Exercise Volfa 2022: Inside one of France’s largest ever combat air drills

Nine air powers gathered for the French Air and Space Force-hosted Exercise Volfa 2022. Babak Taghvaee reports on the high intensity operations that were carried out during the latest edition of the event.

The French Air and Space Force (FASF) held one of its largest ever air drills, Volfa 2022, between September 26 and October 14, 2022. Air services and naval aviation forces from nine nations participated in the exercise with 82 fixed-wing aircraft, including 21 Rafale B/C/Ms, eight helicopters and a single armed drone.

140 ‘4-GS’, one of the Rafale Cs operated by 30th Combat Wing (previously 4th Combat Wing) taxiing toward the runway before an operation during Exercise Volfa 2022 at BA118.
140 ‘4-GS’, one of the Rafale Cs operated by 30th Combat Wing (previously 4th Combat Wing) taxiing toward the runway before an operation during Exercise Volfa 2022 at BA118. Babak Taghvaee

The exercise scenarios were designed in December 2021, but modified because of lessons learned from the war in Ukraine to increase the level of interoperability of NATO air powers for defending its territory from invasion by Russia. This report focuses on the operational phase of the exercise, held October 3-13.

 

Become a Premium Member to Read More

This is a premium article and requires an active Key.Aero subscription to view.

I’m an existing member, sign me in!

I don’t have a subscription…

Enjoy the following subscriber only benefits:

  • Unlimited access to all KeyAero content
  • Exclusive in-depth articles and analysis, videos, quizzes added daily
  • A fully searchable archive – boasting hundreds of thousands of pieces of quality aviation content
  • Access to read all our leading aviation magazines online - meaning you can enjoy the likes of FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, Aviation News, Airports of the World, PC Pilot and Airliner World - as soon as they leave the editor’s desk.
  • Access on any device- anywhere, anytime
  • Choose from our offers below