French Air and Space Force: Difference between revisions
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| [[Eurocopter Cougar]] || {{FRA}} || transport helicopter || '''total Cougar'''<hr>AS 332C<hr>AS 332L<hr>AS 532<hr>EC 725 || '''11'''<hr>3<hr>3<hr>2<hr>3 || 1980 || |
| [[Eurocopter Cougar]] || {{FRA}} || transport helicopter || '''total Cougar'''<hr>AS 332C<hr>AS 332L<hr>AS 532<hr>EC 725 || '''11'''<hr>3<hr>3<hr>2<hr>3 || 1980 || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
||
| [[Eurocopter Ecureuil]] || {{FRA}} || utility helicopter || AS 355 || 5 || || |
| [[Eurocopter Ecureuil]] || {{FRA}} || utility helicopter || AS 355 || 5 ||1984 || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
||
| [[Eurocopter Fennec]] || {{FRA}} || utility helicopter || AS 555AN || 43 || || |
| [[Eurocopter Fennec]] || {{FRA}} || utility helicopter || AS 555AN || 43 ||1986 || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
||
| [[Jodel|Jodel D-140]] || {{FRA}} || trainer || || || 1966 || |
| [[Jodel|Jodel D-140]] || {{FRA}} || trainer || || || 1966 || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
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| [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] || {{USA}} || tactical transport || C-130H<hr>C-130H-30 || 5<hr>9 || 1987<hr> |
| [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] || {{USA}} || tactical transport || C-130H<hr>C-130H-30 || 5<hr>9 || 1987<hr>1988 || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
||
| [[Mudry CAP 10]] || {{FRA}} || trainer || CAP 10B || 7 || || |
| [[Mudry CAP 10]] || {{FRA}} || trainer || CAP 10B || 7 || || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
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| [[Socata TB]] || {{FRA}} || trainer || TB 30 Epsilon || 90 || || |
| [[Socata TB]] || {{FRA}} || trainer || TB 30 Epsilon || 90 ||1985 || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
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| [[Socata TBM]] || {{FRA}} || liaison transport || TBM 700 || 17 || || |
| [[Socata TBM]] || {{FRA}} || liaison transport || TBM 700 || 17 || 1992 || |
||
|----- |
|----- |
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| [[Transall C-160]] || {{FRA}} || tactical transport<hr>ELINT<hr>tactical transport || C-160F<hr><hr>C-160G Gabriel<hr>C-160NG || <hr>2<hr>65 || 1967<hr>1989<hr>1982 || |
| [[Transall C-160]] || {{FRA}} || tactical transport<hr>ELINT<hr>tactical transport || C-160F<hr><hr>C-160G Gabriel<hr>C-160NG || <hr>2<hr>65 || 1967<hr>1989<hr>1982 || |
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Revision as of 16:53, 13 April 2007
The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. Its official name is the Armée de l'Air (literally, "army of the air"). It is one of the most powerful air forces in the world and has held a prominent role in modern French military history.
| French Armed Forces |
|---|
 |
| Components |
| Ranks |
| History |
General description
The organization of the French Air Force is based on having complete control of air operations and on flexibility in execution. This makes it possible to optimise reaction for peacetime and wartime.
From this point of view, the Air Force is organized into three levels:
- The central level of command
- Great operational and organic commands
- Air bases
First level: the central level of command
The Head of the Armed Forces and the President of France create the general defense policy. The Prime Minister is in charge of national defense. The Minister for Defense is responsible for the execution of military policy. He is advised by the Head of Staff of Armies (CEMA) with regard to the use of forces and the control of military operations. The Head Of Staff of the Air Force (CEMAA) determines doctrine for the Air Force and advises the CEMA on how to use French aerial forces. He is also responsible for the preparation and support of the Air Force. The CEMAA is assisted by the staff of the Air Force (EMAA), directed by the general major general (GMG), and by the services of the police headquarters, responsible for military staff management of the Air Force (DPMAA), service of the police station of the air, service of the material of the Air Force, service of the infrastructure of the air, and the integrated structure of maintenance in operational condition of the aeronautical materials of Defense (SIMMAD). Finally, the CEMAA is assisted by two inspections: the inspection of the Air Force (IAA) and the inspection of the health services of the Air Force (ISSAA).
Second level: Main commands
The French Air Force is founded on the principle of separation of responsibilities between two main types of commands: operational commands (responsible for force projection) and organic commands (in charge of conditioning and logistical support).
Third level: air bases
The air base is the essential combat tool of the Air Force, whose operational activity never ceases.
The commander of an air base has authority over all units stationed on the base, approximately 600 to 3,500 people. He supervises their conditioning and the execution of orders. Flying activity in France is carried out by a network of bases, platforms and radars of air defense. It is supported by a dozen bases, which are supervised and maintained by staff, centers of operations, warehouses, workshops, and schools.
The bases are organized for flexibility and rapid response. Both in France and abroad, bases have similar infrastructure to provide standardized support. Naval units are spread to give themselves certainty that, on all air bases, they will find the necessary means to execute their missions. This operational mode allows for fast and easy creation of air bases outside of France.
Overseas, a collection of fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters allow for quick responses to any request for assistance that falls within international agreements. It also ensures the defense of French interests. On average, a base platform, made up of about 2,200 men and women (or nearly 5,500 people including family members), provides an economic boost of about 60 million euros per annum. Consequently, determining the sites for air bases constitutes a major part of regional planning.
