Report by: T. LETELLIER
In 2008 NAS Landivisiau was host of the Air Defence Week , during this eight days a multi-national exercice was held with participation from Royal Air Force with Tornado’s F.3 the Belgian Air Force with F-16AM / BM then Hellenic Air Force with Mirage 2000 from Tanagra AB. Of course all the squadrons from NAS Landivisiau took part of the exercice . For this edition , the foreign participation took the form of 7 F/A-18C/D from Fliegerstaffel 17 from Payerne AB , SUISSE Air Force. They were joined by a Sea King ASaC7 from 849 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose ,Fleet air Arm.
The Sea King participation was a real improvement for the low level missions over the sea , where an important use of Link -16 was operated . all the type of fighter were employed for this type of mission ; with a logical priority given to the modernised Super-Etendard , the most adéquate aircraft / weapon system; for the task . The Air Defence missions were allowed to the Hornets and Rafales with the help of a French Navy E-2C from 4F squadron at NAS Lorient Lann-Bihoué .
Again with the E-2 ,the use of Link-16 was consequent. ADW saw also the participation of Rafales from Armée de l ‘Air operating directly from Mont de Marsan and Saint-Dizier . The use of air to air refuelling , at least for the Rafales was more than necessary.The main goal for Swiss Air Force was to be able to train for supersonic air combat. The advantage for the Rafales was to be opposed to a very efficient fighter , the Hornet and his powerfull weapon system .
Every day of the exercice saw a huge Comao ( Combined Air Mission ) and 2 periods of DACT ( Dissimilar Air Combat Training ) established before and after this Comao . After each Comao , The E-2C landed in Landivisiau to disembark the Air traffic controllers ; to take part to the de briefing . Then the same Aircraft took the air to return to Lann-Bihoué .