【By Observer News, Mountain Cat】

According to the international defense website "Army Recognition", on March 16, the French Navy launched three E-2C "Hawkeye" carrier-based early warning aircraft in succession from the "Charles de Gaulle" aircraft carrier on March 12. This was the first time that the carrier had launched three early warning aircraft in a row. According to a post published by the French Navy on its official social media account, these early warning aircraft, belonging to the French Navy's 4F squadron (Flottille 4F), formed a formation after takeoff to support "continuous radar surveillance and airspace coordination for the French aircraft carrier strike group during its deployment in the eastern Mediterranean".

Three E-2C aircraft flew in formation on the left side of the carrier. French Navy

The report stated that the launch of the three early warning aircraft was carried out according to the need to "maintain uninterrupted aerial surveillance coverage." For this purpose, the carrier needed to coordinate the sequence of catapult operations, deck scheduling, and runway clearance procedures to ensure safe takeoff intervals. This was also the first time that all of the French military's carrier-based early warning aircraft were deployed simultaneously; in some cases, the "Charles de Gaulle" would not even carry all three aircraft. In the late 20th century, the French Navy purchased three E-2C early warning aircraft for the "Charles de Gaulle" carrier, which were delivered in 1998, 1999, and 2004 respectively (the third aircraft was delivered in the "Hawkeye 2000" standard, while the other two were upgraded in 2006 and 2007). These three aircraft formed the only fixed-wing early warning aircraft unit of the French Navy, all equipped with the only advanced early warning, command, and control unit, the 4F squadron. In addition, in 2020, the U.S. Navy transferred an obsolete E-2C to France as a spare part, and in 2021, France ordered three E-2D "Advanced Hawkeye" aircraft, which are expected to be delivered as early as 2027 to replace the existing three E-2C aircraft in the 4F squadron and will be used on the future "next-generation aircraft carrier" (PA-NG).

E-2C aircraft waiting in line for catapult launch on the deck. For the "Charles de Gaulle" carrier, such scenes are rare. French Navy

Last month, on the 28th, the US and Israel conducted a large-scale air strike against Iran under the name of "Epic Fury". As the conflict expanded, France also dispatched troops to the Middle East. On March 3, President Emmanuel Macron announced in a speech that the "Charles de Gaulle" nuclear-powered aircraft carrier battle group and its accompanying warships would sail to the eastern Mediterranean to protect France's interests in the region. On March 9, Macron also boarded the "Charles de Gaulle" near Greek waters by helicopter and delivered a speech to the crew aboard. Macron stated that France had to conduct exercises in the eastern Mediterranean to "protect citizens, allies, and coordinate broader defensive actions," participate in operations in the Red Sea, Suez, and the Strait of Mandeb, to protect "freedom of navigation," and organize a "temporary, defensive" mission when appropriate to "restore normal traffic and openness in the Hormuz Strait."

Previously, the "Charles de Gaulle" strike group had participated in multinational exercises during the "Orion-26" exercise cycle in northern waters, entering the Baltic Sea from the Dover Strait, followed by a series of port visits and training activities with allied countries. During the stop at the port of Malmö, Sweden, the group received new orders to head to the Mediterranean, thus suspending joint exercises and training activities in northern Europe, and re-crossing the North Sea, English Channel, and Bay of Biscay into the Mediterranean. Normally, the "Charles de Gaulle" strike group includes one air defense frigate ("Horizon" class or FREMM "Aquitaine" class air defense type), two multi-role frigates ("Aquitaine" class), one supply ship, and possibly one attack nuclear submarine. At the same time, the French Navy has already deployed other ships near the Middle East, including an air defense frigate between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and another multi-purpose frigate that had previously been in the Persian Gulf. The "Mistral" class amphibious assault ship "Duc de Bourgogne" and the "Lafayette" class frigate "Aconit" also conducted joint exercises with the Egyptian Navy after passing through the Suez Canal on February 24.

In addition, multiple European countries have sent forces to the eastern Mediterranean. Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands have each deployed frigates to Cyprus, and Greece has also deployed four F-16 fighter jets. Italy has confirmed the dispatch of naval assets to Cyprus as part of the "European Naval Response," aiming to "strengthen regional security and maritime surveillance around the eastern Mediterranean routes."

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7618197031542194722/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.