The French-Belgian exercise Southern Gladiator took place – from 21 to 30 April 2008 – on air base 115 “Capitaine de Seynes” in Orange (Vaucluse). It aimed at training pilots to carry out missions in a realistic framework, with aircraft of various kinds and nationality.

Aircrafts such as Mirage 2000 RDI (with Doppler pulse Radar) from the fighter squadron 2/12 “Picardie” Cambrai Air Base (North of France), F16 MLU (Mid-Life Update) from the 350th squadron based in Florennes (Belgium), as well as Mirage 2000 N from fighter squadron 3/4 “Limousin” in Istres (Bouches-du-Rhône, South-East France) took part.

From 2004, “Picardie” squadron has been twinned with the 350th Belgian squadron. Besides, the latter has the “Gaul soldier” figure painted on its aircraft – the same figure as the French “Limousin” squadron’s.