Moroccan F-16s tested in French electronic warfare exercise
Moroccan F-16s took part in an electronic warfare exercise in France, where GPS, radars and communications were deliberately disrupted. The French military has released the results of the high-intensity maneuvers, which brought together six countries.
Disrupted GPS signals, jammed radars and air defenses to evade. Moroccan pilots took part from September 21 to October 1 in Black Crow 26, an electromagnetic warfare exercise held in France. In its report published Sunday, October 11, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces confirmed that Moroccan fighter jets took part in the maneuvers, which were designed to prepare aircrews for the conditions of a high-intensity conflict.
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The aim of the exercise is to make pilots’ task more difficult by disrupting the electronic systems on which their missions depend. Jamming and spoofing systems simulate the actions of an adversary seeking to interfere with communications, navigation and threat detection. Crews must adapt their tactics to continue their operations.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force and the Belgian Air Force took part with their fighter jets. Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom provided real or simulated ground-based air defense systems. The French military deployed fighter jets, helicopters, drones, transport aircraft and various electronic warfare assets.
More than 180 fighter sorties during the maneuvers
In all, Black Crow 26 involved more than 50 missions, including 180 fighter sorties, 50 helicopter sorties and 15 transport aircraft sorties. Around 20 satellite passes and numerous drone sorties rounded out the exercise. More than 350 personnel helped organize the exercise, which involved several hundred military personnel.
The maneuvers also provided a testing ground for France’s Directorate General of Armaments and French defense companies. Their equipment was tested in a deliberately disrupted environment to assess how it performed against electronic jamming techniques.
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For the Moroccan Air Force, Black Crow 26 followed the ORYX exercise held with French Rafale jets at Orange-Caritat from September 23 to October 2. Four Moroccan F-16s and around 50 military personnel had been deployed to the air base for combat, aerial refueling and tactical coordination missions.
At Black Crow, Moroccan pilots took part in a multinational exercise combining air assets with ground defenses and electronic systems. The French military said the goal was to learn how to maintain freedom of action when communications and detection instruments are disrupted.