Orion 2026, France's largest military exercise since the Cold War, mobilised 12,500 soldiers and was joined by 24 allied nations, 25 ships, including the Charles de Gaulle CSG aircraft carrier, and its task force. A total of 140 aircraft were involved in the exercise. Of interest to us was the concentration of 41 combat jets from four Countries at BA118 Mont-de-Marsan (LFBM), which included Emirati Emiri Air Force Rafales and German Tornado IDS jets, supported by Hellenic Air Force Mirage 2000-5EGs. The Armée de l'Air et de l'espace provided Rafales from BA113 St Dizier and BA115 Orange alongside the home-based Rafales of EC.30. Mirage 2000D's came in from BA133 Nancy and Mirage 2000-5's from BA116 Luxeuil. The Marine Nationale (French Navy) provided Rafale M's.
The combat package was supported by aircraft from many bases across France. They included five A330-243 MRTT aircraft from BA125 at Istres. A refuelling configured A-400M from BA123 Orléans-Bricy. BA709 at Cognac supplied its PC-21 and Beech350ER-ALSR Vador aircraft, as well as MQ-9A Reaper drones. Two E-3Fs AWACS provided Airborne command and intelligence from their base at BA702 at Avord. This was all backed up by the AdlA's transport assets at Bricy and Everux, including C-130Hs, CN235M and TBM-700As. Foreign support aircraft included Emirati Emiri Air Force Boeing C-17s, a Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130H supporting the German Tornado deployment, and a C-130H from the Hellenic Air Force supporting their Mirages.
With such a large-scale exercise and so many components, I am just concentrating on the combat aircraft assembled at BA118 Mont-de-Marsan for the dynamic air phase from the 6th to the 27th of February 2026. Sadly, from the start of these three weeks of intensive flying, France was hit by Storm Nils and awful weather, causing travel disruptions and damage. In the final week, the Sun was seen, and temperatures rose to the mid-twenties, enabling some nice photographs.
A checklist of aircraft seen is included below.
The morning missions involved up to 24 aircraft in mixed groups, whilst the afternoons saw up to fifteen aircraft in mixed strike packages.
Rafale C 167/30-VT from EC 03.030 'Lorraine' markings.
Mirage 2000D 632/3-XE EC 01.003 'Navarre' from SPA62, the 'Coq de Combat'.
Mirage 2000D 678/3-JB 3 EC. AdlA, unmarked.
Tornado IDS 45+76.
The
Luftwaffe supported Orion 2026 with three Tornado IDS and was involved in simulated low-level penetration integrated with the French home-based 30th Fighter Wing.
683/3-JR Mirage 2000D.
EC 03.003 'Ardennes' from BR44 'Sanglier Assis'
Catches the early morning Sun.
Flying Wing 6's 1st Squadron 'Al Adiyat' (The Flying Horses)
From Dukhan/Tamim Air Base.
QA218 Rafale EQ Qatar Emiri Air Force.
QA234 Rafale EQ Qatar Emiri Air Force.
QA203 Rafale DQ Qatar Emiri Air Force.
349/4-FP
Rafale B EC 02.004
'La Fayette' SPA96
'Gaulois' from BA113 St Dizier.
342 4/FI Rafale B EC 01.004 'Gascogne' SAL28 'Éléphant'
Closing another afternoon mission.
Tornado IDS 45+76 from TaktLwG 33.
Landing after a morning launch.
Tornado IDS 44+34 from TaktLwG 33.
Mixed formation of Alda Rafale B and C's.
Multiple mixed jet runs and breaks with up to eight aircraft were common.
149/5-VB Rafale C EC 01.005 'Vendée' SPA26 'Cigogne de Saint Golmier' coming from BA115
Orange/Claritat.
149/5-VB Rafale C EC 01.005 'Vendée' SPA26 'Cigogne de Saint Golmier'
BA115 supported Orion 26 with four Rafales.
314/4-HP Rafale B EC 01.004 'Gascogne' SPOA37 'Charognard' AdlA.
338/4-IO Rafale B EC 02.004 'La Fayette' N124 'La Fayetteville Tête de Sioux' AdlA.
