France has launched Pegase 26, sending four Rafale fighters from Istres Air Base on a 40-day global deployment covering the Arctic, Indo-Pacific and Middle East. The operation is planned to cover roughly 40,000 kilometres, include nine intermediate stops and cross three continents.The fighter package contains two single-seat and two two-seat Rafales. Supporting the aircraft are three A330 MRTT aerial-refuelling tankers, two A400M airlifters and a contingent of around 300 personnel. The mission is intended to evaluate France’s ability to deploy, refuel and sustain fighter forces at long distances while strengthening interoperability with partner air forces.For the first stage, the Rafales followed a northern route across Greenland before arriving in Alaska. The nearly 11-hour flight involved five in-flight refuelling operations. The French aircraft subsequently trained with US fighters, providing an opportunity to exercise alongside American forces in the region.From Alaska, Pegase 26 will continue toward the Indo-Pacific. Planned engagements include exercises or activities with air forces from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and India. The deployment will then move through the Gulf region, including Qatar, before ending in Egypt.France has used the Pegase series for global power-projection deployments since 2018. What distinguishes the 2026 mission is the decision to use the Arctic/Greenland-Alaska corridor as an alternative route to Asia. French officials said this provides valuable experience in Arctic conditions while demonstrating another pathway for reaching the Indo-Pacific.The northern leg also carries wider geopolitical significance. Tensions surrounding the Arctic have increased as NATO expands regional activity and Russia raises concerns over alliance exercises. The supplied report notes that comments by US President Donald Trump concerning Greenland have further complicated relations within NATO, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that NATO’s Arctic activities could raise the risk of confrontation.
