French aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle in the Philippine Sea
February 17, 2025
The continuing voyages of the French aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle (R91) (previously described at:
https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/all-at-sea-frances-carrier-undertakes-major-pacific-deployment/
have recently seen the ship and its air wing exercising with the US Navy and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force in the Philippine Sea during exercise Pacific Steller 2025.
Pacific Steller is a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) in the Philippine Sea involving ships from the French CSG, US Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) ONE, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Participating large-deck ships include the French carrier FS Charles de Gaulle, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).
Aircraft from the Charles de Gaulle operated from the Vinson during the exercise, and US Navy aircraft operated from the Charles de Gaulle.
The US Navy was quick to point out that MLDEs are conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.
This exercise is designed to advance co-ordination and co-operation between French, Japanese and US maritime forces, and simultaneously demonstrates capabilities in multi-domain operations, while promoting regional stability, and highlighting the participants’ enduring power projection capability. The US Navy recognises that its international allies and partners are one of its greatest strengths and represent a key strategic advantage. Those allies are together helping the US Navy to advance a shared vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.
Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, chief of staff of the French Navy said that: “During Pacific Steller, you are carrying out an extraordinary mission in the literal sense, by the length of the deployment, by the extension we are carrying out today to this Philippine Sea, from the home port of Toulon to more than 6,500 nautical miles and then by the level of integration we are achieving with our American and Japanese partners.”
Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, told his crews that: “Professionalism is making the extremely difficult look routine and easy when it is not, and you are example of that. Our professional militaries do amazing things together on a regular basis, and Pacific Steller is another example of that. Your historic 2025 deployment highlights your ability to integrate and operate alongside like-minded partners to continue to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific.”
