“Mission Strictly Deterrent”
France sends aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean
03/03/2022, 11:35 p.m
As fighting continues in Ukraine, NATO is strengthening its eastern flank. For further security, France is now moving its only aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean. “Our mission is strictly deterrent,” said Secretary of Defense Parly.
In view of the Ukraine war, France has relocated its aircraft carrier “Charles de Gaulle” in the Mediterranean for reconnaissance flights over the Baltic States and Poland. The aircraft carrier, which is currently being used for a counter-terrorism mission in the Middle East, left Cyprus together with its escort on Wednesday, French Defense Minister Florence Parly told BFMTV in the evening. In the Mediterranean, the ship should reach a position that would allow the aircraft to carry out reconnaissance missions.
“Our mission is strictly deterrent, we have no warlike intentions,” said the minister. Rafale fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft should be deployed from the aircraft carrier as the “police of the sky”. The goal is education and deterrence.
As the French Navy announced, the mission was intended to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and secure France and the European continent. The aircraft carrier and other units were actually supposed to hold an exercise until April with the aim of fighting structures of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia in the Middle East.
The 260 meter long and 31.50 meter wide “Charles de Gaulle” has a crew of around 2000 and was put into service in May 2001. The aircraft carrier has 14 Rafale and Super Etendard fighter jets, two reconnaissance aircraft and five helicopters on board. Two nuclear reactors provide the drive. The ship, which costs a good three billion euros, is to be retired in 2038.