France Launches Major Global Air Power Mission
France has launched an unprecedented long-range military mission spanning much of the globe, aimed at demonstrating the reach and endurance of its air force and its ability to project power over long distances.
The operation involves four Rafale F4 fighter jets, three A330 MRTT Phénix tanker aircraft and two A400M Atlas transport planes, with around 300 French air force personnel taking part.
The aircraft departed on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, for a 40-day mission running until October 15, covering more than 40,000 kilometers.
The route will take the French force through Greenland 🇬🇱, Canada 🇨🇦, the Arctic and Alaska 🇺🇸, where the crews and aircraft will be tested in extreme cold-weather conditions. Some flights to Alaska are expected to last around 11 hours.
The mission will then continue through the Indo-Pacific, with planned stops in Japan 🇯🇵, South Korea 🇰🇷, Indonesia 🇮🇩, India 🇮🇳 and Réunion 🇷🇪, before moving toward the Near East and Middle East, including Qatar 🇶🇦 and Egypt 🇪🇬.
The deployment is designed to test the limits of France’s aircraft, logistics and personnel while showcasing its ability to conduct long-range operations across multiple strategic regions.