VOLFA 2025 in action

French Air and Space Forces in a highly realistic exercise

Among numerous exercises held every year, VOLFA 2025 represents the most important achievement in terms of realism, of aircraft diversity and involved threats, and of tactical novelties. This year, from 22 September to 10 October, more than 50 aircrafts, both fighters, transporters, helicopters, drones, and even light aeroplanes, fly daily in French skies, night and day.

Four foreign countries participate with air assets: Canada, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom. Missions are flown from 10 air bases, among them Mont-de-Marsan (BA 118, fighter component), Orléans (BA 123, transport component) and Cazaux (BA 120, helicopter component).

Noticeably, three novel tactical aspects are dealt with during VOLFA 2025 : low altitude day and night air-refueling with A400M, kamikaze drone interception by Rafale, and very high altitude interception.

The immediate proximity and direct participation of Centre Expert de Combat Collaboratif add to the unique value of VOLFA exercise: from Jeanette dedicated facility, unpredicted virtual new aircrafts and threats can be introduced into a mission scenario, in real time.

For more realism, VOLFA 2025 is combined with Armée de Terre AEGIS exercise and French Navy/NATO Wildfire exercise, the later focusing on anti-drone combat. VOLFA also includes the French implementation of Agile Combat Employment concept, which aims to a fast and efficient deployment of air combat elements in secondary airfields, at short notice.

As in other NATO-compatible exercises, VOLFA mission complexity grows as the time goes ; hence the most realistic and complex missions should be carried out this week … with a much rewarding weather for participants and … photographers.

Please see our full report HERE … !

Alexandre and escadrilles.org

Acknowledgements : to the fully devoted communication officers of Base aérienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan and SIRPA-Air (Paris).