Four French Rafale fighter jets have begun a 40-day global flight exercise, dubbed Pegase 26, designed to project military power, strengthen international alliances, and demonstrate France's ability to defend distant territories. The mission, spanning 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) across three continents with nine stopovers, commenced Tuesday from Istres air base in southern France.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability with strategic partners including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and India, particularly at a time when global powers like China and the United States are seen by some as prioritizing unilateral action. "In practical terms, we fly together, we land together, we work together," said Alice Rufo, a deputy defense minister, emphasizing the need for immediate readiness in the face of potential threats. "If we’re called upon to act together in the face of a threat, we need to be immediately interoperable. That doesn’t just happen. It must be prepared, and these exercises and missions allow us to prepare for that."
Pegase 26 marks the first time the exercise has included a northern route over Greenland and Alaska. This expanded route provides France with alternative options for transit to the Indo-Pacific region, a critical consideration given potential challenges and the increasing accessibility of Arctic maritime routes due to climate change. General Julien Sabènè, commander of Pegase 26, noted the importance of presence in the High North alongside allies, including Denmark, which governs Greenland. "Climate change is changing the stakes and maritime routes are evolving," Sabéné said. "There is a need for us to be present in the High North alongside our allies, and naturally alongside the Danes, who are an integral part of Greenland."
The mission also serves to underscore France's commitment to international law and freedom of navigation, especially in regions like the Persian Gulf where these principles face challenges. The jets will fly through the Middle East, with stopovers planned in Qatar before concluding the journey in Egypt.
Supported by three refueling planes, two transport aircraft, and approximately 300 personnel, the exercise is a significant logistical undertaking. The Associated Press observed French planes conducting joint exercises with U.S. fighter jets over Greenland and Alaska during the initial phase of the flight. While Pegase 26 is not a nuclear exercise and the aircraft carry mock armaments, pilots from France's Strategic Air Force, which manages part of the nation's nuclear deterrent, are participating. Some Rafale jets can be equipped with nuclear-armed missiles, and their long-range deployment would likely involve the same Airbus A330 MRTT refueling planes used in this exercise.
Rufo highlighted that sovereignty is best exercised through partnerships, and Pegase 26, with its extensive international participation, aims to prove France's capability to operate freely while respecting global rules. The exercise demonstrates France's ability to rapidly deploy combat aircraft across various potential conflict zones, including the Arctic, Pacific, and Middle East, while maintaining operations from its own bases.