On 26 February 2026, about 200 nautical miles south of Cape Leeuwin, the Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) conducted a “Tarpon” maneuver between three of their units deployed at a great distance from their main support base.
This operation mobilized the overseas patrol boat (POM) Auguste Bénébig as well as a CASA aircraft of the Transport Squadron (ET) 52 based in Tontouta, and embarking it from a plot of RIMaP-NC jettisoners. Joint coordination made it possible to carry out a precise drop for the benefit of the deployed ship, in a maritime area particularly far from the usual logistical infrastructure.
Conducted in a demanding oceanic environment, this manoeuvre highlighted the FANC’s ability to effectively combine air-sea resources and specialised know-how, while simultaneously guaranteeing the safety of crews, the control of logistics flows and the precision of execution. It demonstrated the robustness of the procedures for planning and conducting joint operations south of Perth.
Beyond its technical dimension, the exercise illustrates the ability of the FANC to project operational capabilities and logistical support several thousand nautical miles from Noumea. It confirms their ability to act autonomously and in a coordinated manner in large maritime spaces, thus contributing to the permanence of the French presence and the credibility of its system in the Indo-Pacific.
Through the precision of its execution and the coherence of its system, the Tarpon is fully in line with the operational readiness dynamics of the FANC, consolidating their responsiveness, their internal interoperability and their ability to support an isolated vessel on the high seas, both in terms of duration and distance.
The Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) allows France to have a permanent military presence in the South Pacific Ocean in order to protect French interests in the region and to maintain France’s military partnerships in this area of strategic interest. With more than 1,650 military personnel, the FANC provides regular support to missions under the State’s action at sea. They have the capacity to intervene to deal with a security or climate crisis affecting the area. The FANC regularly shares their expertise in the field of HADR or maritime security with the security and defence forces of partner countries in the South Pacific.