France set to launch largest military exercises in recent years

France is preparing for large-scale military operations called Orion-26, set to be among the largest exercises in recent years.

The drills will last nearly three months, with military forces from 24 other countries, mainly European but also from the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, expected to participate, Caliber.Az reports via French media.

From February 8 to April 30, France will deploy 12,500 military personnel, 25 ships including the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, 140 aircraft and helicopters, and 1,200 drones of various types. Cyber and space capabilities will also be involved in the exercise. 

The major manoeuvres will begin with the deployment of coalition troops from the Atlantic coast through amphibious and airborne operations in support of a fictional partner state, Arland, which is facing its expansionist eastern neighbour, Mercure. This phase will last until March 1. 

Then, from April 7 to 30, under French-led coalition command, the exercise will move to the Champagne camps as "an operation integrated into the NATO command chain" to "demonstrate the capability of European armed forces to fully integrate" into the structures of the Atlantic Alliance, according to Vice Admiral de Véricourt.

By Jeyhun Aghazada