http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #365 AUGUST 2018 // 45Two distinct phases
The Chesapeake deployment comprised
two separate parts, one at Naval Air Station
Oceana and Chambers Field, Virginia – for
the Rafale and the Hawkeye respectively- and one at sea, aboard USS Bush.
The Hawkeye and the Rafales conducted
intensive training from the two shore bases,
initially among themselves, then with US Navy
Hawkeyes, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and
EA-18G Growlers of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8,
the host air wing for the duration of Chesapeake.
Complexity increased progressively from
basic fighter manoeuvres to more demanding
scenarios, with a growing number of fighters
and Hawkeyes involved. Close air support
(CAS) training involved US Joint Terminal
Attack Controllers (JTACs) on the ground
and forward air controllers – airborne
(FAC – A) flying in two-seat F/A-18Fs.
As part of CAS training, live firing runs
were flown with the Rafale’s 30M791
30mm cannon and Laser-Guided Training
Rounds (LGTRs) on the US Navy’s bombing
range at Dare County, North Carolina.
Scenarios gradually became more challenging,
including co-ordinated attacks by Super Hornets
and Rafales, with the exercises all designed
to increase interoperability between French
and US assets. Twelve LGTRs and around
1,000 30mm rounds were expended in all.
The navies of the US and France recently
completed a major training exercise off the US
east coast. Henri-Pierre Grolleau joined a full
squadron of Rafale Ms supported by a French
E-2C operating from a US Navy ‘flat-top’.Chesapeake
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Opération
CVW-8
Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) is attached to USS
George H W Bush (CVN 77) and is currently
composed of the following units:- VFA-31 ‘Tomcatters’, flying single-
seat F/A-18E Super Hornets - VFA-37 ‘Raging Bulls’, which will begin conversion
from the F/A-18C Hornet to the F/A-18E this autumn - VFA-87 ‘Golden Warriors’, also operating the F/A-18E
- VFA-213 ‘Black Lions’, flying the two-
seat F/A-18F Super Hornet variant - VAQ-131 ‘Lancers’, operating the two-seat EA-18G
Growler electronic warfare/electronic attack aircraft- VAW-124 ‘Bear Aces’, equipped
with the E-2C Hawkeye - HSC-9 ‘Tridents’, flying the MH-60S Seahawk in the
’plane guard, transport, logistics and anti-ship roles - HSM-70 ‘Spartans’, operating the MH-60R
Seahawk in the anti-ship/anti-submarine roles
(from Arleigh Burke- and Ticonderoga-class
warships attached to the carrier strike group) - VRC-40 Det 2 ‘Rawhides’, operating the C-2A
Greyhound in the logistics support role
VAW-124 provides the airborne early warning and control component for CVW-8. The ‘Bear Aces’ and
Flottille 4F worked together very closely during the exercise, including sharing spares and personnel.Chesapeake