Orion 23: French armies simulate an invasion of a foreign country
French soldiers take part in a large-scale military exercise called "Orion", in Frontignan, in the south of France, on February 26, 2023. AFP - SYLVAIN THOMAS
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An unprecedented military exercise is currently taking place in the south of France.
Seven thousand air force, army and navy men simulate the invasion of a foreign country.
Operation Orion will last until March 11 and speaks volumes about the paradigm shift in defense since the war in Ukraine.
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A rain of paratroopers in the sky of the Tarn, this department in the south of France, is not the start of a war movie, nor is it a foreign invasion, but army training French.
In this military scenario that began a week ago, the story takes place in a fictional country called "Arnland".
A country destabilized by militias led by another country, "Mercury", with which it shares a border.
Also on the program: amphibious landing in the Mediterranean and tank firing, in Champagne-Ardennes, in secure areas.
[#ORION23] On 02/21, the PHA Mistral and Tonnerre carried out training in landing operations in Corsica with the on-board tactical group of the @armeedeterre.
This made it possible to prepare the landing actions that will take place later in the exercise.
pic.twitter.com/0T0maYkBqn
– National Navy (@MarineNationale) February 25, 2023
Any resemblance to the war in Ukraine is not entirely coincidental, as this training program has been in the army's pipeline for just over two years, and the invasion of Russia has only reinforced the urgency of preparing for a high-intensity war.
It's been twenty years since we've seen an exercise like this.
Firstly because the adversary was more often an armed group than a State, we think in particular of the anti-jihadist fight, and because the Defense budget did not allow it.
For 2024, on the other hand, an increase of one hundred billion euros allocated was announced by Emmanuel Macron.
►Also read France: wishes to the armies with historical accents for Emmanuel Macron
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