On January 30, 2025, a small delegation from the European Air Transport Command (EATC), comprising Major General Franck Mollard, Commander EATC, and Dr Alexandre Verlaine, Head of Public Affairs, attended the VIP day of the "AIREX 25" exercise at Lyon-Mont Verdun Air Base 942. Organized by the French Air and Space Force, AIREX 25 is a C2 computer-assisted exercise that focuses on planning and executing joint operations in high-intensity, contested environments.
During their visit, VIP guests observed key exercise components, including airspace attack simulations, escalating air defence measures, and complex joint operations with a focus on air dominance. These scenarios test and refine command and control processes for both air and joint operations.
Following the closing remarks by French Chief of Defence General Thierry Burkhard, important lessons emerged from AIREX 25, which will help prepare the French armed forces for future defence challenges:
- Enhancing interoperability across land, air, sea, space, and cyber forces
- Adapting military planning to emerging threats, such as drone warfare and cyberattacks
- Managing conflict escalation and ensuring proportional responses
- Assessing asset requirements and identifying capability gaps
- Neutralizing enemy defence systems effectively
It is worth noting that AIREX 25 also marked a significant milestone for the newly established Centre Air de Planification et de Conduite des Opérations Aériennes et de la Défense Aérienne (CAPCODA), which integrates the former Centre Air de Planification et de Conduite des Opérations (CAPCO) and the Centre National des Opérations Aériennes (CNOA). This consolidation reflects a broader effort to streamline command structures and enhance operational coordination in an evolving security landscape.
Moreover, AIREX 25 prepares CAPCODA for NATO certification in order to be the next on-alert major contributor for Allied Response Force 2026.
For the EATC, the exercise provided valuable insights into joint air operations and reinforced the importance of multinational collaboration in tackling contemporary security challenges. By attending the AIREX 25 VIP day, the EATC delegation reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening European air transport capabilities, ensuring seamless integration with allied forces, and supporting initiatives that enhance collective defence and operational resilience.