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
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.