Heading to the Indo-Pacific for nearly 600 military personnel

This is a major departure for the Marine nationale and the training of its future officers. Indeed, the Jeanne d'Arc 2026 (JDA 26) tactical group has set sail from the Toulon naval base for a long-term operational deployment. This mission, which will span five months, will lead the French vessels across three continents, notably marking a strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific zone. Under the command of capitaine de vaisseau Jocelin Delrieu, the group is structured around the Porte-hélicoptères amphibie (PHA) Dixmude and the Frégate type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit. In total, nearly 800 military personnel are participating in this major mission, including 162 student officers from the École navale, both French and international, on their way to the Indo-Pacific.

STRATEGIC CHALLENGES

This annual deployment marks the completion of the student officers' training curriculum. The Jeanne d'Arc mission is not a simple academic and practical learning cruise with a real operational commitment. By navigating in areas of strategic interest, the future military leaders prepare themselves for the complexity of joint operations and power projection. During these five months, numerous exercises are scheduled, both with partner armed forces and with French forces prepositioned overseas. The objective is twofold: to demonstrate France's amphibious, land, and air capabilities, while asserting its commitment to freedom of navigation and respect for international maritime law.

JOINT FORCE DEPLOYMENT

For this 2026 edition, the configuration of the tactical group emphasizes versatility and firepower. The PHA Dixmude hosts a detachment from the Flottille 34F equipped with an application as it combines Dauphin helicopter, dedicated to maritime surveillance and rescue missions. The dimension present with the deployment by the Flottille 36F of the S-100 Camcopter aerial drone system. The Armée de Terre plays a central role in this system via the Groupement Tactique Embarqué (GTE). This year, it operates in a predominantly "infantry" configuration, coming from the 9ème Brigade d'Infanterie de Marine (9ème BIMa). This group includes a sub-unit of the 3ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (3ème RIMa) of 100 soldiers. The air combat component is provided by a sub-unit of the 4ème Brigade d'Aérocombat, composed of 60 military personnel. The latter deploy significant strike and transport capacity with two Caïman helicopters and two Gazelle helicopters from the 3e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat.

YOUTH AND TERRITORIES

Furthermore, the 2026 mission holds a particular symbolic dimension since it falls technological is within the framework of the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the Marine nationale, also created by the edict of cardinal de Richelieu in 1626. On this occasion, the ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants partnered with the ministère de la Culture to promote this historical heritage, synonymous with commitment and innovation. Beyond the military aspect, the mission carries an educational ambition through a joint project with the ministère de l'Éducation nationale. Named "Jeunesse et Territoires", this initiative aims to promote the values of openness and team spirit among primary and secondary school students. Throughout the deployment, student officers of the Groupe École d'Application des Officiers de Marine (GEAOM) produce educational video clips on the regions crossed. This system allows schoolchildren to discover the Marine and its missions, while awaiting the events that will take place in May and June 2026 upon the group's return. •