Moroccan and French Pilots Train Together for Future Joint Rafale Missions
Twelve Moroccan pilots and their mechanics are taking part in an exercise with French Rafale jets at Orange Air Base. Facing simulated threats in the air and on the ground, the two forces are working on their coordination so they can eventually carry out joint missions.
On Thursday, October 1, two Rafale jets from the 1/5 Vendée squadron took off from BA 115, followed by two Moroccan F-16s. Two hours earlier, the crews had reviewed their mission objectives and the weather, Le Dauphiné Libéré reported in its article published on October 2, the final day of the exercise.
On Bladi.net : Moroccan F-16s Face French Rafales in Major Air Exercise
The Moroccan detachment numbers around fifty people. According to the newspaper, this is the first time a group of this size has deployed to France for this bilateral training exercise. The pilots and technical teams are operating from Orange alongside the French Air and Space Force.
The work begins with radio exchanges and continues with the application of tactics and procedures. Each mission is prepared and then debriefed together. For Lieutenant-Colonel Jérémy, commander of the 5th Fighter Wing and director of the exercise, the aim is also to help the crews get to know one another better and build trust.
This familiarity should make it easier for them to coordinate in flight. Lieutenant-Colonel Kévin, who took part in the missions, sums up this professional rapport: “fighter pilots understand each other easily.”
Air and surface-to-air threats in the scenarios
The flights are part of an air-defense exercise, with threats presented as generic. Their complexity stems from the combination of air-to-air and surface-to-air risks, compounded by the weather constraints encountered this week.
The context of rising tensions is nevertheless shaping the training. The commander of the 5th Fighter Wing says the exercise is part of preparations for high-intensity conflict. The scenarios are therefore designed to confront crews with more demanding situations and prompt them to adjust their responses together.
The deployment follows the Marathon 25 maneuvers held in Morocco. Last year, five Rafale B jets and a French A330 MRTT traveled to the kingdom to train with Moroccan F-16s. The program included live-fire training, aerial refueling and tactical coordination.
The Orange exercise continues this cooperation at a French base, following the deployment of Moroccan aircraft and personnel. Bladi.net had already detailed their journey to Orange-Caritat and the support provided by two C-130Hs, which transported the teams, spare parts and necessary equipment.
The two air forces want to continue these exchanges. General Alexis Rougier, chief of staff of the Air Defense and Air Operations Command, has set joint missions as a long-term objective. A new exercise could bring French pilots to Morocco in 2027.
