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Pictures - French Navy Rafale M aboard USS Carl Vinson |
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French
Navy Rafale M Fighter Conducts Qualifications with USS Carl Vinson in
the Gulf |
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In
what seems to be becoming a tradition between the two allied navies,
a French Navy (Marine Nationale) Rafale M fighter crossed deck with
US Navy nuclear-powever aircraft carrier (CVN) USS Carl Vinson.
The US aircraft carrier and the French Navy CVN Charles de Gaulle
are currently deployed in the Persian Gulf to conduct strike operations
in Iraq. |
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 ARABIAN GULF (March 3, 2015) A French navy Rafale Marine aircraft from Squadron 11F embarked aboard the French navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) launches from U.S. Navy nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is deployed as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released) |
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The goal of this "cross deck" was to qualify
the Dassault Aviation Rafale M fighter with USS Carl Vinson. The
French navy CSG started air operations above Iraq last week.
The Rafale M is fully compatible with US Navy aircraft carriers and some French Navy pilots have already qualified to fly the aircraft from US Navy flight decks. This marks the fourth time French navy Rafale M operates with a US Navy CVN: - On 4 June 2010, during an exercise on USS Harry S. Truman, a French Rafale became the first jet fighter of a foreign navy to have its engine replaced on board an American aircraft carrier. - In 2008 six Rafales from Flottille 12F integrated into the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Air Wing interoperability exercise. - In july 2007 two Rafale M conducted touch and go, traps, and catapult launch maneuvers with USS Enterprise off the French Riviera. Link to Rafale fighter technical datasheet |
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