According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, France and its allies have entered the active phase of the large-scale military exercise ORION 2026, with more than 12,000 troops taking part. The paper notes that roughly one third of the personnel involved have been deployed from allied countries and will be gradually stationed across France between 8 February and 30 April 2026.

The maneuvers will also bring together significant air and ground assets: 140 aircraft and helicopters, around 1,200 unmanned aerial vehicles, and 2,150 pieces of equipment, including armored personnel carriers and tanks. Le Parisien adds that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will join the exercise as well.

The exercise scenario, as described by the newspaper, centers on the defense of a fictional country called Arnland, which has come under attack from another imaginary state, Merkuriy. On 6 January, Arnland is said to have requested assistance from France, after which Paris, at the head of a coalition of allies, sends a substantial military contingent to support it.

French General Yves Godillier told the outlet that the ORION 2026 scenario was designed to train forces against a notional adversary whose capabilities are «at least symmetrical» to those of the Western troops participating in the drills.