France AAE Khamsin overview 640KHAMSIN, a high intensity training

The training sequence named KHAMSIN, as an element within mission SHIKRA, started on 10 January 2022 in Djibouti.

Scramble Magazine reported on the first phase of mission SHIKRA, exercise MARATHON, which consisted of the non-stop flight on 5 January 2022 of two Rafale B fighters and one Airbus A330MRTT Phénix (Phoenix) to La Réunion (Reunion Island).

On 8 January, the detachment left La Réunion for Base Aérienne 188 (BA188) at Djibouti/Ambouli to be part of the training exercise.

A second power projection mission, exercise MINOTAURE, started on 10 January involving two EC01.004 Gascogne Rafale B, two EC01.002 Cigognes Mirage 2000-5F, three EC03.003 Ardennes Mirage 2000D escorted by an A330MRTT Phénix flying the 5,000 km stretch non-stop from France to Djibouti/Ambouli.

When arriving in Djiboutian airspace the contingent was challenged by the earlier mentioned Rafales that arrived from La Réunion and the locally based Mirage 2000-5 from EC03.011 Corse. The interceptors were assisted by ground-to-air defence systems and simulated denial of access to the incoming fighters, whose crews were treated and trained to a high intensity fight after more than eight hours of flight.


The KHAMSIN training exercise continued for several days in a favourable environment. The operational support at BA188 allows the military to meet operational preparation conditions like those of current external operations. Local units such as the Air Operations Coordination Centre and the based EC03.011 fighter squadron facilitated the crews arriving from France.

The following aircraft were noted participating in the execrcise:

Incoming force
Rafale B: 342/4-FI and 355/4-FV operated by EC01.004 Gascogne
Mirage 2000-5F: 71/2-EE and 57/2-ET operated by EC01.002 Cigognes
Mirage 2000D: 635/3-AS, 661/3-XI and 629/3-XO operated by EC03.003 Ardennes
A330MRTT: 045/F-UJCK operated by ERVTS01.031 Bretagne
Defending force
Rafale B: 323/4-HT and 325/4-HX operated by EC01.004 Gascogne
Mirage 2000-5: unknown number operated by EC03.011 Corse

The following aircraft were also noted, but it is not known if these participated in the exercise:
A330MRTT: 044/F-UJCJ operated by ERVTS01.031 Bretagne (returned to France on 11 January 2022)
C-135FR: 735/31-CG operated by ERV04.031 Sologne

Photos by Morgane Vallé/AAE

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