French Rafale fighter jets operate with USS George H.W. Bush

IONIAN SEA (Nov. 23, 2022) French Rafale fighter jets land, launch, and perform touch-and-goes aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during multicarrier operations, Nov. 23, 2022. The George H.W. Bush CSG is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

[klausschelling]

The French Rafale is just an unbelievably good looking fighter. And one of the top 2, top 3 fighters in the world, with the Raptor.

[jeezus]

Something that will never cease to impress me is the different ways in which engineers from different countries approach the same "problem" of creating a top tier aircraft. seeing the different planes from Europe like the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon or SAAB Gripen, etc be similar in many design aspects and still different in and unique in their own ways makes you wonder how the US engineers made crafts that seem for the most part so drastically different in their design from other planes around the world. Such an intriguing thing to see

[corvanphoenix]

This is outstanding! I hope the Rafale & the USN have many adventures! It's a great opportunity for both nations to see each others toys.

[danypostika]

This is pretty cool tbh, I love how the french developed such an impressive multirole aircraft which can also be operated on aircraft carriers alongside the US super hornets
Greetings from Italy

[pascal]

Vive U.S. Navy, la France et l aéronavale Rafale M. MERCI pour la vidéo !

[afterburner]

I'd like to point out to my fellow American viewers who might also be interested in joint US-French capabilities that a fair amount of French Navy pilots trainees are required, as part of their French flight certification course, to train and live at NAS Meridian in MS for months to get qualified on US Navy processes and flying T-45s. Failing to do so will not certify them to fly for the French Navy. Goes to show how important it is for the French Navy to be as perfect as it can be in interoperability with the US Navy. This joint training has been around for decades and is rightfully so prided by all French Navy personnel who spent some months of their life in Meridian. So you can imagine that these Rafales pilots landing on US carriers feel a bit like going home in a certain way. This is unheard of even in Europe we don't have this level of cooperation. FYI, F/A-18s are also routinely landing on Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft Carrier since it's been built to be fully interoperable with US hardware. Cheers from France folks.

[David-nukw]

I'd love to see this with my coffee every morning.

[TheThewulasvegas]

As an old Air Force guy I have to say this is fucking cool.

[higgs]

I began my service in NAVAIR during the Vietnam era. At the time, the USS Lexington (CVT-16} was used full time to carrier qualify pilots. I was stationed with an advanced jet training squadron in South Texas. Our pilots practiced carrier landing onshore using the duty runways which were marked like carrier decks and equipped with meatball mirrors. On carrier practice days an LSO (Landing Signal Officer) would be in place. Pilots saw the boat for the first time on carqual day. They had to shoot three bounces off of the angle deck with the hook up and then a trap (Arrested landing), and a cat shot. A bolter (Aircraft waved off by the LSO) did not automatically disqualify a pilot though it helped them very much to grab that No. 3 wire on their next attempt. We hosted some allied pilots as observers and we graduated a number of carrier qualified USAF pilots. You never forget your first trap because of that bang when you grab the wire.
Side note: When I joined the squadron we were flying Grumman F9F-8 and TAF-9J Cougars. When I left we were flying Douglas A-4 and TA-4J Skyhawks. Both were superb aircraft. The Cougars were the most interesting because when you shot a bounce the aircraft would drop close to fifteen feet when you rolled off of the angle. The flight deck was roughly forty feet above the water.

[clementevillasenor]

I am French Mexican and went to France years ago and got to see the Rafale at Salon de Provence Air Force base and it was amazing!! Yea it is also a beautiful aircraft the design is excellent!! France has a great aesthetics culture!!

[jacobzimmermann]

I believe the Rafale is the only non-US fighter that's certified to operate on US air carriers.

[jamesmasztalerz]

Must have been a honour for the shooter to be able to help launch a French fighter off the deck

[oldfrend]

thank you, french friends, for admiral de grasse defeating the british in chesapeake bay and helping us gain our freedom. it warms my patriotic heart to see us still close allies.

[joydivision]

beautiful friendship between French army and US say between Europe and USA) as a Frenc man, I would like to take this opportunity to honor the memory of all american soldiers died in Europe to defend our freedoms.

[willwozniak]

OUTSTANDING! Cool to see our Allies work together with each others Bless the US NAVY AND OUR ALLIES!

[UltraMagaFan]

The Frenchmen sure do know how to make a fighter jet. The rafale is one of my favorites.

[valuedhumanoid]

When I was on the Roosevelt we had British Harriers land on our deck quite frequently. Mostly for fuel. The deck guys hated them because they tore up our nonskid. The heat was so strong coming off the Pegasus engine that it just melted the deck down to bare metal in a 3 foot circle. If we had a bunch of them they would always spot them in the same area as to not damage any more of the deck than needed. A sacrificial patch. But I never saw a fixed wing tail hook aircraft from another nation make a trap landing, catapult takeoff. Just helo's and Harriers.

[memepasmal]

French pilots must be comfortable landing on such a large ship, which is not the case for Americans on a French aircraft carrier

[gatorflea]

Thumbs up for the sailors on the steel beach giving Honorable service !

[shzeenbibi]

All Rafale have to be grounded when Pakistani pilots are in the air 😂