ted that Escadron de Chasse (Fighter Squadron) 1/7 at Saint-Dizier would receive a nucleus of 8–10

Rafale F2s during the summer of 2006, in preparation for full operational service (with robust air-to-
air and stand off air-to-ground precision attack capabilities) starting from mid-2007 (when EC 1/7
[122][131]
would have about 20 aircraft, 15 two-seaters and five single-seaters).
In 2007, a "crash program" upgrade on six Rafales enabled the use of laser-guided bombs in
readiness for action in Afghanistan. Three of these aircraft of the Air Force were deployed to
Dushanbe in Tajikistan, while the three others were Rafale Marine of the Navy on board Charles De
[132]
Gaulle. The first mission occurred on 12 March 2007, and the first GBU-12 was launched on 28
March in support of embattled Dutch troops in Southern Afghanistan, marking the operational début
[133]
of the Rafale. Between January 2009 and December 2011, a minimum of three Rafales were
stationed at Kandahar International Airport to conduct operations in support of NAT