The French Navy (Marine Nationale) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) set sail on Monday (22 April) for an operational deployment named ‘Akila’. Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle and its escort set course for the Eastern Mediterranean and will be operating under NATO command for the very first time.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle setting sail from Toulon for mission Akila. Hervé Dermoune picture.

The French Navy did not officially disclose the exact composition of the CSG for Akila (nor its exact itinerary), Naval News understands that for this mission, the French CSG consists of:

Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91),
Aquitaine-class FREMM Frigate Provence (D652),
Forbin-class air defense destroyer Chevalier Paul (D621),
Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Emeraude (S604),
and the new replenishment vessel (known as BRF) Jacques Chevallier (A725).

Chevalier PaulJacques ChevallierProvenceEmeraude (file picture)

Foreign units taking part in the beginning of this mission are Portuguese Navy M-class frigate Bartolomeu Dias (F333) and Italian Navy  Carlo Bergamini-class frigate Carabiniere (F 593).

Other units are likely to join the CSG later on such as Aquitaine-class FREMM Frigate Bretagne (D655), Air Defense FREMM Lorraine (D657) which departed Toulon last month as well US Navy and Hellenic Navy units.

Local ships potter (and regular Naval News contributor) Hervé Dermoune was on watch yesterday to share these great shots with us.

CarabiniereBartolomeu Dias

The Charles de Gaulle’s air wing comprises 18 Rafale fighter jets—two-thirds of the ship’s capability—along with 2 E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft and 2 Dauphin SAR helicopters. Additionally, they will be joined by one land-based Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.

While the exact whereabouts of the CSG were not disclosed, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, the French CSG commander previously said the carrier will participate in the French-Italian exercise Mare Aperto 24.

The presence of the CSG in the Eastern Mediterranean is also likely, as some of its airwing will conduct missions in Romania and Black Sea skies.

The deployment is expected to last about 6 weeks and the CSG is not expected to enter the Red Sea but remains an option.

Under NATO command for the first time / NEPTUNE STRIKE Exercise

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle setting sail from Toulon for mission Akila. Hervé Dermoune picture.
Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle and her escort will soon be operating under NATO command for the first time.

While under NATO command (for about two weeks) the mission will be led from Oeiras, Portugal, home to the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), an operational command that provides maritime battle staff to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).

Under NATO command, the French CSG is set to take part in NATO’s annual multi-domain activity NEPTUNE STRIKE.

The goal of this exercise is to demonstrate the Alliance’s ability to integrate joint high-end maritime strike capabilities of Allied aircraft carrier and expeditionary strike groups to support the defense of the Alliance.

For the duration of NEPTUNE STRIKE- and for the first time ever, the French Navy will transfer the authority for the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and affiliated units under direct NATO command.

Aster missile launch

Having departed Toulon naval base yesterday, the French CSG is already busy. The French Navy announced on social media X that the carrier launched an Aster 15 missile while Chevalier Paul launched an Aster 30 missile.

According to a French MoD statement issued today about this anti air warfare traiing:

These operational preparation shots, carried out thanks to the know-how of the French Navy and the expertise of the Directorate General of Armament (DGA), were conducted in an environment reproducing a naval aeronautical situation close to that which may be encountered in operations.

The Chevalier Paul, which acts as CSG air defense commander, neutralized an air threat at long range in a non-permissive environment using an Aster 30 surface to air missile.

The Charles de Gaulle for his part successfully fired an Aster 15 missile, hitting its aerial target.

This type of firing trains crews to deal with high-intensity situations, likely to be encountered by the combat vessels of the French Navy.

It underlines the requirement for realism brought to the training of forces. It demonstrates the relevance and effectiveness of the carrier strike group’s layered defense system.

The shots were carried out on remotely piloted targets, simulating reconnaissance drones and anti-ship missiles.