In an era of evolving aerial threats, France’s air defense forces have refined their operational strategies to safeguard national security.
Recently, The Debrief was granted exclusive access to Base 115 Orange Caritat, a cornerstone of French air defense mobilized during the Pope’s recent visit to Corsica.
Nestled in the picturesque Vaucluse region, Base 115 Orange Caritat serves as a vital hub for France’s air interception efforts. The technological flagships of France’s air interception defense systems are framed by the high mountains of the Vaucluse region, whose peaks surround the base.
The foothills of the Alps lie just behind, illuminated by the last rays of sunlight as we pass through the base’s security gate.
The base is home to Escadron d’Hélicoptère 1/65 Alpilles, equipped with Fennec light helicopters, and freshly joined by its new Escadron de Chasse 1/5 Vendée, made up of the latest generation Rafale fighter jets. The base, responsible for protecting the southeastern quarter of France, is equipped with supersonic fighters capable of covering the surrounding territory in a window of approximately 15 minutes.
After passing through the base’s gate, a transport takes us to the base’s operations center. On the front door, a red and yellow poster indicates the procedures to follow in the event of drone detections on the base and stresses the importance of capturing them without destroying them, presumably to recover the data and conduct the investigation.
During our visit, The Debrief met Commandant Vincent Maubru, formerly a super puma pilot, in charge of transporting the country’s most senior officials. Comdt Maubru oversees operations, distributing mission orders to his crews and managing the base’s helicopter facility.
In the operations room, large mapping tables face walls covered with topographical surveys of the French territory. In addition to territorial surveillance, the base is responsible for training future Caracal, Super Puma and Fennec crews. The base is equipped with 15 Fennec helicopters, a multi-purpose air platform that can be configured for interception, reconnaissance, rescue and air policing missions, as well as underwater warfare, surveillance, anti-air systems and land assault with a 20mm M621 cannon. These Fennecs are used to intercept low-speed targets detected by the Lyon-based Surveillance Command.
During these missions, Fennec pilots carry a team leader and a specialized gunner from the Air Special Forces Brigade, capable of disabling or destroying a drone in flight. To detect them, the Fennec can be equipped with optronic cameras, and its crew with near-infrared (night vision) and far-infrared (thermal vision) detection equipment.
France’s air defense forces are organized in two different ways. The Posture Permanente de Sécurité Aérienne (Permanent Air Security Posture or PPSA), necessitated by the daily overflight of 12,000 aircraft, constantly monitors the country, with dozens of helicopter operations a year on BA 115 alone.
However, for particularly sensitive events, such as the Pope’s visit to Corsica on Sunday, December 15, a Particular Air Safety System (DPSA) may be set up. Concentric perimeters are then determined, with helicopters ensuring protection of the most vulnerable zone, and taking charge of machines capable of moving at speeds too slow or altitudes too low for fighter jets.
These airborne resources are also supported from the ground. Against miniature drones that evade radar, Defense forces rely on visual lookouts and sensor data synthesis equipment, enabling optical and electromagnetic detection to converge through artificial intelligence, distinguishing allied platforms from unknown or even hostile ones. Aerial surveillance platforms contribute to data collection that allows the Command Center to “see” everything.
These two modes, the PPSA and DPSA, are defined by the Air Defense and Air Operations Command (CDAOA), which has its own dedicated unit, the Centre National des Opérations Aériennes (CNOA).
To counter drones, helicopter crews benefit from 4 weeks’ training a year in real-life conditions, day and night, precisely over Corsican waters, the site of their protection mission this Sunday.
Commandant Maubru confirmed to The Debrief that current regulations limit the in-flight intervention capabilities of seemingly harmless drones when there are no direct engagement orders, adding that new orders were being specifically written on just this subject concerning the PPSA. As far as DPSA is concerned, this type of intrusion has already been considered and orders have been issued, but these are kept secret to prevent rival groups from anticipating them.
Base 115 at Orange-Caillat is also home to a new squadron of Rafales capable of responding to any threat beyond the capabilities of Fennec helicopters. A twin-engine fighter aircraft capable of operating from an aircraft carrier or from a land base, the Rafales are sent on missions involving air policing, assistance, infringement of sensitive airspace including nuclear power plants, but they are also in charge of France’s Air military defense.
An on-site Lieutenant Colonel with whom we spoke, who wished to be identified as “Pierre,” told The Debrief about the capabilities of the Rafale, a latest-generation supersonic fighter capable of remaining stable at low speed, intercepting light aircraft, and intervening anywhere in mainland France in a matter of minutes, with the radar signature of a skylark.
Pierre discussed the base’s new runways, which open directly onto the Rafale shelters, enabling pilots to take off directly. This provides a crucial capability for responding to the hundreds of real-life incidents the base is required to respond to each year, in addition to the hundreds of training sessions it will host.
Pierre told The Debrief these training sessions require base personnel to deal with unusual situations without warning. Among the challenges these protective missions present, personnel must switch from a state of overflight standby that can last several hours, to almost instantaneous action once such an order is received.
The base’s Rafales are also equipped with refueling booms, enabling them to be kept in the air for long periods during DPSA. If pilots are unable to communicate with their command center, it is up to them to decide whether to use force to carry out their mission.
While much information about the Rafale remains classified, Pierre confirmed to The Debrief that these fighters can hit very small targets, which may include small unmanned aerial systems (sUASs) increasing their use in anti-drone combat.
As France adapts to evolving aerial threats, Base 115 stands as a testament to strategic preparedness, blending cutting-edge technology with rigorous training to secure the nation’s skies.
Baptiste Friscourt is a certified visual arts instructor based in France. You can follow his work online via Sentinel News on Substack.