French Carrier Strike Group Concludes Mission Akila
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From April 22 to May 26, the carrier group (GAN) based around the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle , and accompanied by its escort took part in the AKILA mission . During this deployment, nearly 3,000 French and allied soldiers were engaged in the central Mediterranean, a major area of interest for Europe and NATO , in order to contribute to the defensive and dissuasive posture of the Alliance.
From 26 April to 10 May, the GAN was placed under NATO operational control for the first time as part of activity NEPTUNE STRIKE 24.1 , in order to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions while maintaining a high level operational preparation. These activities made it possible to interact with the Italian, Greek, Croatian, Romanian, English, Turkish, Spanish and Bulgarian armies and to carry out air missions in Germany, Albania, Romania and over the Baltic Sea.
From May 16 to 23, GAN participated in the high-intensity Franco-Italian exercise Mare Aperto 24.1 / Polaris , in order to strengthen the combat readiness of participating navies when planning and conducting a targeted maritime operation in a realistic and multi-domain scenario.
In total, during the entire AKILA mission , 10 air defense exercises were conducted ( ADEX ), as well as 5 anti-submarine warfare exercises (CASEX) , 2 anti-ship warfare exercises (SURFEX) , 4 exercises firing (GUNEX) , and 2 Aster missile firings from the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle and from the air defense frigate.
From the Balearic Sea to the Ionian Sea, via the Strait of Messina and the mouths of Bonifacio, the GAN has traveled more than 10,000 nautical miles. The aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle carried out more than 650 catapults of Rafales Marine and Hawkeye of the embarked air group (GAé) for 1000 hours of flight. The force's 5 helicopters flew 200 times, or 300 hours of flight, and the ATL2 , stationed in La Sude (Crete), recorded 12 missions for 90 hours of flight. In total, the aircraft flew 1500 hours.
The AKILA mission was the first operational mission in which the BRF Jacques Chevallier participated , which resupplied 35 French and allied buildings. This mission also allowed the experimentation of refueling and siloing of Aster missiles at sea, of a transfer of material by drone between escorts as well as the experimentation of damage repair as part of the Ursa Minor exercise .
GAN achieved all of its mission objectives by maintaining a high level of interoperability with NATO state forces and preparing for high-intensity engagement with allies.