F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam completed international air-combat training July 5, with several training sorties focusing on interoperability between U.S. and French Air Force combat aircraft. From June 27 to July 5, three French Air Force Rafales, two A400M Atlas, one A330 Phenix, and approximately 170 French Air and Space Force (FASF) personnel made Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, their temporary roost. All part of Exercise Wakea – a PACAF and French co-led demonstration of the U.S. and French Air Force’s partnership and commitment in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.
Part of Wakea involved Hawaii ANG F-22 Raptors training with FASF aircraft to enhance air-combat expertise and increase the interoperability between the two countries’ aircraft. For the Rafale, this was the first time the FASF’s primary fighter aircraft had graced the Hawaiian airspace. The deployment was part of France’s effort to reaffirm its place as a stabilizing presence in the Pacific. France’s air force and navy began using the Rafales in 2001. The highly versatile twin-engine fighters can be used to execute a multitude of mission sets; from alert and air-defense, ground support, and reconnaissance.
“Wakea provided our F-22 pilots with a unique opportunity to integrate and train with allied partners. Our location in the Pacific doesn’t lend itself to routinely training with French forces, so it will likely prove to be invaluable to future operations and interoperability. It really was a well-rounded effort,” Anthony said. “It’s safe to say we learned a lot from them and they learned a lot from us. Both maintenance and ops benefitted from this experience.It really was a well-rounded effort. It’s safe to say we learned a lot from them and they learned a lot from us. Both maintenance and ops benefitted from this experience,” said Lt. Col. Anthony Davis, 154th Operations Group deputy commander.
While air-combat synchronization was one of the primary focuses during Wakea, on-the-ground subject matter experts from both nations exchanged best practices regarding flight ops, training, maintenance, and medical operations. Wakea was a perfect illustration of French cooperation with American Armed Forces, showcasing the quality of the existing relationships as the U.S. continues to accelerate synchronization with allies. And as the Hawaiian Raptors and Rafales demonstrated, are able to ‘play nicely’ in the realm of fighter synchronization. As fighter operations rely on aerial refueling to sustain sortie time, key Hawaii ANG personnel were invited to fly in a A330 Phenix to observe how the FASF execute aerial refueling.
