Exercise Rastibel 03 (French Army Aviation deployment)

[Uncle Chô]

I had the opportunity to take some pictures of a recent major exercise held last week in France. It involved the 11th Para Brigade with its 3 500 men and 750 vehicles, plus a large numbers of helicopters from the Army Aviation. The Air Force also provided some C-160 transport airplanes with some CAS missions flown by Mirage F-1CR (ground attack version).

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SA-342 Hot in the antitank role. Despite a fresh paint job, the Gazelle is an old helicopter that requires a lot of maintenance to be operational. Designed to carry 4 Hot missiles, they only fly with 2 in combat in order not to stress the airframe. The brand new Eurocopter Tiger will enter into service in the first half of 2004.

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SA-341 fitted with a GIAT 20 mm gun. This type of helo was involved in supporting ground troops in Congo and Ivory Coast.

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SA-342 with the VIVIANE sighting system on the roof. This is the latest generation of night / day units. It is very similar to the TARPS and PNVS mounted on the AH-64 Apache. They use the system for night observation duties like the Kiowa in Iraq.

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A very strange SA-341 used in the airborne Communication & Command role with extra transmitting devices. You will notice how the fairings had been removed. I have no idea why. The truck below is an ACMAT fitted with a SAM " Mistral " dual launcher (fire and forget missile for low to medium interceptions) similar to the US Hummer Avenger.

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SA-330 Puma with a weather radar in the nose. Like the Gazelle, this is an old design. The Army Aviation also fly the more modern AS-532 Super Puma and Cougar.

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French Air Force C-160 Transall bringing resupply.

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One of the many armoured vehicles deployed in the countryside. This peculiar ERC-90 Sagaie belongs to the 1st Hussard Para Regiment. They enterd service in the mid 80s. They are well liked by the crews because they are fast, very maneuverable and with enough fire power (90 mm dart shells) in Africa. Several rounds were succesfully fired at rebels "Technicals" in Ivory coast. Most of the troops I've spoke with spend half of a year in overseas deployments (South America, Africa, Kosovo). Several have real combat experience and despite what is usually said on this Forum they are well motivated and professional.

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All pictures 100 % exclusive and taken by me ;)

[Kingpin]

http://62.210.155.171/ImgAlbums2/Images1/21103/UnviBCbQE1D12112003141319433718.jpg

All pictures 100 % exclusive and taken by me ;)

Cool pics. And very good quality. Professional cam?

And this photo is definitely for Mr. Operation Ivy

[Guttorm]

GREAT PICS! woot

[Miles Teg]

Maybe the fairing is removed in order to make a better plastron for testing some new infrared visualisation for Mistral. Maybe...

Very fine pics.

It's true our equipment is quite old, but I still like the Gazelle with is thin look and "fenestron" so appreciated for the Comanche.

Where did this took part? Cognac?

[perdurabo]

Well we make jokes about French Army but those are only jokes we know they are profesionals with realy good equipment so no harm feelengs french friends

[Uncle Chô]

Pictures taken with EOS Rebel and Rebel 2000 bodies (EOS 1000 and EOS 300 for the non American readers :) ) both old and basic SLRs.

Medium range Zoom SIGMA 75-300 mm and 28/105 mm.

Konica and Fuji ISO 100/200/400 negative films.

The photos are not reworked and scanned with an Epson Perfection 1650.

This exercise took place in Vendée, a state located in south-west of France. The airport is La Roche sur Yon.


PS : et pour le coup des émissions infrarouges pour exciter les Mistral, bien vu ;) mais je ne pense pas.

[fantassin]

Rastibel was the largest airborne exercise in France for a long time with over a dozen Hercules and Transall dropping around 3500 paras in several waves.

[HumanShield]

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The pilots seem very unprotected to small arms fire.

[Operation Ivy]

Good pics :P ........last one is the best though woot ;)

[Ratamacue]

The pilots seem very unprotected to small arms fire.

You could say the same thing about an MH-6. Helicopters by definition are vulnerable to small arms fire.

[hedgehog]

WHat is that vehicle with the big gun? It only has three axles but can mount a 105 (I'm guessing!)? I guess the French already have something with some kick for their air mobile units. ANy info and pics on it would be appreciated.

[Clay]

RUN AWAY! s

[Uncle Chô]

WHat is that vehicle with the big gun? It only has three axles but can mount a 105 (I'm guessing!)? I guess the French already have something with some kick for their air mobile units. ANy info and pics on it would be appreciated.
ERC-90 Sagaie (Dart in French). 90 mm gun. Entered into service in the mid 80s. Can be air deployed from C-130 and C-160 cargo plane (combat weight is about 8,2 tons). It is mean for overseas operations in low to medium intensity conflict. Deployed in Iraq (Desert Storm), former Yugoslavia, Africa... With proper training and ammo, they could defeat a T-55 tank. Of peculiar interest is the possibility to lift the middle wheels axle to increase speed (up to 45 mph) on asphalt or flat surfaced roads. The main drawback is the engine that is not diesel powered and limited night sighting system. An upgrade program is on the way. The chassis is not designed to carry something heavier than a 90 mm gun.

ERC 90 is not to be confused with the AMX-10RC (twice the weight and 105 mm gun)

http://www.panzerbaer.de/colours/pics/erc_90_droite_neige.jpg
ERC-90

http://www.panzerbaer.de/colours/pics/f_amx-10rc-re.jpg
AMX-10RC

A small video here :
http://www.cdes.terre.defense.gouv.fr/sitefr/Materiels/CC/v/sagaie.asf

http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1050/images/006.jpg
ERC-90 Sagaie in training with Aussies 2/14 LHR

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/images/erc90_cat2g.jpg

http://www.1-48.com/produits/sagaie_7.JPG

http://www.chars-francais.net/images/archives/erc90/erc90_002.jpg

http://www.chars-francais.net/images/archives/erc90/erc90_004.jpg

http://www.chars-francais.net/images/archives/erc90/erc90_006.jpg [/u]

[UoUo]

Against who they terrianing ? israel ?

[Uncle Chô]

Against who they terrianing ? israel ?
??????

[Miles Teg]

Against who they terrianing ? israel ?

Training ?

[UoUo]

Against who they terrianing ? israel ?

Training ?

:oops:

Yes.

[Miles Teg]

Maybe during exercise Bright Star in Egypt.

Oupppsss :oops: Maybe I've said a stupidity.

It's one thing I want to know.

[Andyman]

cool pictures. How does France rate on on the Nato scene. Are they a second tier member like UK and Italy? don't they spend around $25 billion in U.S dollars per year