French Rafales Take an Unusual Route to India — Here’s Why

France has launched PÉGASE 26, a long-range air deployment involving Rafale fighter jets that will cover more than 40,000 kilometres in about 40 days, with India among the key stops on the mission.

The French Embassy in India has highlighted the deployment as a demonstration of France’s ability to project air power over long distances and deepen cooperation with strategic partners across the Indo-Pacific.

According to France’s Ministry of Armed Forces, the mission is being conducted from September 8 to October 15 and involves four Rafale F4 fighters, three A330 MRTT Phénix aerial refuelling aircraft, two A400M Atlas transport aircraft and around 300 personnel.

First PÉGASE mission to use Arctic route

A key feature of PÉGASE 26 is its new route through the Arctic. The French formation travelled from France towards Greenland, Canada and Alaska, before heading towards the Indo-Pacific.

The French defence ministry said the route is intended to develop an additional projection corridor towards the Indo-Pacific, rather than relying primarily on the traditional southern route through the Middle East.

The Rafales required multiple aerial refuellings during the approximately 11-hour journey to Alaska, demonstrating the logistical demands of deploying fighter aircraft over such long distances.

India among key Indo-Pacific stops

After Alaska, the deployment is scheduled to continue through Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and India, followed by Qatar, Réunion and Egypt. France has said the mission is aimed at improving operational preparedness, strengthening strategic partnerships and developing interoperability with partner air forces.

The deployment also includes participation in multinational exercises, including Tarang Shakti in India, giving the French contingent an opportunity to train alongside partner air forces. French officials have described PÉGASE 26 as a demonstration of the country’s ability to rapidly deploy a credible air force to distant theatres while operating across widely different geographical and climatic conditions.