The French air force Rafale fighters due to take part in this month’s Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev., are now well on their way.
Four of the two-seat fighters belonging to the 1/7 “Provence” squadron from St. Dizier air base landed at Luke AFB, Ariz., on Aug. 7, on their way to Nellis.
(credit: Sirpa air)
For the big exercise, the Rafale’s will be joined by South Korean F-15Ks and Indian Su-30s, as well as U.S. Air Force F-16s and F-15s, of course. The Red Flag period will run through Aug. 24.
As a warm-up drill, while at Luke AFB, the Rafales are exercising with F-16s from the 309thfighter squadron based there. The French have also given some of their F-16 counterparts a ride on the Rafale, with the U.S. reciprocating on its F-16s, says the French air force.
(credit: Sirpa air)
This is the first deployment of French air force Rafales to the U.S. The French navy has made several visits to U.S.aircraft carriers in recent months, so Rafales technically have been on U.S. “soil.”