A mythical crossing of eleven straits
Since February 17, the school group has begun a five-month strategic deployment across three continents, turning every stopover into a lever...
It is a logbook that would make any long-distance traveler dream, but for the 800 soldiers of the tactical group, it is a high-profile operational mission. Departing from Toulon, the Porte-Hélicoptères Amphibie (PHA) Dixmude, under the command of capitaine de vaisseau Jocelyn Delrieu, and the La Fayette-type frigate (FLF) Aconit, commanded by capitaine de vaisseau François Garreau, cast off for an odyssey of nearly five months. This 2026 mission (JDA26) does not just train the officers of tomorrow: it projects French power and culture far beyond our borders.
EXCEPTIONAL ROUTE The route of this 2026 edition is exceptional. Leaving the Méditerranée, the vessels will cross the Suez canal to plunge into the Océan Indien, before reaching the Pacifique. The names of the stopovers sound like an invitation to exploration: from the heat of Abou Dabi to the shores of Mombasa in Kenya, passing through Colombo in Sri Lanka.
The highlight of this deployment is in Asie du Sud-Est. The group will navigate through the détroit de Malacca to reach strategic anchorages in Singapour, Jakarta, Manille and on the Indonesian island of Bali. On the return journey, after bypassing the Corne de l'Afrique via Djibouti, the mission will enjoy a prestigious stopover in Istanbul, a link between Europe and Asie, before returning to the rade toulonnaise in mid-July.
In total, three continents will be linked by the wake of the Dixmude and the Aconit.
NAVAL DIPLOMACY Beyond navigation, each stopover constitutes an indispensable "Soft Power" instrument. Indeed, this mission is a tool for outreach and influence, offering multiple opportunities for diplomatic engagement. The cocktails and receptions organized on board are not simple social events, but key moments to strengthen the strategic partnerships of France.
In this highly coveted Indo-Pacifique region, the French presence allows us to assert our legitimacy and our commitment to a free and stable space. Thus, the 162 officer-cadets, traditionally nicknamed the "Bordaches", as well as the embarked commissioners and doctors, become, for the duration of a stopover, true ambassadors. By exchanging with local authorities and populations, they participate in maintaining the close ties that France maintains with its allies, from Égypte to the Philippines, by way of Inde and Singapour.
This world tour is not a pleasure cruise. Capitaine de vaisseau Jocelyn Delrieu and his teams must simultaneously manage the training of cadets and concrete operations. The group integrates an embarked tactical group, Groupement Tactique Embarqué (GTE) of the Armée de Terre, with Griffon armored vehicles and combat helicopters, ready to demonstrate French amphibious expertise during major exercises such as "La Pérouse" or "Balikatan 26".
For the spirit of openness remains central. Within the framework of the 400th anniversary of the Marine, celebrated in 2026, this mission also has an educational vocation. Videos produced by the officer-cadets on the areas crossed will be broadcast in French schools, creating a bridge between the youth of metropolitan France and the realities of the open sea.
By navigating from Istanbul to Bali, the Jeanne d'Arc 2026 does not just trace a route on a map. It weaves the web of French influence, reminding that the Marine nationale is capable of acting and uniting across all the seas of the globe.
Photos Philippe OLIVIER.