Within the framework of the Pégase 26 inter-service mission, the French Air and Space Force deployed an Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft over Mayotte on Monday, October 5. The exercise involved a high-precision aero-maritime maneuver in the strait between Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, where the aircraft deployed paratroopers who performed an operational jump into the open sea and were recovered by support vessels. The paratroopers were based in Reunion and were part of a larger military operation launched on September 8 and scheduled to end on October 15. This seventh edition of the long-range aerial deployment involved approximately 300 pilots, four Rafale F4 fighter jets, three A330 MRTT Phénix refueling aircraft, and two A400M Atlas transport aircraft. The mission traced an intercontinental loop of more than 40,000 kilometers through nine strategic stages connecting the Arctic, Greenland, Alaska, the Indo-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, Indonesia), India, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. The objective stated by Paris is to demonstrate its full strategic autonomy and its ability to project an air force thousands of kilometers from the mainland. In the Mozambique Channel, a crucial maritime crossroads surrounded by issues of piracy, sovereignty disputes, and illicit trafficking, the overflight of Mayotte reaffirms France's commitment to protecting its overseas territories and their economic zones. The exercise also highlights the rapid intervention capability of French troops in a maritime environment, particularly important for Mayotte, which was affected by Cyclone Chido and relied on A400M aircraft for relief efforts at the end of 2024. However, the exercise raised questions about its budgetary impact, with the cost estimated to be in the tens of millions of euros per edition. The deployment of forces, however, demonstrates the speed with which forces prepositioned in Reunion can secure the waters of Mayotte in the event of a major crisis. While the aerial demonstration functioned well, the planned ground sequence on Monday, October 5, turned into general confusion due to internal coordination issues and deficient access management. Journalists from Mayotte's editorial offices experienced a chaotic organization and were unable to attend the display of the A400M or meet with the crews, unlike journalists from Reunion who were able to conduct interviews with the aircraft commander. This situation was seen as a lack of respect and left a bitter taste, tarnishing what was supposed to be a showcase of republican unity between the military and the inhabitants of the 101st department.