France’s Air and Space Force has tested its ability to maintain military flight operations from civilian airports, deploying three Rafale fighters to Pau Pyrénées Airport and two Casa CN235 transports to Dinard Airport during the BASEX exercise held from September 23 to October 2.
The deployments were the second consecutive year in which France used civilian aviation platforms for its FRA-ACE program, an adaptation of NATO’s Agile Combat Employment approach. The French defense ministry said the exercise was intended to strengthen the service’s ability to operate for extended periods in constrained conditions with smaller human and logistical footprints. The ministry’s account of the exercise said the deployments were conducted in close coordination with airport authorities and other operators so they could fit around normal aviation and commercial activity.
At Pau, the Rafale detachment included about 25 personnel, including pilots, mechanics and security staff. A deployable mobile structure provided facilities for briefings and mission preparation, allowing the team to conduct training flights from the civilian airport. The ministry said the deployment tested how quickly combat aircraft could move from their home base and continue operating from a temporary location.
At Dinard, about 30 personnel supported the two Casa aircraft. The detachment relied on services already available at the airport, including fuel support, while the crews conducted training flights. Activities included an explosive-ordnance-disposal exercise and a joint drill with the airport’s fire and rescue services.
The exercise links military readiness with the practical demands of civilian airport operations: temporary deployments required coordination, limited on-site support and cooperation with emergency responders. AeroTime’s report said France began incorporating aircraft dispersal to civilian airports into BASEX in 2025, with later deployments involving Mirage 2000 aircraft and A400M transports.