The crew members of the French Air Force’s Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft of the 1/7 Provence fighter squadron participated in night training in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The crew stationed in the French Forces Air Base in the UAE participated in the activities to strengthen their operational cooperation with several strategic partners.
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Over four days, 28 sorties were flown from Air Base 104 over the Arabian Gulf, half of which were operated by the French forces in collaboration with the UAE and Moroccan Air Forces.
Each aerial sortie involved between four and six French aircraft and was exclusively carried out at night.
The night-time readiness activities enabled the Rafale crew to bolster their ability to force entry into an operational theatre, which has been one of their primary missions during their prepositioning in the UAE.
The high-intensity night training is an addition to the participation of the airmen of the Rafale aircraft at Air Base 104 in Operation Chammal.
Over the past three years, the airmen involved in the operation have supported the international coalition by conducting several intelligence missions, planned air strikes, or close air support missions to Iraqi security forces operating on the ground.
Operation Chammal, which was first launched on 19 September 2014, represents the French Air Force’s contribution to Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and currently mobilises approximately 1,100 soldiers.
