France's Pégase 26 Mission to Link Arctic and Indo-Pacific in 40-Day Drill

France's Air and Space Force is set to launch Pégase 26, a nearly 40-day mission that will see its aircraft traverse from the Arctic to the Indo-Pacific. The operation, running from September 8 to October 15, is designed to test long-distance capabilities and strengthen military ties with partner nations.

The mission will involve around 300 personnel, four Rafale fighter jets, three MRTT Phénix tanker aircraft, and two A400M Atlas transport planes. Crews will make nine stops across four oceans and participate in multinational and bilateral exercises.

A key early challenge will be an 11-hour flight from mainland France to Alaska, requiring multiple midair refuelings. The route will pass through Greenland, allowing crews to operate in polar conditions and test a northern corridor toward the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at Istres Air Base in southern France, Alice Rufo, minister delegate to the minister of the armed forces and veterans, said the mission underscores France's reliability as a military partner. She highlighted cooperation with the United States in Alaska, Denmark over Greenland, Canada, and Indo-Pacific partners including India, Indonesia, and South Korea. The mission will also involve engagements with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.

Rufo emphasized that the exercise demonstrates France's freedom of air navigation while respecting partner sovereignty. She noted that such missions are vital for developing interoperability, allowing forces to fly, land, and work together seamlessly. "If we are called upon to act together in the face of a threat, we need to be immediately interoperable," she said.

French forces will take part in exercises including Tarang Shakti in India and training in Egypt, with additional cooperation planned with Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea.