French aircraft carrier to provide Afghan air-strike cover

[signatory]

French to provide Afghan air-strike cover
BRUSSELS, April 5 (UPI) -- France is to station an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean from mid-May to provide aerial support to NATO troops deploying in Afghanistan.

The Brussels-based military alliance is currently in the process of boosting troop numbers in Afghanistan from 8,000 to 17,000 as the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force moves into volatile southern and eastern provinces. Most of the soldiers for ISAF's third-stage expansion are from Britain, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Denmark.

The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which is currently carrying out military exercises in the Indian Ocean, will stay in theater after mid-May to provide NATO troops with extra strike capability if they run into difficulties. Alliance spokesman James Appathurai told reporters Wednesday that the French vessel would provide "robust capabilities to ensure stability and security through the Stage Three expansion."

ISAF has strike aircraft at its disposal in Afghanistan -- as does the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom, which is hunting down Taliban and al-Qaida remnants in the mountainous east of the country. But with insurgent attacks mounting and thousands of troops on the move, the French deployment will bring added firepower to enforce ISAF's more muscular mandate in the war-ravaged state.

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism...5-101113-2725r
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Not the first time.. but worth pointing out.

[Roaming East]

Any rafales on this bad boy? could help export sales if the Rafale starts racking up an impressive combat record.

[Atlantic Friend]

Originally Posted by Roaming East

Any rafales on this bad boy? could help export sales if the Rafale starts racking up an impressive combat record.

Yep, there's a wing of 7 Rafales, and a complement of modernized Super-Etendards attack planes.

[Atlantic Friend]

Here are the Charles de Gaulle's main characteristics :

Career

Builder: DCN, Brest
Power Plant: Two K15 Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) two shafts
Length: 261.5 m overall
Flight Deck Width: 64 m
Beam: 31.5 m
Displacement: 40,500 tons full load
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h)
Catapults: Steam
(the same models as installed on the Nimitz-class supercarriers).
Date Deployed: April 2001.

Air Wing :

Aircraft: 40 aircraft, including
Rafale
Super Étendard
E-2C Hawkeye
SA365 Dauphin helicopters.

Crew :

Complement: Ship's Company: 1,150
Air Wing: 600

Weapons systems

Armament: Four 8 cell SYLVER launchers carrying the MBDA Aster 15 surface to air missile.

Two 6 cell Sadral launchers carrying Mistral short range missiles
Eight Giat 20F2 20 mm cannons.

[TheBelgian]

Is RESCO always on board of the CDG? Good news by the way, glad to see that beauty be put to use.

[AROUETLJ]

Originally Posted by TheBelgian

Is RESCO always on board of the CDG?

Yes, it's standard procedure now to have a contingent from EH 1/67 'Pyrénées' with ground troops from CPA 30 for RESCO.
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/air...rles-de-gaulle

[Michael RVR]

Originally Posted by Roaming East

Any rafales on this bad boy? could help export sales if the Rafale starts racking up an impressive combat record.

I agree. If they're capable of it I think they should put them into use as soon as they're able to, with as much press coverage as possible