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| Rafale Fleet and Growler Fleet Meeting Over Coral Sea Strengthens Relations Between FASF and RAAF |
International Military - Rafale and Growler encounter over the Coral Sea strengthens French Air and Space Force and Australian Air Force ties
Prior to Exercise Pitch Black 2022 (19 August – 8 September), the French Air and Space Force (FASF) Rafale fighter jet fleet met with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) EA-18G Growler fleet over the Coral Sea on 17 August.
For information, the Coral Sea is an archipelago located in northeast Queensland, Australia. Most of the islands are small and uninhabited. FASF Rafales fly from France to New Caledonia, a French territory consisting of dozens of islands in the South Pacific.
The Rafale flies a distance of more than 16,000 km supported by A330 MRTT transport aircraft and tankers. This proves the ability of the Rafale and FASF's power projection to reach targets far beyond the country.
The FASF Rafale fleet was welcomed by the RAAF Growler fleet of Squadron No. 6. The Commander of the Air Combat Group of the RAAF, Air Commodore Tim Alsop, said the meeting highlighted the strength of continued engagement between the two countries, as well as demonstrated the deployment of air combat capabilities in a short time.
“FASF carried out a rapid 36-hour deployment to New Caledonia on Dassault Rafale aircraft and Multi-Role Tanker Transport,” Alsop said. The ability to deploy rapidly with a small but powerful force, he continued, demonstrates the RAAF's ability to project force and respond efficiently in a short period of time.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for our Growler aircraft to join France's Dassault Rafale aircraft for the final part of their journey to Australia," he said.
Australia and France's continued defense relationship is driven by shared values and an ongoing commitment to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Alsop stressed that France and Australia are committed to further enhancing engagement and interoperability. "We are committed to ensuring a stable, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, and will continue to work closely with our coalition partners," he said as broadcast by the Australian Department of Defence.
Following the aerial encounter, two days later Rafale and Growler participated in Exercise Pitch Black 22 in the Northern Territory, Australia.