French military jets launch a 40-day global flight to project power and strengthen alliances

French fighter jets have begun Pegase 26, a 40-day global flight meant to strengthen alliances and demonstrate interoperability across diverse environments. Four Rafale jets launched Tuesday from Istres Air Base in southern France, forming up after departing Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska for a route spanning the Arctic, tropics and desert. The mission will cover 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles), cross three continents, and include nine stopovers, supported by three refueling aircraft, two transport planes, and about 300 personnel overseen from a headquarters near Lyon. Partners along the way include Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and India. The planes will also operate via Qatar in the Persian Gulf and end in Egypt, after exercises with U.S. jets over Greenland and Alaska.