Rear Adm. Eric Chaperon, French Task Force 473 commander, and Rear Adm. Chris Grady, Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group commander and Commander Task Force 50, met aboard French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle (R-91) to discuss interoperability and integration between the two navies, April 8.
Charles De Gaulle and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) have been conducting joint combat operations in the region since Feb. 22 as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve to degrade and ultimately defeat the fighting forces of terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS.
The Charles De Gaulle and Carl Vinson strike groups fly over 100 combined total sorties a day, with Charles De Gaulle flying 15 combat sorties a day using her Super-Etendard and Rafale fighter jet aircraft. Carl Vinson flies up to 25 combat sorties a day. The balance of sorties are high-end training to sharpen pilot skills.
Charles De Gaulle has taken on many aspects of operations during its time in the region. Its carrier strike group assumed the primary role of combat support during periods of maintenance, replenishment-at-sea, or port visit opportunities for Carl Vinson.
The French carrier will assume primary operational duty when the Carl Vinson and Theodore Roosevelt Strike Groups conduct turnover in the coming days.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.
Image: US Navy