Syria. The new face of Operation Chammal
France is increasing the participation of aviation in the fight against the "Islamic state". Air operations are carried out as part of Operation Chammal, which is part of the multinational Operation Unwavering Resolve, conducted by a coalition of several dozen countries led by the United States.
On September 19, 2014, the French air operation Chammal against the Islamic State began when a group consisting of Rafale multi-role fighters from the EC 3/30 Lorraine squadron, supported by a C-135FR tanker aircraft and an Atlantique 2 reconnaissance patrol, completed its first combat mission. Then seaplanes joined the action, operating from the deck of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91). The combat operations of the aircraft carrier and escort ships were carried out as part of Operation Arromanches-1. The air group of the only French aircraft carrier included 21 combat aircraft, including 12 Rafale M multi-role fighters and 9 Super Étendard Modernisé fighter-bombers (Super Etendard M) and one E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft. Among the airborne Rafale M were two of the latest units equipped with radar stations with an active electronically scanned antenna AESA. After a TRAP exercise with an American MV-22 Osprey multi-role VTOL transport aircraft at the Coron training ground and a follow-up exercise with French and US FAC guidance controllers in Djibouti and a brief stop in Bahrain, the aircraft carrier finally entered combat on 23 February 2015. Two days later, the multirole Rafale M fighters (Flottille 11F) attacked the first targets in Al-Qaim near the Syrian border. On March 20, the first attack was made by a Super Étendard M fighter-bomber (tail number 46) using GBU-49 aerial bombs. During the month, 15 guided bombs were dropped. Between April 1 and 15, before the arrival of another American aircraft carrier, the French Charles de Gaulle was the only ship of this class in the waters of the Persian Gulf.
On March 5, 2015, the General Staff of the French Armed Forces announced the reduction of the Rafale involved in Operation Chammal, and soon three aircraft of this type from the squadrons EC 1/7 Provence and EC 2/30 Normandie-Niemen returned to their home airports. On the way back to Poland, they were traditionally accompanied by a C-135FR tanker aircraft.
On March 15, 2015, the French E-3F airborne early warning and control aircraft belonging to the squadron 36 EDCA (Escadre de Commandement et de Conduite Aéroportée) reappeared in the Middle East theater of operations, and three days later began combat flights in close cooperation with air force coalition. Thus began the second tour of the French AWACS in the Middle East theater of operations - the first was carried out in the period October-November 2014. Meanwhile, E-2C Hawkeye aircraft from the airborne GAE (Groupe Aérien Embarqué) from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.
The highest intensity of flights took place on March 26-31, 2015, when French Air Force and naval aviation aircraft operated jointly. During these few days, the machines completed 107 sorties. At all times, the French forces are in constant contact with the US CAOC (Air Operations Coordination Center), located in Qatar, in El Udeid. Not only French helicopters are involved in the operation, so the tasks related to ensuring the safety and recovery of pilots are performed by American helicopters.
