Euronews gained rare access to the French military aboard a Fennec helicopter as it lifted off over the Orléans–Bricy Air Base, offering an inside look at the aircraft now central to the country’s expanding anti-drone operations.
The annual exercise, known as Tactical Airlift Rehearsal under Advanced Non-permissive and Intensive Scenarios (TARANIS) began on 10 November and immerses crews in high-intensity scenarios designed to mirror the realities of modern warfare.
Over the course of three weeks, pilots, technicians and support teams rehearse the types of operations France may be called upon to conduct in a rapidly deteriorating international security landscape.
A400Ms dominate the skies over Orléans–Bricy
Beneath the Fennec’s shadow, the deep rumble of A400Ms filled the sky.
Orléans–Bricy hosts nearly the entire French fleet of these heavy military transport aircraft, 24 in total, capable of long-range troop transport, humanitarian relief drops and emergency evacuations.
To keep crews fully mission-ready, TARANIS pushes them into challenging conditions.
One of this year’s key tests is landing on an improvised surface: a newly built gravel runway similar to the makeshift strips used in external operations.
Despite steady rain, the first A400M landing drew applause from guests and journalists after a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a series of flight demonstrations.
On the flight line, pilots showcased two versions of the Fennec helicopter.
One model is configured for anti-drone missions, the same system recently deployed in Denmark, while the second carries a heavier weapon mounted on an articulated arm, enabling crews to engage larger drones seen increasingly in Eastern Europe.
At the end of September, France as well as Germany and Sweden sent troops and anti-drone systems to Denmark to boost aerial security after several drone incursions into Danish airspace.
Commanding officer Grégoire, one of the helicopter pilots participating in TARANIS, said his work reflects the dual mission of France’s assault brigade.
“What drives us is our motto: to fight and to save,” he explained. “Fighting means inserting or extracting commandos and protecting our airspace. Saving means hoisting people to safety and recovering those in danger. That’s what we’re demonstrating here.”
TARANIS will wrap up on 27 November, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of France’s military air transport command, a reminder of both the force’s long heritage and the evolving threats shaping its training today.