France’s world journey helped foster ties: Australia

The Marine Nationale (French Navy) developed deeper professional ties with the aviators of the Royal Australian Air Force thanks to a circumnavigation of the globe.

In the Timor Sea, north of Darwin, on April 5, the Jeanne d’Arc 2023 group of the Marine Nationale trained with the P-8A Poseidon and F-35A Lightning II crews of the RAAF.

The frigate La Fayette and landing helicopter dock Dixmude make comprise the Jeanne d’Arc 2023 group, which is making its first voyage since 2001.

The crew of the La Fayette spoke with a RAAF 11SQN P-8A Poseidon crew while practicing in the Timor Sea to simulate a search for a subterranean threat.

Together, the two nations maneuvered to find, track, and engage an underwater target using the sonar capabilities of the Poseidon and La Fayette.

Flight Lieutenant Hamish Parsons, the tactical coordinator on board the Poseidon, reported that the integration during the training serial was seamless and that the two teams collaborated well to assure mission accomplishment.

Flight Lieutenant Parsons noted, “It was a great opportunity to put our skills to the test, prosecute a target, and demonstrate our ability to work together.”

These exchanges improve our ability to carry out anti-submarine missions with our partner countries and guarantee our ability to operate globally.

With French sailors, the two F-35As from 75 Squadron had a radically different task.

The frigate La Fayette had a difficult time locating the stealthy F-35As over the Timor Sea despite having a superstructure specially built to reduce its radar cross-section.

Lieutenant Fabrice, the operations officer, monitored the F-35A interoperability activity inside the combat information center at La Fayette.

“The French Navy doesn’t use the F-35A platform very much. Our crew was able to test their equipment and capability to find fast jet aircraft thanks to their participation, according to Lieutenant Fabrice.

“The training was very realistic with a lot of outcomes for all of our operators and for our cadets who are learning how to operate safely during a complex activity within an international context.”

The Jeanne d’Arc 2023 group left Townsville after their training in the Timor Sea and headed to New Caledonia for the international exercise Croix Du Sud, in which Australia will take part.

According to Lieutenant Fabrice, “our effective teamwork demonstrated the interoperability between our militaries and willingness to carry out multilateral training opportunities.”

“Our nations share the same vision of ensuring maritime safety, freedom of navigation, and adherence to the Laws of the Sea.”