Dzirhan Mahadzir - February 23, 2026 5:11 PM
The French Carrier Strike Group (CSG) led by aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91) is set to operate in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, according to a French Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs.
“After its participation in the large-scale ORION 26 exercise, the Carrier Strike Group will continue its deployment to the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea before transiting to the Mediterranean,” read the document when the French CSG left its homeport of Toulon.
The mission has four objectives:
- To contribute to NATO’s defensive and deterrent posture in Europe with France’s allies
- To secure Europe’s borders and participate in national and international operations to strengthen maritime security in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean
- To develop interoperability with France’s partners and allies
- To promote a free, open, and stable maritime space for the benefit of France’s populations, interests, and those of it partners, within the framework of international law. The CSG, through its presence, contributes to the stabilization of this area of competition and conflict.
French CSG’s escort and support forces include Horizon class and FREMM class frigates, with the new FDI class frigate FS Amiral Ronarc’h (D660) joining the CSG on Feb. 11 as part of its shakedown cruise prior to operational entry to the fleet. A nuclear-powered attack submarine has been with the CSG since it departed Toulon, according to the ministry. Supporting the CSG are the two Bâtiments Ravitailleurs de Force (BRF) class fleet oilers, FS Jacques Chevallier (A725) while FS Jacques Stosskopf (A726) joined the CSG on Feb 12.
Along with the CSG’s air complement of Rafale M fighters, E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) and Panther, Dauphin and Caiman helicopters, the French CSG is also supported by land-based Atlantique 2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) that will deploy to partner nations to support the CSG.
During the La Fayette 26 deployment, warships from Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Morocco, United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark and Germany will join the French CSG. The Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Moroccan and British warships all joined the French CSG to take part in ORION 26 but have since or are expected to depart with the conclusion of the maritime phase of the exercise. Italian destroyer ITS Andrea Doria (D553) departed Toulon with the CSG and Royal Moroccan Navy frigate Mohammed VI (701) joined the CSG in the Mediterranean, followed by Spanish frigate ESPS Alvaro De Bazen (F101) with the CSG then conducting a surface warfare drill against Spanish Navy frigates ESPS Santa María (F81), ESPS Numancia (F83) and ESPS Navarra (F85), which played the role of an opposing force.
In the Atlantic, Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (F804) joined the CSG as part of ORION 26 for a few days before playing the role of an opposing force with frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805) then joining the CSG, according to a Royal Netherlands Navy social media post. Royal Navy (RN) destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) spent a week integrated into the French CSG as part of ORION 26, culminating in a a 48-hour ‘war at sea’ exercise where Dauntless worked with the French carrier and its escorts to protect the English Channel from hostile forces, according to an RN release. The destroyer’s social media account also posted that during the exercise, it carried out over the horizon targeting drills with its embarked Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron and French frigate Amiral Ronarc’h.
During ORION 26, Charles De Gaulle’s embarked air group carried out more than 80 sorties for a total of nearly 250 hours of flight, according a post by the CSG’s official X account. Two Rafale M fighters also carried out long-range strikes as part of NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 26 taking place in Germany and the Baltic Sea, having launched from the carrier while it was operating off the coast of France.
The French CSG will participate in the ongoing NATO Baltic Sentry mission, which is to protect critical underwater infrastructures in the Baltic Sea, NATO maritime warfare exercise Neptune Strike and NATO exercise Cold Response/Dynamic Mariner 2026. Cold Response is a cold weather warfare exercise held in Norway which is paired this year with NATO exercise Dynamic Mariner which is geared towards certifying the Royal Navy to assume command of the Allied Reaction Force (Maritime) on Jul. 1. Charles De Gaulle will also carry out a port visit to Malmo, Sweden on Feb. 25, marking the first time the carrier visits Sweden, according to a Swedish Armed Forces release.
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