French Caracal Conducts Deck Training in Caribbean

Helis, March 02, 2026 - A H225M Caracal helicopter assigned to BA367 in French Guiana successfully conducted a series of touch-and-go maneuvers aboard the surveillance frigate Ventôse of the French Navy, based in Martinique.

The training operation highlights the close coordination between air and naval units operating in the Caribbean region. Deck landings on a moving vessel represent one of the most demanding aspects of rotary-wing operations, requiring continuous training, precise timing, and seamless communication between flight crews and ship personnel.

Touch-and-go exercises allow aircrews to rehearse approach, landing alignment, deck handling procedures, and immediate takeoff without full shutdown, enhancing operational readiness while minimizing disruption to shipboard activities.

Such joint exercises ensure that both the French Air and Space Force and the French Navy maintain the high level of interoperability and precision required for maritime security, search and rescue, and overseas operational missions.

EC275AP / H225M

The Airbus Helicopters H225M, formerly known as the Eurocopter EC725 Caracal (Super Cougar), is a long-range, twin-engine tactical transport helicopter developed from the Super Puma family for high-risk combat and special operations missions.

Within the French Air and Space Force, it is designated as the Caracal and is operated by several units, including Escadron d’Hélicoptères 1/67 “Pyrénées” at Cazaux and forward-deployed detachments at Base Aérienne 367 in French Guiana.

Designed primarily for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) and special operations, the aircraft features five-blade composite main rotors and a reinforced airframe, enabling it to transport up to 28 troops or 11 stretchers in medical evacuation configuration. One of its key capabilities is the in-flight refueling probe, significantly extending its operational range and making it one of the few helicopters worldwide capable of long-range force projection.

In French service, the H225M is a critical asset for Special Operations Command and has been deployed to theaters such as the Sahel region for counter-terrorism missions. The aircraft is equipped with an advanced electronic warfare suite, including radar warning receivers, missile approach warning systems, and flare dispensers, as well as a modern glass cockpit with digital mapping and night-vision compatibility.

For self-defense, it is typically armed with 7.62mm FN MAG machine guns mounted in the side windows, with heavier weapon configurations available depending on mission requirements. Beyond combat operations, the Caracals stationed at Base Aérienne 367 in French Guiana support Operation Harpie and contribute to airspace security during sensitive satellite launches at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou.

BA367

Base Aérienne 367 (BA 367) "Capitaine François Massé" is a critical military installation of the French Air and Space Force located at Cayenne – Félix Eboué Airport (formerly known as Rochambeau) in French Guiana. Established in its current form in 2002, the base serves as the primary hub for French air operations in South America, utilizing the airport's 3,800-meter runway to support both permanent and transient military aircraft. It is home to approximately 280 personnel and hosts the Escadron de transport 68 "Antilles-Guyane", which operates a fleet of tactical assets including CASA CN-235 transport planes and a mix of SA330 Puma, AS555 Fennec, and newly integrated H225M Caracal helicopters.

The strategic mission of BA 367 is multifaceted, centering on the sovereignty of French territory and the protection of high-value national interests. A primary responsibility is the "Air Security Bubble" (DPSA) maintained around the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou during satellite launches, which often involves the temporary deployment of Rafale fighters and AWACS surveillance aircraft. Beyond defense, the base is essential for internal security operations, such as Operation Harpie against illegal gold mining, and provides vital public service through medical evacuations (EVASAN) and logistical support to isolated inland communities like Maripasoula and Camopi.

ETO 68

Escadron de Transport 68 (ET 68) “Antilles-Guyane” is a unique multi-mission unit of the French Air and Space Force stationed at Base Aérienne 367 in French Guiana. Although designated as a transport squadron, it functions as the overseas helicopter component of the Armed Forces in French Guiana (FAG), combining tactical airlift capabilities with sovereign protection missions. The unit’s emblem, depicting the Antilles and Guiana, reflects its historical reach across the French Caribbean and South American territories.

Formed in its modern structure in 1968 and later redesignated in 1994, ET 68 operates a mixed fleet tailored to the region’s operational demands. Its rotary-wing assets include the SA330 Puma for heavy lift and troop transport, the AS555 Fennec for reconnaissance and surveillance, and the more advanced H225M Caracal for long-range tactical interventions and high-risk missions.

Operating in one of the most challenging tropical environments in the French military inventory, ET 68 is indispensable for both security and humanitarian operations. Its primary operational commitment is Operation Harpie, the long-running campaign against illegal gold mining in the Amazon rainforest. In this dense and inaccessible terrain, helicopters provide the only reliable means of inserting Gendarmerie and infantry units.

The squadron also plays a central role in the DPSA (Dispositif Permanent de Sûreté Aérienne), ensuring airspace security over the Guiana Space Centre during Ariane and Vega rocket launches. Beyond its defense responsibilities, ET 68 performs continuous medical evacuation missions (EVASAN) and delivers essential supplies to remote communities along the Maroni and Oyapock rivers, reinforcing both national sovereignty and civil support in French Guiana.

Floréal Class

The Floréal class represents a series of light surveillance frigates designed by the French Navy for sustained operations in overseas territories and low-threat environments. Developed in the early 1990s using civilian shipbuilding standards to control costs, these vessels emphasize endurance, range, and seaworthiness rather than heavy combat capabilities. Displacing approximately 2,950 tons at full load, the class features a high freeboard and an expansive helicopter deck, enabling prolonged deployments across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

Their primary mission is the protection of France’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), conducting fisheries patrols, counter-trafficking operations, maritime security, and presence missions that reinforce national sovereignty.

The Ventôse (F733), the fourth ship of the class, was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and commissioned in 1993. Homeported in Fort-de-France, Martinique, the vessel serves as a key asset for French naval operations in the Caribbean and the Antilles. While its armament—centered on a 100 mm CADAM main gun supported by 20 mm F2 cannons—is modest compared to frontline combatants, Ventôse is highly effective in long-endurance patrols, humanitarian assistance missions, and counter-narcotics operations.

The frigate has gained international recognition for major cocaine interdictions in the Caribbean basin and played an important role in recovery operations following the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447.