📸 In Pictures: A Voyage to Djibouti

The UK and French Air Forces flew a near 4000-mile mission involving two RAF Voyager tankers, escorting and refuelling en route to Djibouti, Africa

The Long-Range Projection mission was a real-life demonstration of the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) Air Component’s capability to project aircraft long distance at pace.

The Voyager tankers based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire provided Air-to-Air refuelling for the French jets throughout their near 4000-mile journey to North-East Africa to take part in their Exercise Shaheen.

“Great to see French Mirage aircraft taking fuel from a RAF Voyager yesterday as they flew from France to a French airbase in Africa. In doing so we have both improved our techniques and validated our procedures to ensure we are ready to act as part of the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force.”

— Air Cdre Tim Below, the Defence Attaché in Paris, said

This mission clearly demonstrates the close France-British relationship and our ability to work together to rapidly project air power across the globe.

📸 Here are the highlights from this epic refuelling journey👇

Three French Mirage fighter aircraft aerial refuelling over Europe.

French Mirage fighter aircraft in transit over Europe.

RAF Voyager aircraft conducting air-to-air refuelling of French Air Force Mirage fighters.

Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed here 👇