA125 at Istres with two local receivers.

Three Mont de Marsan Rafales break for landing.

361 30-SJ Rafale B ECE01.030 AdlA. from Mont de Marsan.

165 30-VR Rafale C  'Côte d'Argent' BR128 Le Scarabée Blanc.

351 30-FR Rafale B EC02.30

162 5-VO Rafale C EC01.005 from BA115 at Orange.They supplied five Rafales to Volfa at Mont-de-Marsan.

5-VF Rafale C EC01.005 AdlA.

329 4-ID Rafale B EC02.004 SPA167 'Cigogne de Romanet' from Saint-Dizier.

328 4-IC EC01.004 SAL 28 'Éléphant' from St Dizier.

13 Rafale M 12F French Marine from Landivisiau airbase.

9 Rafale M 12F French Marine.

32 Rafale M from ETR03.004 at St Dizier.

Mirage 2000-5Fs returning to MdM.

54 2-EZ Mirage 2000-5F  EC01.002  SPA73  'Cigogne Japonaise'.

47 2-EZ Mirage 2000-5F AdlA from Luxeuil.

Mirage 200D's tactical break for landing.

606 3-JC Mirage2000D RMV EC03.003 from Nancy-Ochey.

637 3-XQ Mirage 2000D RMV EC003.003 AdlA.

626 3-IC Mirage 2000D EC02.003 AdlA.

615 3-JY Mirage 2000D RMV EC002.003 AdlA.

107 8-UD Alpha Jet.

F-ZKBZ NH-90-TTH (FS) allocated serial 1458/EBX Armée de Terre.

Arriving at MdM from Cazaux.

5393/VC AS555AN EH01.015 'Alphilles' from BA115 at Orange.

77/XD TBM-700A ET00.041 'Verdun' from BA107 Villacoublay.

0110/F-RBAR A-400  ET04.061 'Bearn' BA115 Orleans-Bricy

742 C-130H 356 MTM 'Iraklis' (Hercules) from Elefsis.

That's it from Mont de Marsan for now; it's Exercise Garuda 2025 shortly, featuring 6x Indian Air Force Sukhoi SU-30MKI. More on that later.

Happy Days indeed!

 

Exercise Nomad 1995 RAF Waddington

Exercise Nomad 1995 was a Royal Air Force-led exercise based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. It began in 1994 as a Belgian Air Force operation aimed at promoting joint air defence training. Still, with the BAE Systems ACMI (Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation) North Sea range, it soon became centred at RAF Waddington, which had the space to accommodate the large number of foreign visiting aircraft involved in the exercise. 

RAF Waddington and RAF Coningsby were the UK de-brief centres for the BAE Systems ACMI range. The range featured five remote radio masts mounted on platforms in the North Sea. The masts picked up telemetry information from the pods carried by the participating jets. The pods were typically installed where an AIM-9 Sidewinder would be fitted, and the French Mirage carried a pod based on their Magic missile system. All the data was relayed back to the two RAF Bases, where pilots could see the engagements post-mission. Other observers involved in the exercise could watch in real time.

For Military aviation enthusiasts, visits to RAF Waddington for the ACMI deployments had become paramount. With the arrival of the Nomad Exercises, it became Legendary and is still discussed twenty-odd years later. 

The following scanned transparencies were taken on Fuji Velvia slide film during the last few days of the 1995 exercise, which was held from April 24 to May 4.

For many, the highlight of '95 was the German Air Force's F-4F Phantoms from Jagdgeschwader 72, based at Hopsten, Germany.

On the final day, the German Phantoms made two low-level passes over RAF Waddington before leaving for Germany, enthralling the few of us who witnessed it. I have saved those images for the end of this report.

38+45 F-4F Phantom German Air Force.

From  Jagdgeschwader 72 at Hopsten. Sadly, it is no longer in use today.

38+45 F-4F Phantom German Air Force.

When I saw this slide, I was amazed at the size of the Phantom. Considering it is beyond the Bedford TK Mobile Control Centre (Runway Caravan), it appears to dwarf it, and I believe the TK's cab stands about eight feet tall! 

38+01 F-4F Phantom German Air Force.

Status Wfu.

37+75 F-4F Phantom German Air Force.

Status today scrapped.

ZE982/DM Tornado F3 RAF.

Coming from 11 (F) XI Squadron at RAF Leeming. XI is the world's oldest dedicated fighter unit.

Status W/O on July 2 2009.

ZE967/FU Tornado F3 RAF.

