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Deterioration of the international landscape sees France launch major military drill

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 10 Feb 2026, 10:31am
Photographer: Cyril Marcilhacy/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Photographer: Cyril Marcilhacy/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Deterioration of the international landscape sees France launch major military drill

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 10 Feb 2026, 10:31am

France has launched its biggest military drill since the Cold War. 

12,500 troops, 25 ships, and 140 aircrafts have been mobilised in the three-month Orion 26 exercise, which is intended to prepare for the growing threat from Russia. 

The drill will ramp up in April, as it will be placed under NATO command and include NATO forces.  

France Correspondent Catherine Field told Mike Hosking the reason it’s such high intensity is because there’s never been a confluence of threats at this level before, according to the French military.  

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