This is an unprecedented operation for decades by its magnitude. For several days, until mid-March, thousands of soldiers will carry out a large-scale military exercise in which soldiers from all armies will take part. “It’s the return of major exercises on the territory,” explains Major General Nicolas Le Len, commanding the command for joint operations.
What is the purpose of this operation?
“Faced with the accelerated deterioration of the international context in 2022”, “the armies are adapting their operational preparation accordingly” explains the Ministry of the Armed Forces. Orion, a large-scale operation for resilient, interoperable, high-intensity combat-oriented and innovative armies, began on February 21 but entered its active phase this weekend. Its objective is “to train the French armies in a joint and multinational framework, according to a realistic and demanding scenario”.
The chosen scenario is that of aid to the fictitious state Arnland, destabilized by a powerful neighbor, which arms militias inside this state and deploys a large military force on its borders. Any resemblance to international news is not coincidental… And yet, the operation, adjusted according to international news, was scheduled from 2020.
What are the resources involved?
No less than 7,000 soldiers, French and foreign, are taking part in this air-sea campaign. This force notably includes all the components and capabilities of the French armies in all environments (land, sea, air, space, cyber) and all fields (informational and electromagnetic). Some 2,300 vehicles, including 400 combat vehicles, 40 helicopters and around 100 military drones, are part of the operation. Nearly 130 aircraft, including Rafale, and ground / air defense systems are also mobilized. At sea, there are 30 buildings, including the Charles de Gaule aircraft carrier and two amphibious helicopter carriers.
Where does the operation take place?
It will be deployed in around twenty departments. This second phase of Operation Orion (which has 4, with phases of counter-attacks interspersed with diplomatic talks, to make the scenario as credible as possible), takes place in the Mediterranean. The region of Sète will be the epicenter of this campaign, where the bulk of the military forces will be concentrated. An amphibious landing is planned in Sète, in the Hérault, this Sunday.
Saturday, near Castres, in the Tarn, six A400M military transport planes chained rotations at a steady pace to dump 600 men and 12 tons of equipment on a plateau. “The quantity of means made available, the degree of synergy between the different armies, it’s unheard of since I joined,” explains Captain Thibault.
In the spring, a second sequence of the Orion exercise provides for the simulation of a high-intensity air-land confrontation against the “Mercury” state, with the deployment of 12,000 soldiers in north-eastern France. Aquitaine and the Massif Central will also be affected by these future operational phases.