(air&cosmos (fr), dec.14)
On 13 December, shortly after 22:10 (Paris time), several aircraft of the French Air Force took off from several air bases in France. Some of these aircraft are part of the Strategic Air Forces (FAS) and are participating in their fourth and last exercise of the year 2022: Poker 2022-4 is launched! The objective of the Poker exercises is to train the FAS but also all combat and support aircraft that could be deployed alongside FAS aircraft in view of a nuclear air strike. This exercise is also a reminder of French nuclear capabilities.
Depending on the poker game and the units involved, the means and manpower may differ. However, the patterns of most previous Poker operations occur in three phases.
This exercise brings together about 50 combat and support aircraft, divided into two forces: a strategic strike force, comprising the bulk of the aircraft and the Rafales of the Strategic Air Forces. The other combat aircraft and a few tankers play the role of an opposition force (OPFOR). The Air and Space Force therefore mobilises a large number of aircraft that must be assembled and prepared:
Once assembled over Brittany, the second phase begins. This is a simulation of the long-distance strategic air raid: the aircraft are refuelled by several tankers over Brittany. The aircraft then flew south to the Pyrenees and then headed for the Mediterranean. A second refuelling was also organised before the beginning of phase 3.
This is the offensive phase of Operation Poker: OPFOR must try to prevent the FAS aircraft from reaching a drop point, simulating the drop point of the ASMPA-R nuclear missiles. However, the Rafales are escorted by fighter aircrafts that OPFOR will also have to take into account. By the way, some of our readers may have heard the aircraft as FAS aircraft tend to fly low to avoid detection. It is also possible that one or more anti-aircraft batteries are deployed by OPFOR, hence the need to fly low.
As the missions of the Strategic Air Forces are classified, little information is available. It is however certain that the FAS Rafales do not carry an active but simulated ASMPA-R nuclear missile. The route is also known because a NOTAM is issued before the operation in order to reserve certain areas of French airspace for Air Force and Space Force aircraft. Finally, the support aircraft are, depending on the aircraft, visible during part or all of the Poker operation. For the last Poker exercise in 2022, the AAE mobilised :
The exercise probably ended at around 00:55 (GMT+1), at which time the E-3F Sentry left its patrol area to return to its Avord air base. At the time of writing (03:00 GMT+1), most of the support aircraft - and therefore probably most of the fighter aircraft - had also returned to their home or main base. Only two tankers are still visible but are heading back to their base:
France has three nuclear fire projection forces:
It should be noted that, unlike the SNLE, the FAS Rafale and FANu Rafale M have dual capabilities: they can be used to project French nuclear fire but can also be armed to carry out conventional combat missions with conventional munitions.
Finally, this exercise has no link with the war in Ukraine: Poker operations are organised four times a year, and the date of this exercise was known since 24 November, when the NOTAM was issued. /deepl
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DGA has taken delivery of the 9th A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transporter (MRTT) Phenix for @Armee_de_lair, after verification operations carried out by DGA flight test experts. 3 MRTTs are still to be delivered by 2023.
Poker 2022-04: Strategic air raid simulation for the French Air Force (AAE)
On the evening of December 13, the French Air Force launched its fourth and final exercise of the year 2022 simulating a strategic air raid over France. This operation, called Poker 2022-04, is obviously centred around the Rafale fighter aircraft of the Strategic Air Forces but also includes other aircraft. Indeed, a Poker operation generally includes about fifty combat and support aircraft.On 13 December, shortly after 22:10 (Paris time), several aircraft of the French Air Force took off from several air bases in France. Some of these aircraft are part of the Strategic Air Forces (FAS) and are participating in their fourth and last exercise of the year 2022: Poker 2022-4 is launched! The objective of the Poker exercises is to train the FAS but also all combat and support aircraft that could be deployed alongside FAS aircraft in view of a nuclear air strike. This exercise is also a reminder of French nuclear capabilities.
A standard 'Poker game' within the AAE
Depending on the poker game and the units involved, the means and manpower may differ. However, the patterns of most previous Poker operations occur in three phases.
