New heavy configuration for carrier battle group
The corridors of noise surrounding the new projection of the naval group (GAn) suggest a new and unique format. It could see 26 fighters on board (in addition to two airborne early warning aircraft (E-2C Hawkeye) and servitude helicopters (CSAR, SAR) which will all Rafale M.
The GAn (Battle Group) in itself does not benefit from such details, to our knowledge. Only the participation of the German frigate Augsburg (F122) is announced (it was already present in the French system from December 2015 to March 2016). Given the previous deployments of the French aircraft carrier, there is a safe bet that a Frigate Air Defense (FDA) and Frigate Anti-Submarine (MDTF) will join the group, not to mention the presence of a submarine Nuclear Attack (SNA), but also a Command and Supply ship (BCR).
The onboard Air Group (EAG) goes one step further compared to the previous configuration (also counting Modernised Super Etendard: Mission Arromanches 2). The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and hence all the battle group, will bother to try this configuration "all Burst (M)" before the next overhaul of the boat.
This format would be the second highest on record (Mission Chammal 2) since the entry into Charles de Gaulle service (2001, already 15 years of operations in the sea).
Following a series of discussions, readings and re-readings, it was claimed that the aircraft carrier carried a maximum configuration of 24 machines. However, a senior naval officer stated that this limit could be increased to 30 fighters, in addition to Hawkeye and helicopters.
In fact, the PA 75 Brittany and Provence - who will become the R91 and R92 Charles de Gaulle Richelieu - see the GAE designed around the F / A-18 Hornet without Hawkeye. The number of hunters is then stopped at 35 units. The introduction of the air lookout aircraft E-2C Hawkeye and the passage of F / A-18 Hornet Navy Rafale M sees not hold 35 or 32 Rafale but a maximum configuration of GAE to 24 hunters.
This number is exceeded at least once in 2016. It takes into account not only the design of aeronautical facilities aboard the aircraft carrier but also the regeneration capacity of the potential fleet of carrier-based fighters.
Only two fleets are operational Rafale M ie chronologically 12F (beginner conversion in 2001, declared operational in 2004) and 11F (began his conversion in 2010, is still operating the same year). The 17F abandons its summer 2016 Super Etendard Modernized to turn on Rafale M.
Of the 48 Rafale ordered for the Maritime Force of Naval Aviation (FMAN), 4 were lost in accidents, including one fatal. The Rafale M47 and M48 must be received by 2020 assuming 2021.En nine Rafale M F1 sent to retrofit all returned. And even then, we need to remove two or three Rafale M made available to the squadron of Rafale Air-Marine transformation 2/92.
The Navy has a maximum of 42 Rafale which 39 or 40 that must share three fleets. Is a hypothetical distribution of about 13 machines per unit. When two fleets are operations on the aircraft carrier, the third regenerates its potential men and machinery in France.
Parenthetically, it is logical that the General Staff of the Navy demand over the next LPM strengthening the number of Rafale M in order to maintain three fleets and therefore the ability to last with a single aircraft carrier. It is difficult to imagine, in the design of the means currently required missions, to be satisfied with three fleets without their theoretical staffing and whose slightest loss hampers their potential, reserve fault.
A second aircraft carrier does not necessarily imply a higher number of Rafale since in practice the French Naval Air permanence is no consensus as an aircraft carrier permanently at sea but always available.
So that the declared limit or corrected orally between 24 and 30 machines on the aircraft carrier mainly depends on the number of machines that can be aligned by two fleets, ie a maximum, always hypothetical and subject to the actual distribution per unit, 28 Rafale M.
It is possible to burden the regenerative capacity of the third fleet, and thus sacrificing the ability to last for three units, to bring to "about 30 Rafale M" GAE.
Should we assume that the maximum limited Rafale M can operate on the Charles de Gaulle is more than 28, 30, 32 or 35? In this case, the aircraft carrier has not benefited from its overhaul facilities therefore have not yet been adapted to the "all Burst (M)". Without this optimization of space, it is difficult to know the upper limit with two E-2C Hawkeye (Royal can not hope to implement the third at sea, still down for maintenance).
These discussions could appear as Byzantine, however, they serve the French carrier positioning in Europe and the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales (32 carrier-based fighters) and against other carriers and aircraft carriers in the world. An upper limit between 28 and 35 Rafale M (for a theoretical limit of 40 aircraft) can help to position France before other foreign dishes bridges (less advanced hunters), which changes the strategic perception vis-à-vis a region where the GAn could intervene, that is to say the balance of power.
Meanwhile, the GAE trains to take, again, the sea and perform the operations requested by the President of the Republic in November off the coast of Syria and Iraq, for the third consecutive passing in one year (a boat very helpful when it is not in IPER / recast). The number of Rafale B, C and M of the area will reach 38 with those of the Air Force in Jordan and IMFEAU.
