French military Mission Pégase in the Indian Ocean

The French military is conducting the Pegase 26 mission, a strategic exercise designed to demonstrate rapid air force deployment and regional security cooperation in the Indian Ocean.

Initially, the mission involved the arrival of approximately 300 personnel and nine aircraft—including Rafale jets, A330 MRTT Phénix tankers, and A400M Atlas transport planes—in Réunion. The operation aims to showcase autonomous logistics and the ability to cover up to 40,000 km over 40 days. Key objectives include enhancing crisis management and disaster response, such as cyclone relief, through cooperation with the Indian Ocean Commission and regional leaders from Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Comoros.

As the mission progressed, forces utilized Réunion and Mayotte as strategic hubs for power projection. Operations expanded to include specialized training, such as paratroopers conducting sea jumps off the coast of Mayotte. The broader mission has involved transit through multiple international locations, including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and India.