A THIRD OF CHARLES DE GAULLE FRENCH AIRCRAFT CARRIER INFECTED BY COVID-19

A third of the nearly 2,000 sailors who were aboard France's aircraft carrier and support craft when a coronavirus outbreak occurred at sea have tested positive for the virus, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.
With two-thirds of test results in, 668 sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle and escort vessels in its battle group are confirmed to have the virus, it said.
Thirty-one were being treated in hospital, and one was in intensive care, a ministry statement said.
Last week, it was decided to bring the Charles-de-Gaulle home 10 days early from a deployment in the Atlantic after some crew members showed coronavirus symptoms.
The carrier which had helicopters and fighter jets on board, was accompanied by two frigates -- one for aerial defence and the other an anti-submarine vessel.
Sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle, one of the frigates and the pilots who returned the aircraft to their respective bases, are all placed in isolation for 14 days, the ministry said.
There had been no virus outbreak on the other frigate.
france24

France begins studies for Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier replacement

France will make a decision on the replacement of its flagship aircraft carrier the Charles de Gaulle at the start of 2020.
The carrier has been in service since 2001 but Paris is looking to build a vessel that would take into consideration expected technological advances post-2030 and be capable of carrying a planned new Franco-German fighter jet.
uk.reuters.com

Carrier Truman joins ISIS fight alongside French flattop

The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman joined the fight against the Islamic State group Tuesday, launching the first missions over Iraq since the flotilla arrived in the Middle East in mid-December.
Truman joins Operation Inherent Resolve more than two months after the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group departed U.S. Central Command, leaving the region without a carrier for the first time in years.
The Truman is in the Persian Gulf with the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is fresh off strikes in Syria after the IS-directed terror attacks in Paris.
navytimes

France Sends Charles de Gaulle Carrier Against ISIS

The French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier sailed Wednesday from Toulon naval base, and headed for the eastern Mediterranean to support coalition operations in Iraq and Syria.
The sailing, announced Nov. 5, has taken greater significance since the terrorist attacks here last week, as French President François Hollande has pledged to punish the ISIS forces which claimed responsibility for the killings.
The nuclear-powered vessel up anchored at 11:00 in the morning Paris time with 26 fighter jets on board and will arrive on station in the next few days.
HMS Defender, a Type 45 destroyer, has been assigned to sail with the French carrier, the British Ministry of Defence said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the Russian Navy to sail with the Charles de Gaulle as a sign of political support. The Russian intelligence service has concluded that ISIS used a homemade bomb to bring down an Airbus 321 airliner flying over the Sinai desert, killing all 224 on board.
defensenews

France to deploy Charles De Gaulle carrier to help operations against Islamic State

France will deploy its aircraft carrier to support operations against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq to bolster Paris' firepower in the region amid international efforts to launch Syrian peace talks.
French warplanes struck their first targets in Syria at the end of September. It was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and has also provided limited logistical support to Syrian rebels it considers moderate, including Kurds.
reuters

French Carrier Charles de Gaulle Bound for India After Two Months of Strikes Against ISIS

French carrier Charles de Gaulle has left the Persian Gulf after about two months of strike operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL).
The nuclear carrier is now bound for India for exercises with the Indian military.
In its time in the region, the carrier launched an average of 10 to 15 sorties a day with its compliment of about 20 strike aircraft — a mix of Dassault Rafale M aircraft and Dassault Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM).
The strike missions were in support of the U.S. led Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) missions against ISIS.
The departure of the carrier “brings France’s contribution to the anti-Isis air effort down to six Rafales based in the UAE and six Dassault Mirage 2000 in Jordan.
usni

French Charles de Gaulle Aircraft Carrier Launches first attacks in Gulf against ISIS

French aircraft carrier launched operations in the Gulf on Monday.
Four Rafale fighter jets took off in the morning from the carrier as it sailed about 200 kilometers (120 miles) off the coast north of Bahrain in the direction of Iraq.
The Charles de Gaulle left its base in Toulon on Jan. 13 for a five-month mission that will include eight weeks in the Gulf working alongside the USS Carl Vinson as part of the coalition launched after IS seized swathes of Syria and Iraq last year.
The French carrier is then to travel to India, where it is due to take part in exercises in mid-April.
Carrying 12 Rafale and nine Super Etendard fighters, the carrier will significantly increase French air capabilities in the region.
France has nine Rafales in the United Arab Emirates and six Mirage fighters in Jordan operating in Iraq, along with a maritime patrol and a refueling aircraft.
The warship's deployment will cut in half the time it takes for planes to reach Iraq for strikes against IS from the base in the UAE.
The Charles de Gaulle strike group also includes an attack submarine, a French anti-aircraft frigate and the HMS Kent, a British anti-submarine frigate.
It arrived in the Gulf on Feb. 15 after a month of operations in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
defensenews

