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U.S., French enhance interoperability over the Horn of Africa

A French Mirage 2000-5 refuels from a U.S. Marine KC-130J during a joint training in Djibouti, May 24, 2021. The partner forces conducted a joint interoperability training to enhance their capabilities and demonstrate their shared commitment to stability in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Missy Sterling)

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Photo by: Staff Sgt. Melissa Sterling 

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U.S., French enhance interoperability over the Horn of Africa

French Air Force Brig. Gen. Stéphane Dupont, center, the commander of French Forces in Djibouti (FFDJ), listens as U.S. Marine Cpl. Taylor Athey, a loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234), describes how to don a harness aboard a KC-130J Super Hercules in Djibouti, May 24, 2021. The partner forces completed air-to-air refueling and flew an escort mission with a simulated aggressor. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Missy Sterling)

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U.S., French enhance interoperability over the Horn of Africa

French Air Force Col. Olivier Saunier, the commander of the French Air Base in Djibouti, overlooks Djibouti aboard a U.S. Marine KC-130J Super Hercules, May 24, 2021. Saunier commands roughly 800 airmen and controls assets including the Mirage fighter aircraft, Puma helicopter and a tactical transport aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Missy Sterling)

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U.S., French enhance interoperability over the Horn of Africa

French Air Force Brig. Gen. Stéphane Dupont, the commander of French Forces in Djibouti (FFDJ), and French Marine Col. Patrick Lamiral, the chief of staff of FFDJ, are photographed in the cockpit of a KC-130J Super Hercules at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 24, 2021. U.S. and French forces conducted a joint interoperability training to enhance their capabilities and demonstrate their shared commitment to stability in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Missy Sterling)

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U.S., French enhance interoperability over the Horn of Africa

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and French forces in Djibouti leadership board a U.S. Marine KC-130J Super Hercules at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, May 24, 2021. The partner forces conducted a joint interoperability training to enhance their capabilities and demonstrate their shared commitment to stability in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Missy Sterling)

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U.S. Marine Corps and French Air Force members demonstrated joint capabilities over the Horn of Africa, May 24, 2021.

Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234) and the 3/11 French Fighter Squadron conducted joint training, enabling both forces to benefit from each other’s unique capabilities.

“The opportunity to work and train alongside our French partners in Djibouti builds readiness across both forces and enhances interoperability,” said U.S. Army Col. Jennifer Mykins, the director of operations for Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). “It shows our shared commitment to stability in the region, ultimately exhibiting the importance of how, as partners, we are stronger together.”

A KC-130J Super Hercules, flown by the Marines, completed aerial refueling for the French’s Mirage 2000-5s, a fighter jet.

In addition to the refuel, the KC-130J transported CJTF-HOA and French leaders to observe the aircraft accomplishing the training.

“It makes me proud of what we do collectively as a team, as partners and allies,” said French Air Force Col. Olivier Saunier, the commander of the French Air Base in Djibouti. To see the two aircrafts – the KC-130 and the Mirage 2000 – working so closely together. Viewing it from the U.S. side, looking at a French aircraft being refueled is a front row seat to understanding our joint capabilities.”

The French forces do not have a permanent air refueling asset stationed in Djibouti, so the Mirage pilots are happy to benefit from the capability offered by the U.S. Marine Corps said Saunier.

“Once we finished the air-to-air refueling we dropped down to a low-level environment and the French provided an escort for us,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Jared Hastings, a KC-130J Super Hercules pilot and operations officer assigned to VMGR-234.

The Marines simulated doing an air delivery under the Mirages’ protection and a third Mirage was acting as an aggressor. The KC-130 pilots performed maneuvers under the French pilots’ discretion.

“This was a great opportunity for the crew to work with foreign officials and build camaraderie,” Hastings said.

“No matter what we do, whether it’s here in East Africa or anywhere else in the world, the U.S. isn’t going to do it alone,” Mykins said. “We’re going to do it as partners and allies. Flying together and conducting joint operations is why we do trainings like this.”