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Embarked air power comprised sixteen [[Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard|Super Étendards]], one [[E-2C Hawkeye]], two [[Rafale]] Ms and several helicopters. The Super Étendards carried out their first missions above Afghanistan on 19 December, executing reconnaissance and bombing missions, covering over {{convert|3,000|km}}. Overall they carried out 140 missions, averaging 12 every day.
[[File:USS Enterprise FS Charles de Gaulle.jpg|thumb|left|{{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} (left), the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and ''Charles de Gaulle'' (right), at the time the latest nuclear carrier.]]
On 18 February 2002, a [[Helios 1B|Helios]] observation satellite spotted abnormal activities near [[Gardez]]. The next day, after [[American Special Forces]] in the region confirmed these observations, ''Charles de Gaulle'' launched two reconnaissance Super Étendards. On 20 February, coalition forces entered the valley and [[Operation Anaconda]] began in early March.{{fact|date=March 2023}}
In March, Super Étendards and six [[Mirage 2000]] aircraft carried out airstrikes against targets claimed to be [[al Qaeda]]. A few targets suggested by US forces were denied out of fear of hitting civilians. Nevertheless, French involvement was complimented on 11 March 2002 by US President [[George W. Bush]], who mentioned "our good ally, France, has deployed nearly one-fourth of its navy to support Operation Enduring Freedom".<ref>"[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020311-1.html President Thanks World Coalition for Anti-Terrorism Efforts]", The White House, March 11, 2002. Retrieved December 31, 2006.</ref> At this point, the French air complement had been increased to 16 Super Étendards, 6 Mirage 2000 D, 5 Rafales, and two Hawkeye AWACS. From February, the air wings of ''Charles de Gaulle'' and {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74|6}} landed on each other's decks as a means of strengthening the ties between the allies.{{fact|date=March 2023}}
On 2 May, ''Charles de Gaulle'' arrived in [[Singapore]] for relief and returned to [[Oman]] on 18 May.
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