Ocean Hit 2022
From 13 to 24 June 2022, exercise Ocean Hit 2022 was held on the Atlantic coast with the assistance of Marine National (French Navy) vessels, elements of the Armée de Terre (French Army) and aircraft of the Marine Nationale (French Navy), Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air and Space Force), Hellenic Air Force (HAF), Schweizer Luftwaffe (Swiss Air Force) and the Royal Air Force.
The main operating base is Base d'Aéronautique Navale (BAN) de Landivisiau (BAN), which is the home base of three Flotilles (squadrons) with the Dassault Rafale M.
Ocean Hit 2022 is a major combined high-intensity aero-maritime combat operational readiness exercise, which is organised by the airborne group (GAé). It is helping to upgrade the level of cooperation and interoperability between the participants with a valuable exchange of experience and know-how. Air battle scenarios, naval protection and ground force support were performed with increasing difficulty.
To prepare for operations from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91), one of the challenges of the exercise is the ability to work from different air bases, in an environment made complex by the CYBER intelligence and interception capabilities of the "enemy".
During the exercise, the participants carried out fourteen organic waves but also COMAO (Composite Air Operations) allowing to reinforce the interoperability of the nations and to share the know-how of each of the units. During two COMAOs, live fire coordinated with the European multi-purpose frigate Aquitaine (D650) was also carried out within the tactical unfolding of the mission, a first in Europe.
Participating air units were:
Photo by Marine Nationale / video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZzLY4sw6Yo