Tag Archives: French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91)

U.S. Navy Super Hornet refuels French Rafale and Super Etendard jets over USS Carl Vinson

F/A-18E Super Hornet serves as aerial refueler for French combat planes operating from Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier.

The images in this post were taken on Mar. 9 over the Persian Gulf (or “Arabian Gulf” if you want to use the term used by the U.S. armed forces lately).

They show an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 Sunliners refuel two French Super Étendard Marine and one Rafale Marine aircraft from French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the vicinity of U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

The French and American nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are currently deployed along with their battle groups to support strike operations in Iraq and Syria.

Last week a Rafale Marine “omnirole” aircraft belonging to the 11F operated aboard the USS Carl Vinson in the last of series of joint training events aimed at improving carrier integration.

Image credit: U.S. Navy

Rafale and Super Etendard jets Launched and Recovered from French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier

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Footage from aboard aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, cruising towards the Indian Ocean.

Before it crossed the Suez Canal on Jan. 26 the carrier battle group “Arromanches,” built around the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, has conducted operations and exercises with allied forces in the Mediterranean sea.

12 Rafale, 9 Super Étendard Modernisés (SEM), one E-2 Hawkeye and 4 helicopters are embarked on the carrier that is expected to join the French military operation in Iraq against the Islamic State soon.

Fantastic video brings you aboard low-level flying French Navy warplanes

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The American aicraft carrier USS Truman is currently closely co-operating with French Carrier Charles De Gaulle in the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet AOR (Area of Responsibility – Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean).

But, whereas you can find plenty of material about all the U.S. flattops, images and videos shot by French naval aviators are a bit rarer.

That’s the reason why the following footage, shot both “feet wet” (at sea) and “feet dry” (flying over land) of the Rafale M aircraft of the 11F (Flotille) and Super Etendard of the 17F of the Aeronavale (French Navy) is particularly interesting.

Watch the French Naval Aviation at work in mixed formations over the ship and over NW Scottish countryside during last years detachment of Rafales, Super Etendards and E2c Hawkeye to RAF Leuchars for Exercise Joint Warrior.

Footage shot during low-level formation flying is really stunning.