On 29 September 2017, the tenth iteration of the annual French-led Close Air Support (CAS) exercise Serpentex concluded at Ventiseri-Solenzara air base on the island of Corsica. Serpentex 2017 served as an extension to the allied Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training for approximately 1,000 soldiers following the conclusion of Czech-led exercise Ample Strike, which was held in August at Namest in the Czech Republic.
Mirage 2000D departs for a mission
Joint forces
The exercise prepares JTACs for operational deployments in theatres where the air threats are low, like Afghanistan and Mali. The goal of Serpentex is to train both aircrews and JTACs in realistic CAS missions, which include dynamic targeting. The training is set in a complex tactical environment and involves transport aircraft, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms like the French Navy Breguet ATL2 and an airborne control centre in the shape of the Boeing E-3 Sentry. An infantry company, surface-to-air assets and Special Forces of the French army made the training a joint effort. Serpentex utilises tactics, techniques and procedures also used in recent real-world operations as well as the exploitation of modern and novel technologies such as Digitally Aided Close Air Support (DACAS) and satellite supported systems.
Simultaneously, the French Army held their annual ‘Toll’ artillery exercise at Camp Canjeurs, on the French mainland near Marseille, which mobilised nearly 300 soldiers of the French Army. The two scenarios integrated complementary command structures, which fed each other realism to their own exercise. The objective for both forces is to train together and evaluate their respective procedures. In Solenzara, the Army provided a land section and ground-to-air batteries to benefit Serpentex as part of the adverse force, while the air component created simulated air tracks for ‘Toll’ to complement the complete airspace coordination chain.
RCAF Hornets on the flight line
Biggest so far
Serpentex 2017 was the biggest edition so far, with 27 JTAC teams spread out over the island of Corsica and 39 aircraft to support them.
The aircraft involved in Serpentex included all combat aircraft types from the French Air Force and assets from Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Italians operated from their own mainland air base Grosseto. Owing to runway maintenance at their home base RAF Marham, the British Panavia Tornado GR4s were temporarily based at Decimomannu on the nearby Italian island of Sardinia. Five of them were originally scheduled to operate from Solenzara, but because of ongoing forest fires, ramp space at Solenzara was unavailable as Securité Civile S-2 Tracker firefighters used the base to operate from. Heavy Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses flew missions from their common forward operating location RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom.
The French Air Force General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper was a first time participant at Serpentex. Six of these have been delivered, but owing to operational commitments abroad this was the very first time one of them had been employed over the French homeland in an exercise. 2017 marked the return of the Canadian Air Force to Serpentex after an absence of four years. Three CF-18 Hornets from the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) nicknamed ‘Ti-Pics’ and based at CFB Bagotville, deployed to Solenzara. Lt Col Jared, Commanding Officer and Detachment Commander for the Canadian deployment explained the reason for the CAF to participate in Serpentex: “Our participation demonstrates our expeditionary capabilities and combat effectiveness with our NATO allies. Serpentex provides us with an excellent forum for air-land integration at a tactical level, exploiting the unique terrain and airspace of Corsica and robust exercise infrastructure that provides operational command and control including DACAS capabilities using new satellite linkassisted technologies.”
Realism
The sole focus on close air support sets Serpentex apart from other joint-military exercises in the region. This critical capability puts the power of precise, concentrated air strikes in the hands of troops on the ground, who can call these strikes in to defend themselves against enemy attacks or to have vital targets eliminated with lethal accuracy. The similarity with real wartime missions is very high. A whole week is used to play out one single scenario, with troops on the ground making progress with their movements and getting air support from nine in the morning until midnight. The nearby Diane Range is used for strafing and bombing runs with live ammunition. Captain Roy, the lead planner from the Canadian detachment stated that “This exercise is extremely realistic. I have flown in Afghanistan and Serpentex is almost an exact copy [of the situation there]. The value of this training is very high, especially for young pilots that haven’t build up much operational CAS experience so far.” He continues: “Even the procedures are alike. For example, after each training mission we have to debrief with a legal advisor who determines if the decision to throw a bomb was legitimate or not.”
According to Lt Col Bouilland, exercise director for Serpentex 2017, procedures are an important lesson for all participants and knowing them determines the level of success for each mission: “Players have to run through the chain of command to reach the echelon where the decision is made.”
ISR assets at Serpentex included types such as this French Navy Breguet ATL2
Final call
The final missions of Serpentex were flown on 29 September, and most participants left during the course of the day. Looking back at the exercise Lt Col Boilland is satisfied: “During these three weeks we have been able to reach our primary goal which is to train combat-ready aircrews and JTACs. We were able to execute 85% of the scheduled missions with only two days of flying gone sour because of the crosswind exceeding the limits here at Solenzara.”
According to Boilland, Serpentex 2017 had the right size considering airfield and exercise areas limitations. “So far, Serpentex has only focused on air to ground scenarios. It would be interesting to add a flavour of air-to-air work to the exercise scenario. The coming months the FAF command can evaluate participants’ feedback and incorporate this in the 2018 edition of Serpentex. One thing is for sure, this was the final conventional exercise for the Dassault Mirage 2000N which will bow out of service next September. With the end nearing for the RAF Tornado GR4 and Italian AMX as well, it will be interesting to see what the lineup for Serpentex 2018 will look like,” the Mirage 2000 pilot concluded.
Note from authors: we would like to thank SIRPA for their excellent cooperation during our visit and the Canadian detachment for their warm hospitality. Owing to security restrictions, full names of the people mentioned in this article are deliberately withheld.
Text and photos: Patrick Smitshoek,
Remco Stalenhoef and Stephan van Geem