International Military - Recently, Rafale from France has shown his teeth to protect his country's defense. The French Chief of Defense Staff said the interception of several Russian planes was shadowing the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Through a tweet published on February 19, 2022, it is seen that related parties upload black and white photos of Russian planes in flight.
"Over the last few days (there have been) interactions of the French CSG (carrier strike group), stationed at MEDOR (East Medditerranean) for Operation Chammal CJTFOIR with Russian aircraft which were detected soon after they took off from Latakia and are being continuously monitored by French CSG units, " wrote the account like from Aerotime.
The aircraft in the photo can be identified as a Tupolev Tu-22M strategic bomber and two Sukhoi Su-30 or Su-35 fighter jets. Another flight group consisting of the Ilyushin Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft and its Su-30/35 escort was also intercepted by Rafale Marine fighter aircraft on 18 February 2022.
Charles de Gaulle was deployed in the Mediterranean as part of Operation Chammal, the French part of Operation Inherent Resolve, which was intended to limit the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS). The French military has previously noted that the interception and monitoring of their activity by Russian forces had a limiting effect on the operation.
According to a French Parliament report published on 17 February 2022, Russian troops pose a 'real challenge' to the French deployment. While the report notes that such interactions have so far been 'professional', this was not always the case in the early interactions of French allies, particularly Britain and the United States, with Russian forces.
While the French military presents the interception of the Tu-22M and its escort fighters as a regular mission, Russian media have published different interpretations of the events.
On February 20, 2022, Russian aviation news site Avia.pro published an article entitled "French planes trying to intercept Russian Tu-22M3 bombers". "A group of French fighter jets from the French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle tried to provoke and intercept Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers flying over the Mediterranean Sea with Kh-32 anti-ship missiles arsenal," according to the article.
Avia.pro claims that the Su-35S fighter aircraft remains invisible to French jets because of the Russian aircraft. "It may have used their electronic warfare system or remained hidden behind a bomber." As soon as the bodyguard was visually identified, the French pilot "refused to approach," the article alleges.
Avia.pro does not provide the source of the information, however, their version of the events received wide coverage in the Russian media. With some outlets adding details such as the French pilot "violating international law" by trying to intercept the bomber and the Russian plane completely deactivating the French plane's electronics.
Confrontations between Russian and French troops became more frequent as tensions in Ukraine escalated. In December 2021, on several occasions, French aircraft were intercepted by Russian warplanes while they were carrying out surveillance missions over the Black Sea.