Marie Dubois was driving her kids to school near Lyon when she noticed something unusual. Military convoys were rolling down the highway beside her, their camouflaged vehicles blending oddly with the morning commuter traffic. Her 8-year-old son pressed his face to the window, counting tanks like other kids count cars.
“Maman, are we at war?” he asked innocently. Marie wasn’t sure how to answer. Technically, no. But France was preparing for something much bigger than a typical military exercise.
What Marie witnessed was just a glimpse of ORION 26, France’s most ambitious military drill since the Cold War ended. This isn’t happening on some remote training ground where civilians never see it. This is war practice in your backyard, on real roads, over real cities, with real consequences for how Europe thinks about defense.
France’s Biggest Military Show of Force Since the 1980s
ORION 26 represents a dramatic shift in how France prepares for conflict. Instead of isolated military bases, this exercise will sprawl across mainland France, involving thousands of troops from multiple nations in early 2026.
The scale is staggering. French tanks, fighter jets, and warships will coordinate in a single massive operation designed to simulate high-intensity warfare against an enemy with similar capabilities. Think less Afghanistan, more World War III.
“We’re not training to fight insurgents hiding in caves,” explains Colonel Jean-Luc Martineau, a defense analyst at the French Institute for Strategic Analysis. “This is about preparing for a peer adversary that has jets, satellites, and cyber weapons just like we do.”
The exercise builds on ORION 23, which mobilized over 12,000 French and allied personnel between February and May 2023. But ORION 26 promises to be bigger, more complex, and more realistic in its approach to modern warfare.
What Makes This Exercise Different
Most military exercises happen behind closed doors on secure bases. ORION 26 breaks that mold entirely. Here’s what makes it unprecedented:
- Real-world terrain: Operations unfold on public roads, near civilian infrastructure
- Multi-domain warfare: Land, sea, air, cyber, and space operations integrated simultaneously
- Allied participation: Multiple NATO and European partners training together
- Civilian integration: Government services and emergency responders participate
- Extended duration: Weeks of sustained high-intensity operations
- Political realism: Decision-making scenarios mirror real wartime pressures
| Aspect | ORION 23 | ORION 26 (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | 12,000+ | 15,000+ (estimated) |
| Duration | 3 months | TBA |
| Participating Nations | Multiple NATO allies | Expanded coalition |
| Domains | All five military domains | Enhanced integration |
| Civilian Areas | Limited involvement | Extensive real-world integration |
The exercise scenario focuses on high-intensity conflict against an adversary with advanced technology and similar military capabilities. This isn’t counterinsurgency or peacekeeping practice – it’s preparation for the kind of large-scale warfare Europe hasn’t seen since 1945.
“French planners are treating ORION 26 less as a simple drill and more as a national-scale dress rehearsal for a major war,” notes Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a European security expert at the Atlantic Council.
Why Your Daily Life Might Feel the Impact
If you live in France, ORION 26 won’t be something happening “over there.” You might encounter military convoys on your commute, see fighter jets overhead during lunch, or hear about temporary restrictions in certain areas.
The exercise deliberately integrates civilian infrastructure and services. Local governments, emergency responders, and even utility companies participate in scenarios. The goal is testing how military operations work alongside normal life during a crisis.
For European allies, ORION 26 serves as a crucial test of NATO’s collective defense capabilities. The exercise evaluates how quickly partner nations can deploy forces, share intelligence, and coordinate complex operations under pressure.
“This isn’t just France showing off its military toys,” explains General Marcus Hoffman, a former NATO operations chief. “This is Europe testing whether it can actually defend itself if things go wrong in Eastern Europe or elsewhere.”
The timing isn’t coincidental. With ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe and concerns about great power competition, France is demonstrating European military capabilities while strengthening alliance bonds.
What Military Experts Are Watching
Defense analysts will scrutinize several key areas during ORION 26:
- Command integration: How well do multinational forces coordinate?
- Logistics under pressure: Can supply chains sustain weeks of intensive operations?
- Cyber resilience: How vulnerable are communications and systems?
- Civilian-military coordination: Do government services integrate smoothly?
- Political decision-making: Can leaders make tough choices quickly?
The exercise also tests newer military concepts like dispersed operations, where forces spread out to avoid being targeted, and multi-domain operations, where cyber attacks happen alongside conventional fighting.
“ORION 26 is essentially France’s way of asking: ‘Are we ready for the kind of war we might actually have to fight?'” observes Lieutenant Colonel Emma Thompson, a military strategist at King’s College London.
The answers could reshape European defense planning for decades. If the exercise reveals significant gaps or weaknesses, expect major changes in military spending, alliance structures, and defense strategies across Europe.
For ordinary Europeans, ORION 26 represents both reassurance and a wake-up call. Reassurance that their militaries are preparing seriously for potential threats. A wake-up call that such preparation is considered necessary in 2026.
FAQs
What is ORION 26?
It’s France’s largest multinational military exercise since the Cold War, scheduled for early 2026, involving thousands of troops in realistic warfare scenarios across France.
How does ORION 26 affect civilians?
The exercise uses real roads and infrastructure, so civilians might encounter military convoys, aircraft, and temporary restrictions during training operations.
Which countries are participating in ORION 26?
Multiple NATO and European allies will join French forces, though the complete participant list hasn’t been fully announced yet.
Is this preparation for a specific threat?
The exercise prepares for high-intensity conflict against peer adversaries with advanced capabilities, not targeting any specific country but addressing general security concerns.
How long will ORION 26 last?
While the exact duration hasn’t been confirmed, it’s expected to run for several weeks, similar to the previous ORION 23 exercise.
What makes this exercise different from typical military drills?
Unlike base-confined exercises, ORION 26 integrates real civilian infrastructure, government services, and multinational forces in realistic combat scenarios.
