Opération Chesapeake

The navies of the US and France recently completed a major training exercise off the US east coast. Henri-Pierre Grolleau joined a full squadron of Rafale Ms supported by a French E-2C operating from a US Navy ‘flat-top’.

Franco-American cross-decking

Rafale M26 about to hit the deck and catch the third arresting cable. French pilots, used to operating from the 42,000-tonne ‘Charles de Gaulle’, had no problem landing on the 95,000-tonne ‘Bush’.
French E-2C Hawkeye serial 1 is connected to the catapult shuttle. The aircraft received special markings to commemorate the deployment.
All photos Henri-Pierre Grolleau

With the Charles de Gaulle strike carrier undergoing an 18-month refit – including nuclear refuelling and a mid-life update – the Marine Nationale (French Navy) was left without a Hawkeye aircrews for carrier had to look abroad to solve the problem.

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