US Navy’s Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group (CSG) met up with French aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) in the Mediterranean Sea to begin dual-carrier flight operations on March 2.
The US Navy did not specify which operations or exercises the two carrier strike groups would carry out. Prior to meeting with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike), fighter jets from FS Charles de Gaulle supported missions against the Daesh.
Prior to meeting Ike, FS Charles de Gaulle also worked with the French helicopter carrier FS Mistral in the Mediterranean.
Charles de Gaulle (CDG) has a history of operating with US carriers. In 2016, Ike and CDG similarly operated alongside each other and conducted joint operations in support of operation Inherent Resolve from the Mediterranean Sea. As recently as last year, CDG also operated with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) while in the Red Sea.
“As a result of regular exchanges and cooperative training on a routine basis, our interoperability has advanced to an extremely high level,” said Vice Adm. Laurent Isnard, the French Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean. “Our navies are truly plug-and-fight, especially in the Mediterranean but also throughout the world.”
“Our seamless interoperability at sea demonstrates our collective ability to conduct high-end integrated operations whenever and wherever we choose,” said Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, commander of US 6th Fleet. ” Joint operations with these two carrier strike groups in the Mediterranean underscores the commitment of the US and French navies to security and stability in the maritime domain.”
In 2016, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) operated with CDG as part of Combined Task Force 473 in the Mediterranean. Again, in April 2018, France, the UK, and the US conducted strikes into Syria in response to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons against its own people. In 2019, and again as recently as last week, USS Ross rejoined CTF 473 to provide support to CDG.
