The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort group sailed from the Toulon naval base to begin their participation in Exercise ORION 26, one of the French Armed Forces’ main operational readiness events. The carrier strike group will operate in the North Atlantic, with an intended reach toward Arctic areas, as part of a joint, interservice and allied exercise supported by partner forces.
The carrier’s escort is made up of French and allied ships, reflecting the group’s ability to operate in an integrated manner across all domains of naval warfare within a coalition. In the next phases of the deployment, the incorporation of an amphibious force is planned, which will complete ORION 26’s naval component.
A high-intensity exercise with a multidomain focus
Exercise ORION 2026 was designed to meet high-level operational objectives. It is a joint, interservice and allied training effort aimed at preparing participating forces for high-intensity scenarios in complex, contested, and multidomain environments.
Key objectives include training commanders to plan and conduct multidomain operations as part of a major commitment on European soil; strengthening active and reserve forces and logistics chains to ensure performance in degraded environments; and reinforcing interministerial coordination to ensure national resilience in crisis situations.
ORION 26 also seeks to increase interoperability with allies, particularly in view of the certification of the French Air and Space Force (l’Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace) in the framework of the ARF 2026 alert, while also testing and integrating technological innovations such as drones, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, advanced simulation, satellite interference, and spectral meteorology.
According to French authorities, the exercise also aims to demonstrate France’s ability to lead a multinational coalition and operate in an integrated manner within a NATO posture in the face of a large-scale threat.
International participation and force deployment
ORION 26 will involve more than 12,000 personnel, 25 ships—including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91)—140 aircraft and drones, as well as ground units deployed across different regions of France. Activities include amphibious and air operations on the Atlantic coast, as well as land maneuvers under NATO command in the Champagne region.
Among the participating countries is Brazil, which will deploy a contingent from its Marine Corps. The maneuvers will take place between 2 February and 4 March, and represent an instance of strategic cooperation between the two countries.
On Brazil’s side, sixteen personnel—three officers and thirteen non-commissioned officers—were selected to take part in the mission. The first phase includes embarking aboard the amphibious helicopter carrier PHA Mistral (L9013), where joint exercises and tactical rehearsals will be conducted, followed by ground operations on French territory. Preparation included a specific training process and adapting equipment to European climatic conditions, with temperatures ranging between 3°C and 9°C.
Strategic projection
With the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle and its carrier strike group as part of ORION 26, France consolidates its naval power-projection capability and its role within collective defense frameworks. The exercise is presented as a key platform to assess allied force integration, the conduct of complex operations, and the incorporation of new capabilities in high-intensity conflict scenarios.
Images obtained from the French Navy’s Military Operations account (Armée française – Opérations militaires).
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Watch out for Macron, he’s a snake in the grass. I would guess he’s trying to show some kind of policeman for Denmark with what’s going on with President Trump and Greenland.