In a few days, seven of the most influential heads of state on the planet will meet in Évian as part of the G7. A summit meeting for which the Air Defense and Air Operations Command (CDAOA) will be in charge of air security. As is required during each major event on the national territory, a specific air security system (DPSA) will reinforce the permanent air security posture (PPS-A) active 7 days a week and 24 hours a day and implemented continuously since 1is octobre 1964.
For several days, a new generation Crotale radar monitoring and anti-aircraft fire weapon system has been deployed in the city center of Évian-les-Bains. This multi-sensor system, activated 24 hours a day and reinforced by a network of aerial view spotters, is added to the E3-F Awacs aerial surveillance aircraft at the Avord air base (BA) 702 but also to the aerial anti-drone fight network (LADA). Their association under the authority of the High Air Defense Authority makes it possible to maintain security on all layers of the airspace to protect the summit. Deploying such armament in a civilian environment in peacetime, due to its obvious constraints, represents a real challenge. “The configuration of the Évian region prevailed for this particular deployment of Crotale units in an urban area, explains Lieutenant-Colonel Hervé, commanding the ground-air air defense wing at the Avord air base. Indeed, the city of Évian-les-Bains being located on the edge of Lake Geneva and surrounded by hills, this choice of placing the Crotale system in the city center, with appropriate security, was therefore essential. Its location, in the heart of the DPSA, optimizes detection capabilities above the lake and provides an ultimate means of interception optimally placed to protect the summit in all directions. »
“The terrain always rules”
If the ground-air defense crews are now taking up residence in Évian, this unique deployment for the DPSA has been studied for many months by the ground-air air defense squadron (ESADA). Thus, the operations office of the ground-air defense squadron 02.950 “Sancerre” and its mission preparation section began their tactical thinking with the study of the RETEX (feedback) of the previous DPSAs implemented Work in this area. This was followed by a preliminary study on a map and then a first field study trip to Évian-les-Bains.As the terrain always dictates, a first site reconnaissance was quickly carried out to validate or refute the envisaged positionsdescribes Lieutenant-Colonel Hervé. Once the first deployment plan was validated, the preparation work was distributed within the wing services.» Meticulous preparation going as far as the study of the route to be taken by the vehicles to reach Évian from Avord in complete safety, in particular in coordination with the Motorized Air and Space Gendarmerie Brigade of the BA 702.
During a DPSA, ground-air defense ensures surveillance of the airspace at very short and short range and, if necessary, constitutes the last level of intervention in addition to air interception vectors. An effective anti-aircraft weapons system implemented by the AAE EDSAs, the Crotale NG is today present on all DPSAs reserved for large-scale events. Whether with its 360° detection capacity, radar tracking or optronics and rapid engagement of short-range aerial targets, the high operational credibility of the Crotale in terms of air defense no longer needs to be demonstrated.Its very low altitude radar detection of air vectors is integrated into the air defense detection and engagement chain and the restitution from its day/night camera is retransmitted directly to the Air Center for planning and conducting air operations and the air defense (CAPCODA) for the benefit of the High Air Defense Authority (HADA) in order to clarify the commitment decision that would be taken by the Prime Ministerspecifies the commander of ESADA. It is a robust and autonomous, multi-sensor weapons system, implemented by two ground-to-air defense operators that can be armed with eight hypervelocity ground-to-air missiles.»
If ground-air defense operators maintain a high level of operational preparation throughout the year through regular training on simulators and dedicated exercises, the approach of the G7 DPSA marks a phase of refocusing on the specificities of the engagement zone. As such, the CDAOA sets up, in the days preceding the operational phase, dedicated training sequences aimed at strengthening coordination between all the air defense and anti-drone fighters involved in the system.
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