Libya : aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle gets underway

The Carrier Strike Group (CSG) consists of aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, tanker Meuse, destroyer Dupleix and frigate Aconit. It is engaged in the framework of the international military intervention implemented in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1973.

Since March 19, twenty French aircraft have been engaged over Libya to enforce a no-fly zone in the Benghazi area and conduct strikes on military targets belonging to Colonel Gaddafi's forces. Along with the air assets, the French Navy has already deployed two anti-aircraft and air-defence destroyers, French Navy ships Jean Bart and Forbin, which are conducting maritime and air surveillance off the coasts of Libya.

The CSG carries 26 aircraft : 10 helicopters on board the destroyers and aircraft carrier, among which one Caracal and two Puma from the Air Force, as well as the air wing on board the carrier consisting of 8 Rafale from the 12F flottila, 6 modernized Super Etendard from the 17F flottila and 2 E-2C Hawkeye from the 4F flottila in Lann Bihoue.

After the vote of the UN resolution in the evening of March 17, the fast build-up of the Carrier Strike Group to deploy 2,600 sailors, 4 ships among which the aircraft carrier and 20 aircraft, will make it possible to engage these assets in the operation in the coming days. The CSG will deploy maritime and air assets to conduct reconnaissance, air-traffic control and detection missions. This action will complement that of the Air Force aircraft already operating from France.