US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) completed a weeklong joint exercise known as French Air Defense week on July 6 and is continuing its deployment in the Atlantic.
The exercise saw aircraft from Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) conducting integrated flight operations with French Naval Aviation aircraft.
CVW-1 pilots and their French counterparts demonstrated the ability to conduct air warfare and strike techniques including dissimilar air combat training throughout the 45 sorties flown.
“The purpose was to show French and American resolve and that we are strong allies and friends,” said Lt. Kyle Anderson. “I think the whole experience really demonstrates that we can meet up in unfamiliar airspace – language barriers and all – and come together to execute the mission in a short window of time. It was really a good showing of our presences together.”
CVW-1 aircraft that participated in the exercise include F/A-18s and E-2D Hawkeyes, which integrated with French Dassault Rafale M Fighters.
“French fighter jets performing operations on the deck of one of America’s great supercarriers is an amazing symbol of the strong partnership between the United States and France,” said the U.S. Ambassador to the French Republic and Principality of Monaco, Jamie D. McCourt.
Throughout the duration of the exercise flight operations were conducted over France and French territorial and international waters in the Bay of Biscay.
Harry S. Truman is currently deployed in the US 6th Fleet area of operations.