History
Many consider the Armée de l'Air to have been the first professional air force in the world. The French took active interest in developing their air force and had the first fighter pilots of World War I. During the interwar years, however, particularly in the 1930s, the quality fell when compared with the Luftwaffe, which crushed both the French and British air forces during the Battle of France.
In the post–World War II era, the French made a concerted and successful effort to develop a homegrown aircraft industry. Dassault Aviation led the way forward with their unique and effective delta-wing designs, which formed the basis for the famous Mirage series of jet fighters. The Mirage repeatedly demonstrated its deadly abilities in the Six-Day War and the Gulf War, becoming one of the most popular and well-sold aircraft in the history of military aviation along the way. Currently, the French Air Force is expanding and replacing. The French are awaiting the A400M military transport aircraft, which is still in developmental stages, and the integration of the new Rafale multi-role jet fighter, whose first squadron of 20 aircraft became operational in 2006 at Saint-Dizier.
Aircraft inventory
The French Air Force operates a wide-ranging fleet of aircraft, everything from fighters to transport aircraft and passenger transports to helicopters. It currently maintains some 560 aircraft. 150 comprise the air mobility force (CFAP) and include aircraft such as the C-160 and the C-130 Hercules. The CFAP also includes 80 helicopters like the Super Puma and the Ecureuil. 330 fighter aircraft are incorporated into 19 squadrons charged with different missions. Finally, the French Air Force has a fleet of aircraft, including Alpha Jet, Xingu, Epsilon, and Tucano, to meet training requirements. These air assets are supported by ground units and a sophisticated infrastructure.[1]
The "Future French Forces 2015" concept allows for 300 front-line fighters, mainly composed of the new generation fighter, the Rafale.
Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service[2] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Service entry[3] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |-----
| Aérospatiale Puma || 
France || search & rescue
transport helicopter || SA 330 || 29 || 1974 ||
|-----
| Airbus A310 || France || strategic transport || A310-300 || 3 || 1994 ||
|-----
| Airbus A319 || 
Germany || VIP transport || A319 ACJ || 2 || 2002 ||
|-----
| Airbus A340 || France || transport || || 1 || 2006 ||
|-----
| Boeing C-135 || 
United States || aerial refuelling || C-135FR || 14 || 1985 ||
|-----
| Boeing E-3 Sentry || United States || airborne early warning || E-3F || 4 || 1991 ||
|-----
| CASA CN-235 || 
Spain || tactical transport || CN-235-200
CN-235-200M || 8
11 || 1991 ||
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 50 || France || VIP transport || Mystère 50 || 3 || 1979 ||
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 900 || France || VIP transport || Falcon 900 || 2 || 1987 ||
|-----
| Dassault Mirage 2000 || France || fighter
fighter/trainer
fighter
attack
attack
fighter || total Mirage 2000
Mirage 2000B
Mirage 2000C
Mirage 2000D
Mirage 2000N
Mirage 2000-5 || 261
27
71
64
62
37 || 1983
1983
1983
1993
1988
1999 ||
|-----
| Dassault Mirage F1 || France || fighter
fighter/trainer
reconnaissance
attack || total Mirage F1
Mirage F1B
Mirage F1CR
Mirage F1CT || 109
14
40
55 || 1980
1980
1983
1990 ||
|-----
| Dassault Rafale || France || fighter/trainer
fighter || Rafale B
Rafale C || 7
3 || 2006 ||
|-----
| Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet || France || trainer || Alpha Jet E || 99 || 1979 ||
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter || 
Canada || utility transport || || 6 || 1978 ||
|-----
| Embraer EMB 121 Xingu || 
Brazil || trainer || || 35 || 1982 ||
|-----
| Embraer EMB 312 Tucano || Brazil || trainer || || 47 || 1993 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Cougar || France || transport helicopter || total Cougar
AS 332C
AS 332L
AS 532
EC 725 || 11
3
3
2
3 || 1980 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Ecureuil || France || utility helicopter || AS 355 || 5 ||1984 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Fennec || France || utility helicopter || AS 555AN || 43 ||1986 ||
|-----
| Jodel D-140 || France || trainer || || || 1966 ||
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || United States || tactical transport || C-130H
C-130H-30 || 5
9 || 1987
1988 ||
|-----
| Mudry CAP 10 || France || trainer || CAP 10B || 7 || ||
|-----
| Socata TB || France || trainer || TB 30 Epsilon || 90 ||1985 ||
|-----
| Socata TBM || France || liaison transport || TBM 700 || 17 || 1992 ||
|-----
| Transall C-160 || France || tactical transport
ELINT
tactical transport || C-160F
C-160G Gabriel
C-160NG ||
2
65 || 1967
1989
1982 ||
|}
Bases
|
Units
Surveillance and Communications Command (CASSIC)
The surveillance and communications command is charged with detection and communication.
Strategic air command (CFAS)
CAS is charged with nuclear weapons.
- Refueling squadron 00.093 Bretagne
- Fighter squadrons. All are equipped with Mirage 2000 N K2 fighter/bombers and have as their primary mission strategic nuclear bombing. They use the ASMP standoff missile.
- 1/4 Dauphiné
- 2/4 La Fayette
- 3/4 Limousin
- Strategic reconnaissance squadron 1/91 Gascogne (French Air Force)
- Tactical instruction center 00.339 Aquitaine
Tactical air command
- 2/3 Normandie-Niemen
References
- ^ Armée de l'Air
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15 2007.
- ^ "Les aéronefs", [Armée de l'air].
External links
- Template:Fr icon Official Website
- Template:Fr icon List of air bases, appendix of the budget bill for 2006, French Senate