25 Sqn RAF Coningsby, wondering if it was alone to XI Squadron.

Today, it sits at RAF Leuchars' main gate. This slide was taken on the last day of the exercise. The tails of arriving transport aircraft and the Victor K2 can be seen on the dispersals beyond.

ZE204/DD Tornado F3. I believe this is today at the Sunderland Museum.

ZE982/DM Tornado F3 RAF taxiing for runway 21.

AdlA Mirage 2000C's queuing for take-off.

112/5-NB Mirage 2000C AdlA from EC01.005 'Vendee' at Orange Airbase.

84/5-NH Mirage 2000C AdlA.

19/2-EA Mirage 2000C AdlA EC.01.002 'Cigogne' 

100/5-NQ and 84/5-NH both Mirage 2000C AdlA.

FA-134 F-16A BAF 2 Squadron 'Shooting Star' from Florennes airbase.

FA-65 F-16A BAF 23 Squadron 10 Fighter Wing from Kleine Brogel airbase.

FA-67 F-16A holding for runway 21.

F-56 F-16A awaiting the AldA French Mirages to depart.

FA-102 F-16A BAF 2Sqn joins the queue.

FB-22 F-16B from 23 Sqn at Kliene Brogel.

F88/61-ZF  C-160F Transall from ET 61

FA119 F-16A 349 Sqn coming from 10 Wing Kleine Brogel. Transport aircraft continued arriving throughout the last exercise morning.

A mix of Belgian F-16s sit in the sun awaiting take-off.

109/12-YI Mirage 2000C from Escadron de Chasse 01.012 'Cambrésis' AldA at Cambrai/Epinoy.

122/12-YE Mirage 2000C as above.

96/12-KK Mirage 2000C AldA from Escadron de Chasse 02.012 'Picardie' also at Cambrai.

83/12-YP Mirage 2000c with 'Tiger Marks'

French Air Force Mirage 2000Cs await the departure of the Belgian Air Force F-16As.

The grass is looking very scorched towards the end of the exercise.

LX-N19996 B.707 NATO arriving in connection with E-3 training and not to do with 'Nomad'. It was one of three operated by NATO. 

German Air Force F-4Fs 37+01, 37+35 and 38+45 from 'Jagdgeschwader 72' at Hopsten airbase.

38+45 McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom GAF.

38+01 F-4F Phantom GAF.

37+75 F-4F Phantom GAF.

German Phantoms holding for a based E-3 to depart.

Line up and hold.

38+45 F-4F mission on.

Holding on runway 21.

37+75 re-heats away.

C15-26/15-13 EF/A-18A EdA from Ala 15 at Zaragoza.

C15-38/15-25 EF/A-18A EdA.

C15-36/15-23 EF/A-18A EdA.

AT-33 from Belgians 7 Sqn/1 training Wing at Beauvechain.

E88/314-TF Dornier/Breguet Alpha Jet AldA from the École de l'Aviation de Chasse 00.314 

at Tours/St. Symphorien

E92/314-UE Dornier/Breguet Alpha Jet AldA from the École de l'Aviation de Chasse 00.314 

at Tours/St. Symphorien

Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4s were involved, coming from 617 Sqn.

And also 12 sqn from RAF Lossiemouth.

CH-07 C-130H 20 Sqn/15 Wing BAF arriving from Brussels/Melsroek.

 

ZE982/DM Tornado F3 from 11 Sqn RAF Leeming.

FA-98 Landing back on runway 21.

FA-56 F-16A BAF.

109/12-YI and 19/2-EA Mirage 2000Cs pairs landing.

19/2-EA Mirage 2000C AldA Edc 01.002 'Cigogne' from Dijon/Longvic.

102/12YE and 105/12-YL Mirage 2000C AdlA.

96/12-KK Mirage 2000C Edc 02.012 'Picarde'.

C15-30/15-17 EF/A-18A Ala 15 EdA.

T-198-17/35-35 CASA CN235 Ala 35.

T10-4/31-04 C-130H ALA31 from Zaragoza.

 

38 + 45 makes a low approach to 21.

T10-4/T-198-17 C-130H taxis behind the GAF F-4Fs.

05 SAAB J 35D Draken from 1 Staffel at Zeltweg and the first arrival from Austria for their ACMI slot the following week.

ZH107/07 E3 RAF mission over.

Here are the GAF F-4Fs departing home from Exercise 'Nomad'.

If you've made it this far, well done.

What Happy Days indeed, and great memories.