365/30-SN Rafale B EC 03.030 'Lorraine' SAL56 'Scarabée' AdlA.
634/3-JE Mirage 2000D EC 01.003 'Navarre' SPA95 'Martinet dans un Fanion' AdlA.
682/3-JR Mirage 2000D EC 03.003 'Ardennes' BR44 'Sanglier assis' AdlA.
371/30-ST Rafale B ECE 01.030 'Côte d'Argent' BR128 'Le Scarabée Blanc' Adla.
167/30-VT Rafale C EC 03.030 'Lorraine' AdlA.
Tornado IDS 44+06 from TaktLwG 33.
Taking off from runway 09.
Tornado IDS 44+34 from TaktLwG 33.
645/3-XP Mirage 2000D EC 01.003 'Navarre' SPA62 'Coq de Combat' AdlA.
634/3-JE Mirage 2000D EC 01.003 'Navarre' SPA95 'Martinet dans un Fanion' AdlA.
QA216 Rafale EQ Qatar Emiri Air Force.
Flying Wing 6's 1st Squadron 'Al Adiyat' (The Flying Horses)
From Dukhan/Tamim Air Base.
342/4-FI and 338/4-IO Rafale B's
314/4-HP Rafale B
647/3-IO Mirage 2000D 3 EC unmarked, and the 7th mirage 2000D logged.
369/30-SR EC 30 unmarked.
QA234 and QA216 Rafale EQ's Qatar Emiri Air Force.
On the break to land.
QA216 Rafale EQ Qatar Emiri Air Force.
QA234 Rafale EQ Qatar Emiri Air Force.
QA234 Rafale EQ Qatar Emiri Air Force.
338/4-IO Rafale B AdlA.
342/4-FI Fafale B AdlA.
Tornado IDS 44+06 from TaktLwG 33.
On the break for landing.
Tornado IDS 44+34 from TaktLwG 33.
Tornado IDS 44+06 from TaktLwG 33.
Tactical approach for landing.
164/30-VQ Rafale C EC 30 AdlA.
645/3-XP Mirage 2000D EC 01.003 'Navarre' SPA62 'Coq de Combat' AdlA.
634/3-JE Mirage 2000D EC 01.003 'Navarre' SPA95 'Martinet dans un Fanion' AdlA.
descending onto runway 09.
349/4-FP Rafale B EC 02.004 'La Fayette'
314/4-HP Rafale B EC 01.004 'Gascogne'
372/30-SU Rafale B EC30 AdlA.
Exercise Orion 2026 Checklist
Qatar Emiri Air Force
A7-MAC 120203 C17
A7-MAE 120204 C17
QA203 Rafale EQ
QA216 Rafale EQ
QA218 Rafale EQ
QA234 Rafale DQ
German Air Force
Tornado IDS 44+06
Tornado IDS 44+34
Tornado IDS 45+76
Royal Netherlands Air Force
German Support aircraft
250 C130H
Hellenic Air Force
747 C130H
509 Mirage 2000-5BG
549 Mirage 2000-5EG
555 Mirage 2000-5EG
552 Mirage 2000-5EG
French Air Force
54/2EZ Mirage 2000-5F
59/2-EV Mirage 2000-5F
63/2-EM Mirage 2000-5F
609/3-IF Mirage 2000D
632/3-XE Mirage 2000D
634/3-JE Mirage 2000D
645/3-XP Mirage 2000D
678/3-JB Mirage 2000D
682/3-JR Mirage 2000D
647/3-IO Mirage 2000D
149/5-VB Rafale C
162/5-VO Rafale C
367/5-SP Rafale B
314/4-HP Rafale B
335/4-IJ Rafale B
338/4-IO Rafale B
342/4-FI Rafale B
349/4-FP Rafale B
French Navy
M9 Rafale M
M32 Rafale M
BA118 Mont-de-Marsan Rafales C/B
140/30-GS
146/30GY
160/30-VM
161/30-VN
163/30-VP
164/30-VQ
165/30-VR
167/30-VT
169/30-VV
359/30FB
366/30-SO
369/30-SR
370/30-SS
371-30-ST
372/30-SU
Happy Days!