French Carrier Enters Persian Gulf, ISIS Strike Missions Could Start Soon

French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) has entered the Persian Gulf and could soon start strike missions against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
French president announced the mission on Jan. 14, a week after the attacks in Paris on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
French aircraft were among the first to join the U.S. in strikes on ISIS in Iraq and Syria under Operation Chammal.
To date, France has flown sorties with a collection of about 10 fighters and a collection of information, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) planes.
Charles de Gaulle ‘s embarked air assets include two squadrons of fighter aircraft: 11F (or flotille) with the Dassault Rafale M aircraft, and 17F with the Dassault Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM).
usni

Charles de Gaulle to sail for Gulf, possible participation in Islamic State air strikes

The French Navy's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is deploying with its battlegroup to the Gulf, and is understood to be preparing to contribute to coalition air strikes against Islamic State.
Sailing on 13 January, the carrier battlegroup - which includes a nuclear-powered attack submarine - will head from Toulon through the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean and the Gulf on Operation 'Arromanches'. The deployment is scheduled to last until May at the earliest.
While there has been no confirmation from French authorities, the carrier - with about 20 combat aircraft embarked - is likely to support air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq, Operation 'Chammal'.
'Chammal' was launched in response to an official request for assistance from the Iraqi government. The operation currently involves 15 French Air Force combat aircraft, one Boeing E-3F Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft, and one Boeing C-135FR tanker, as well as two French Navy Breguet Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft.
Public confirmation of Charles de Gaulle 's participation in the strikes could come on 14 January, when president François Hollande is scheduled to give his annual new year's speech to the armed forces aboard the carrier in the Mediterranean.
Charles de Gaulle 's embarked air assets include two squadrons of fighter aircraft: 11F (or flotille) with the Dassault Rafale M aircraft, and 17F with the Dassault Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM). The SEM aircraft are scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2016 and replaced by the Rafale M. Also present on board are two Northrop Grumman E-2C command-and-control aircraft from squadron 4F.
The Rafale M aircraft on board are currently configured to F3.3 standard, with full capacity in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
janes

French aircraft Charles de Gaulle carrier set for Persian Gulf to fight ISIS

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is preparing to leave for the Gulf region where it is expected to engage in combat against ISIS, according to the specialist website Mer et Marine.
Although such a move has not been confirmed by the French Presidency, nor army or naval spokespersons, the website is usually well-informed about naval matters.
According to Mer et Marine, the Charles de Gaulle and its 30 aircraft, including Rafale jets, should take up position in the Persian Gulf.
They will take part in the air bombing campaign conducted by the US-led coalition against the jihadist forces of the group which calls itself Islamic State;
France already has nine Rafale planes, a C135 supply plane, an Awacs E-3F detector plane and an Atlantic 2 maritime patrol plane in the region.
The Rafales are based either in the United Arab Emirates or in Jordan.
President Hollande is scheduled to make a speech aboard the Charles de Gaulle at its home base in Toulon on 14 January, when he is expected officially to announce its deployment.
english.rfi.fr

Northrop Grumman to Upgrade French Navy E-2C Hawkeye Fleet

Northrop Grumman will modify the French Navy's fleet of three E-2C Hawkeyes with an upgraded Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, further increasing commonality and interoperability with U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
IFF systems enable warfighters to distinguish between friendly forces and enemies.
The French Navy has been operating the E-2C Hawkeye since 2000 when it stood up the first French E-2 Hawkeye squadron, the Flotille 4F, in Lorient. France is the only country other than the United States to operate its E-2 Hawkeyes from an aircraft carrier. This unique bond has led to multiple interoperability exercises where the two navies have operated Hawkeyes from each other's carrier flight decks. The first of these took place in May 2001 when a U.S. Navy E-2 Hawkeye flew from the deck of the USS Enterprise to the deck of the French carrier Charles de Gaulle.
irconnect

Maniobras navales entre India y Francia/ Largest Indo-French Naval Exercise

Las maniobras navales Varuna 2011, entre Francia e India han comenzado en el Índico. Participan nueve buques, incluyendo dos portaaviones: INS Viraat (con Sea Harrier and Seaking) y el Charles de De Gaulle (con Rafale, E2C, Rafale y Super Etendard).
Otros buques son las fragatas INS Godavari,INS Ganga, el submarino INS Shalki, y por parte de Francia los destructores Forbin y Tourville, el petrolero Meuse y el submarino nuclear Améthyste.
livefist
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Exercise Varuna 2011, starting tomorrow in the Arabian Sea off Goa, is a major part of the French Navy's Agapanthe 2010 deployment. This bilateral exercise will involve nine ships, including two aircraft carriers: INS Viraat (with Sea Harriers and Seaking) and FS Charles De Gaulle (strike group composed of E2C, Rafale and SEM).
The 7 other units are the following: Indian frigates INS Godavari and INS Ganga, Class-209 submarine INS Shalki, French destroyers FS Forbin and FS Tourville, fleet tanker FS Meuse and nuclear submarine FS Améthyste. Shorebased maritime patrol aircraft will also participate in the exercise.
Exercise Varuna will start with a harbour phase in Mormugao (7-10 January), followed by a phase at sea (11-14 January). The phase off Goa includes air operations, submarine exercises, surface exercises as well as replenishment at sea.
livefist

