Over recent days, and as part of Operation Orion, the French Armed Forces have been showcasing France’s military strength through the deployment of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, along with a sizable multinational group of escort and support vessels, heading toward the North Atlantic and projecting capabilities into the Arctic. Among the latest developments, within what may be described as the Assembly and Warm-Up Phase, the integration of the Moroccan Royal Navy frigate Mohammed VI into the French Carrier Strike Group has stood out, joining a growing multinational escort force.
The Mohammed VI is the flagship of the Royal Moroccan Navy and belongs to the anti-submarine warfare variant of the FREMM-class frigates. It was commissioned into service on June 30, 2014. Its participation in Operation Orion highlights the importance that this multinational activity—set to begin on February 8 and run through April 30—holds for the Armed Forces of the North African country. This significance is reflected both in the demonstration of capabilities and in the readiness, preparation, and coalition-level training that its crew will undertake.
This is evidenced by the prior exercises conducted by the frigate before integrating into the French Carrier Strike Group led by the Charles de Gaulle, during which it carried out training activities and maneuvers with one of the French Navy vessels escorting the nuclear aircraft carrier.
From the French Armed Forces, via the official account of the Carrier Strike Group, the participation of the Mohammed VI was highlighted as a key step in strengthening relations between the two countries, enhancing cooperation and interoperability between their respective navies.
It should also be noted that, over the past few days, the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group has continued to grow with the arrival of vessels from other nations, notably including the Spanish Navy’s frigate F-101 Álvaro de Bazán and the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805).
To convey the true scale of the exercises, it is sufficient to note the participation of 12,000 personnel, 25 ships, 140 aircraft and drones, as well as ground units deployed across different regions of France.
In addition to France, Morocco, and Spain, participating countries include the United States, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Estonia, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Japan, Norway, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Romania, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Switzerland.
Finally, as the planning and assembly phase draws to a close, Operation Orion will enter its next phase with the integration of all military assets and capabilities under a command and control structure in accordance with NATO standards.
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