The RAF’s Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, met with the French Air Chief; Chef d’état-major de l’armée de l’air et de l’espace (CEMAAE); Général d’armée aérienne Jérôme Bellanger, to further cooperation between their forces and ensure they remain at the cutting edge of modern air and space power, enhancing their operational effectiveness and readiness.
The Board-to-Board (B2B) meeting took place in Lyon and underscores the deepening partnership between the two nations’ air and space forces, highlighting their shared commitment to defence and security cooperation, strengthening their already robust relationship.
The B2B meeting provided a platform for both air and space forces to discuss ongoing collaboration, future opportunities and shared challenges. It was also a key moment to promote Anglo-French relations, building on the foundations of the Lancaster House 2.0 Declaration on Modernising UK-French Defence and Security Cooperation.
The Lancaster House 2.0 Declaration, signed earlier this year, reaffirmed the UK and France’s commitment to working together to address global security challenges. The RAF and the French Air and Space Force are at the forefront of this partnership, collaborating on joint operations, exercises, capability programmes, and strategic initiatives.
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth and his French counterpart discussed a range of topics, including the Multi-National Force Ukraine (MNF-U, otherwise referred to as ‘Coalition of the Willing’), which highlights the critical role both nations play in supporting Ukraine and deterring aggression in Europe. During the meeting they also reflected on the success of recent joint operations and exercises, such as Exercise Volfa (a key French sovereign exercise), the RAF’s Exercise Auxilium Fort, and many operations in support of NATO, which have demonstrated the interoperability and shared values of the two air and space forces.
"The Board-to-Board meeting with our French counterparts is a testament to the enduring strength of the partnership between the Royal Air Force and the French Air and Space Force. By working together, we continue to enhance our operational capabilities, promote Anglo-French relations and uphold our shared commitment to global security. This collaboration is vital as we face evolving challenges and I look forward to building on the foundations of the Lancaster House 2.0 Declaration to ensure our forces remain at the forefront of modern air and space power."
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth
Chief of the Air Staff
As the RAF and the French Air and Space Force continue to build on their strong foundation of cooperation, this B2B meeting represents another step forward in their shared journey. By promoting Anglo-French relations and working together on critical issues such as the MNF-U, the two air and space forces are demonstrating their unwavering commitment to modernising defence and security cooperation for the challenges of the future.
