Report by P.Y Lecoeur and T. Letellier
On 3 April 2014, six F-15C/D Eagles of the Royal Saudi Air Force’s 2 Squadron / 7 Wing at King Faisal Air Base, Tabuk, supported by two A330 MRTT tankers and four C-130 transports, deployed to Base Aérienne 133 Nancy-Ochey in France for the GREEN SHIELD 2014 edition. GlobalAirPower was there for the first day of the exercice.
Since the first edition held in 2007, the French-Saudi exercise now takes place every two years, and forms part of a cooperation between the French Air Force (Armée de l’Air – AdlA) and the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). Previous edition held in France happend in Dijon AB [ see the attachement leading to the 2009 report ] During the first week of exercice , only familiarization and Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) with Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighters were done. The Rafales flew from BA113 St. Dizier,at a distance of one hundred kilometers from Ochey AB.
The second week saw a ( CSAR ) Combat Search and Rescue mission take part of the exercice. Two EC 725 R2 Caracal CSAR helicopters were involved , leaded by an E-3F AWACS. On each flying day two missions were flown usually consisting of four F-15, four Mirage 2000-5F, four Mirage 2000D and at least two Rafale B/C fighters.
It is important for us to indicate the perfect cooperation with the Military Gendarmerie who permeeted us to come around the neighbours of the field in a full respect of the safety instructions. They deserve our sincere thanks.