Phase 1: build-up
This exercise brings together about 50 combat and support aircraft, divided into two forces: a strategic strike force, comprising the bulk of the aircraft and the Rafales of the Strategic Air Forces. The other combat aircraft and a few tankers play the role of an opposition force (OPFOR). The Air and Space Force therefore mobilises a large number of aircraft that must be assembled and prepared:
- a majority of Rafale and Mirage combat aircrafts
- A330 MRTT and KC-135FR in-flight refuellers
- an E-3F Sentry forward airborne lookout and command aircraft (AEW&C)
Phase 2: long-distance raid
Once assembled over Brittany, the second phase begins. This is a simulation of the long-distance strategic air raid: the aircraft are refuelled by several tankers over Brittany. The aircraft then flew south to the Pyrenees and then headed for the Mediterranean. A second refuelling was also organised before the beginning of phase 3.
Phase 3: nuclear raid
This is the offensive phase of Operation Poker: OPFOR must try to prevent the FAS aircraft from reaching a drop point, simulating the drop point of the ASMPA-R nuclear missiles. However, the Rafales are escorted by fighter aircrafts that OPFOR will also have to take into account. By the way, some of our readers may have heard the aircraft as FAS aircraft tend to fly low to avoid detection. It is also possible that one or more anti-aircraft batteries are deployed by OPFOR, hence the need to fly low.
Some visible aircraft
As the missions of the Strategic Air Forces are classified, little information is available. It is however certain that the FAS Rafales do not carry an active but simulated ASMPA-R nuclear missile. The route is also known because a NOTAM is issued before the operation in order to reserve certain areas of French airspace for Air Force and Space Force aircraft. Finally, the support aircraft are, depending on the aircraft, visible during part or all of the Poker operation. For the last Poker exercise in 2022, the AAE mobilised :
- 1 E-3F Sentry forward airborne lookout and command aircraft (AEW&C)
- 1 KC-135FR Stratotanker tanker
- 1 C-135FR Stratotanker tanker
- 5 A330 MRTT tanker aircrafts
The exercise probably ended at around 00:55 (GMT+1), at which time the E-3F Sentry left its patrol area to return to its Avord air base. At the time of writing (03:00 GMT+1), most of the support aircraft - and therefore probably most of the fighter aircraft - had also returned to their home or main base. Only two tankers are still visible but are heading back to their base:
- MARC57 (having changed its call sign to REFU406): this aircraft made several holding circles not far from its departure base at Mont-de-Marsan before heading for Istres air base
- METIS405: heading for its Istres airbase
A unique nuclear triad
France has three nuclear fire projection forces:
- The Force océanique stratégique (FOST), composed of the four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines of the Le Triomphant class, all deployed from Ile Longue (Finistère). At least one SNLE is constantly at sea and is ready, on presidential order, to deploy its M51 strategic ballistic missiles.
- The Strategic Air Forces (FAS), centred around the Rafale fighter aircraft and the A330 MRTT Phénix refuelling aircraft and some KC/C-135FR Stratotankers. These aircraft are deployed from three nuclear air bases: 125 Istres-Le Tubé (Bouches-du-Rhône), 702 Avord (Cher) and 113 Saint-Dizier-Robinson (Haute-Marne). The FAS also has two command centres, located in Taverny (Val-d'Oise) and Lyon (Rhône).
- "The Nuclear Naval Air Force" (FANu): this is a unique capability in the world because, with the withdrawal of the nuclear capability of the F/A-18F Super Hornet in 2021, the US Navy no longer has a strategic air capability. Thus, France is now the only nuclear power with a strategic strike force deployed from an aircraft carrier, namely the Charles de Gaulle. Like the FAS Rafales, the FANu's Rafale M can carry an ASMP-A nuclear missile.
It should be noted that, unlike the SNLE, the FAS Rafale and FANu Rafale M have dual capabilities: they can be used to project French nuclear fire but can also be armed to carry out conventional combat missions with conventional munitions.
Finally, this exercise has no link with the war in Ukraine: Poker operations are organised four times a year, and the date of this exercise was known since 24 November, when the NOTAM was issued. /deepl
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DGA has taken delivery of the 9th A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transporter (MRTT) Phenix for @Armee_de_lair, after verification operations carried out by DGA flight test experts. 3 MRTTs are still to be delivered by 2023.
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