Un Rafale se estrella cerca de la costa de Pakistán/Rafale M crashed off Pakistan

Un Rafale M perteneciente al portaaviones Charles de Gaulle, que se encuentra en aguas del Índico en apoyo a la misión ISAF de Afganistán, se ha estrellado cerca de la costa de Pakistán el pasado domingo 28 de noviembre.
The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered back on board the ship.
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A Rafale M flying off aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has crashed off the coast of Pakistan on Sunday.
The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered back on board the ship.
(read more)

El portaaviones Charles de Gaulle vuelve a navegar tras ser reparado/ French carrier returns to sea after repairs

El portaaviones francés Charles de Gaulle vuelve a navegar tras reparaciones de avería que le obligaron a volver a puerto un día después de zarpar rumbo a Afganistán, en apoyo de la misión de la OTAN.
(leer más)
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France's only aircraft carrier returned to sea Saturday after repairs that forced it to return to port only a day after it set off to fight piracy in the Indian Ocean and support NATO's Afghan mission.
(read more)

Las reparaciones en el Charles de Gaulle durarán varias semanas/ French carrier needs weeks of repairs before Afghan mission

El portaaviones francés Charles de Gaulle France necesitará ser reparado durante varias semanas, tras ser necesaria su vuelta cuando navegaba rumbo a Afganistán.
Un portavoz de la Marina Francesa había declarado que las reparaciones tan solo durarían un par de días.
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Charles de Gaulle France's only aircraft carrier needs weeks for repairs after returning to port a day after it set off to fight piracy in the Indian Ocean and support NATO's Afghan mission, the military said Saturday.
Naval spokesman had said it would take a few days to carry out the necessary repairs on the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle as it headed back to its home port of Toulon.
(read more)

El portaaviones Charle de Gaulle de vuelta un día después de zarpar hacia Afganistán/ French Carrier Heads Home a Day into Afghan Mission

Un fallo técnico ha sido la causa del retorno a puerto del portaaviones, tan solo un día después de zarpar rumbo al Índico, para apoyo a la misión en Afganistán.
La avería ha sido localizada en el sistema de propulsión. Las reparaciones durarán un par de días.
El Charles de Gaulle ha sufrido continuos problemas técnicos desde su botadura en 1994. Entre Julio de 2007 y diciembre de 2008, estuvo fuera de servicio, por una gran revisión.
Su tripulación se compone de 3.000 marineros, y 27 aeronaves: 10 Rafale F3 fighters, 12 Super Etendard , dos Hawkeye de alerta temprana y tres helicópteros.
El buque tenía previsto realizar maniobras con Arabia Saudí, India, Itala, Grecia y Emiratos Árabes Unidos. Tiene previsto volver a Francia en Febrero de 2011
defensenews
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A technical fault has forced France's flagship and only aircraft carrier to return to port less than a day after it set off to fight piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean.
A spokesman said a problem was found in the insulation of an electrical cabinet in the propulsion system of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. It would take a few days to carry out the necessary repairs.
The ship has been plagued with technical problems since it was launched in 1994.
Between July 2007 and December 2008 it was taken out of service for a major refit.
In all, the battle group carries 3,000 sailors and 27 aircraft: 10 Rafale F3 fighters, 12 Super Etendard attack jets, two Hawkeye early warning planes and three helicopters.
The ships will also train alongside allies from Saudi Arabia, India, Italy, Greece and the United Arab Emirates and make two stopovers at the French base in Djibouti before returning to France in February 2011
defensenews

El portaaviones Charles de Gaulle zarpa con rumbo al Índico en apoyo de la misión en Afganistán

El portaaviones nucler Charles de Gaulle ha zarpado de la base de Toulon, rumbo al Índico, para una misión de cuatro meses.
Apoyará a las fuerzas francesas que operan en Afganistán, en el marco de la misión de la OTAN (ISAF).
Se trata del primer despliegue de larga duración tras las tareas de mantenimiento llevadas a cabo recientemente.
El portaaviones será escoltado por la fragata antiaérea tipo "Forbin", la fragata antisubmarina "Tourville", el petrolero "Meuse", y el submarino nuclear "Améthyste"
El Grupo Naval embarcado lo componen unas veinte aeronaves.
También se prevee que participe en la lucha contra la piratería en el Índico.
Además participará con la Fuerza Aérea Saudí en las maniobras White Shark.
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El portaaviones Charles de Gaulle se desplegará en el Indico y en el Golfo Pérsico en 2010

El despliegue ha sido anunciado por el Presidente de la República Francesa, Nicolas Sarkozy a 500 marineros presentes durante su visita a bordo del portaaviones Charles De Gaulle, el 10 de junio de 2010. Se centrará en operaciones en Afganistán , como ya hizo en su anterior despliegue en 2007.
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