From the first hours of the conflict, the French response was immediate. Less than eight hours after the outbreak of hostilities, the Rafales were already carrying out defensive missions within the framework of the defense agreements linking France to the countries of the Middle East, shooting down several hostile targets thanks to their perfect integration into local chains of command.
In the following weeks, the crews took turns in flight, conducting aerial surveillance missions lasting five to six hours, day and night, in a sky saturated with threats of all kinds. The Rafales engaged a wide variety of aerial targets, combining missile fire and gun passes, sometimes at very low altitude. During the most intense days of the conflict, several patrols took off urgently even though the base was under threat, with some crews having only a few minutes to reach their aircraft.
These defensive actions could not have been carried out without the discreet but decisive commitment of the mechanics and armorers of the air base, who maintained the availability of the aircraft in particularly demanding conditions: interventions under cover in full alert, continuous rearmament after each mission, resolutions of breakdowns. Thanks to the skills and commitment of the technicians, all the missions were able to be carried out.
At the height of the events, the “fighter” component of the FFEAU asserted itself as a pillar of regional air defense, consolidating an operational partnership based on mutual trust and tactical coordination with the local air forces.
The French Forces stationed in the United Arab Emirates (FFEAU) support French military assets deployed in the Arab-Persian Gulf and the northern Indian Ocean. The FFEAU regularly co-organize instructions adapted to the needs of partner countries in their permanent area of responsibility, particularly in the areas of desert combat and in Middle Eastern urban areas. Around 700 soldiers make up this joint force system, which is essential for implementing France’s defense policy and leading bilateral military relations with the countries in the area.
