French Rafale jets land in Alaska after first Arctic transit for Pegase 26

Four French Rafale fighter jets touched down at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on Tuesday, completing the first leg of the Pegase 26 deployment via a new Arctic route over Greenland. The nearly 11-hour flight from Istres Air Base in southern France included five mid-air refuellings, allowing the aircraft to cover the long distance without landing.

Mission commander General Julien Sabènè said the high-north path offers the French Air and Space Force an additional option for reaching the Indo-Pacific region. "This time, this is the first we are heading up north, over the Greenland, towards Alaska," he noted, adding that exploring different routes is vital for rapid global mobility.

The Arctic environment poses unique challenges, including unpredictable weather, vast distances, and sparse airfields. The deployment also serves as a training opportunity, with crews simulating tactical engagements throughout the transit. "Our objective is to train the way we would fight tomorrow," Sabènè said, explaining that the Rafales carried mock weapons to replicate real aerodynamic conditions.

Pegase 26 involves around 300 French personnel, four Rafale jets, three A330 MRTT Phénix tankers, and two A400M Atlas transport aircraft. The 40-day deployment, running from September 8 to October 15, will move from Arctic conditions to tropical and desert environments, testing crews across diverse terrains.

At Eielson, French forces will train alongside U.S. Air Force F-16 and F-35 jets. Sabènè emphasised the importance of cooperation with allies, particularly the United States and Denmark, given growing great-power interest in the Arctic region. "In case NATO needs to stand strong together against a common enemy, we're part of NATO, and we need to be capable of operating in this environment," he said.