Discover

(Redirected from Armée de l\'Air)

The 'French Air Force', officially the 'Armée de l'Air' (''Army of the Air''), is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909, it is the oldest air force in the world.

Contents

General description

First level: the central level of command

Second level: Main commands

Third level: air bases

History

Aircraft inventory

Bases

Units

Surveillance and Communications Command (CASSIC)

Strategic air command (CFAS)

Tactical air command

References

External links

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

As the chief of the Armed Forces, the President of France makes defense policy. The Prime Minister is responsible for 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

Main articles: History of the Armée de l'Air (1909-1942), Free French Air Force, Vichy French Air Force, History of the Armée de l'Air (colonial presence 1939-1962)


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 from 1909 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 the French 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.
! 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 || || search & rescue

---

transport helicopter || SA 330 || 29 || 1974 ||
|-----
| Airbus A310 || || strategic transport || A310-300 || 3 || 1994 ||
|-----
| Airbus A319 || || VIP transport || A319 ACJ || 2 || 2002 ||
|-----
| Airbus A340 || || strategic transport || || 2 || 2006 ||
|-----
| Boeing KC-135 || || aerial refuelling || C-135FR || 14 || 1985 ||
|-----
| Boeing E-3 Sentry || || airborne early warning || E-3F || 4 || 1991 ||
|-----
| CASA CN-235 || || tactical transport || CN-235-200
CN-235-200M || 8
11 || 1991 ||
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 50 || || VIP transport || Mystère 50 || 3 || 1979 ||
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 900 || || VIP transport || Falcon 900 || 2 || 1987 ||
|-----
| Dassault Mirage 2000 || || 'fighter'

---

fighter/trainer

---

fighter

---

attack

---

attack

---

fighter || 'total Mirage 2000'

---

Mirage 2000B

---

Mirage 2000C

---

Mirage 2000D

---

Mirage 2000N

---

Mirage 2000-5 || '286'

---

27

---

90

---

64

---

62

---

37 || '1983'

---

1983

---

1983

---

1993

---

1988

---

1999 ||
|-----
| Dassault Mirage F1 || || 'fighter'

---

fighter/trainer

---

reconnaissance

---

fighter/attack || 'total Mirage F1'

---

Mirage F1B

---

Mirage F1CR

---

Mirage F1CT || '109'

---

14

---

40

---

55 || '1980'

---

1980

---

1983

---

1990 ||
|-----
| Dassault Rafale || || fighter/trainer/attack

---

fighter/attack

---

fighter/attack || 'total Rafale

---

Rafale B

---

Rafale C

---

Rafale M || '33 in service and 49 delivered'

---

17 in service (27 delivered)

---

5 in service (7 delivered)

---

13 in service (15 delivered) || 2004 for Rafale M / 2006 for Rafale C&B ||
|-----
| Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet || || trainer || Alpha Jet E || 99 || 1979 ||
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter || || utility transport || || 6 || 1978 ||
|-----
| Embraer EMB 121 Xingu || || trainer || || 35 || 1982 ||
|-----
| Embraer EMB 312 Tucano || || trainer || || 47 || 1993 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Cougar || || transport helicopter || 'total Cougar'

---

AS 332C

---

AS 332L

---

AS 532

---

EC 725 || '11'

---

3

---

3

---

2

---

3 || 1980 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Ecureuil || || utility helicopter || AS 355 || 5 ||1984 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Fennec || || utility helicopter || AS 555AN || 43 ||1986 ||
|-----
| Grob G120 || || trainer || G120A-F || 2 (16 more to be delivered || 2007 ||"
|-----
| Jodel D-140 || || trainer || || || 1966 ||
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || || tactical transport || C-130H

---

C-130H-30 || 5

---

9 || 1987

---

1988 ||
|-----
| Mudry CAP 10 || || trainer || CAP 10B || 7 || ||
|-----
| Socata TB || || trainer || TB 30 Epsilon || 90 ||1985 ||
|-----
| Socata TBM || || liaison transport || TBM 700 || 17 || 1992 ||
|-----
| Transall C-160 || || tactical transport

---

ELINT

---

tactical transport || C-160F

---

---

C-160G Gabriel

---

C-160NG ||

---

2

---

65 || 1967

---

1989

---

1982 ||
|}

Bases

Main articles: List of French Air Force bases

★ 'BA101' Toulouse-Francazal ★ 'BA102' Dijon-Longvic ★ 'BA103' Cambrai-Epinoy ★ 'BA104' Le Bourget ★ 'BA105' Évreux-Fauville ★ 'BA106' Bordeaux-Mérignac ★ 'BA107' Vélizy-Villacoublay ★ 'BA110' Creil ★ 'BA112' Reims-Champagne ★ 'BA113' St Dizier-Robinson ★ 'BA114' Aix-Les-Milles ★ 'BA115' Orange-Caritat ★ 'BA116' Luxeuil-St Sauveur ★ 'BA117' Paris ★ 'BA118' Mont-de-Marsan ★ 'BA120' Cazaux ★ 'BA123' Orléans-Bricy ★ 'BA124' Strasbourg-Entzheim ★ 'BA125' Istres-Le Tubé ★ 'BA126' Solenzara ★ 'BA128' Metz-Frescaty ★ 'BA132' Colmar-Meyenheim ★ 'BA133' Nancy-Ochey ★ 'BA188' Djibouti-Ambouli ★ 'BA190' Tahiti-Faaa (French Polynesia) ★ 'BA200' Apt-St Christol ★ 'BA203' Bordeaux-Cenon ★ 'BA217' Brétigny sur Orge (CEV) ★ 'BA273' Romorantin-Pruniers ★ 'BA274' Limoges ★ 'BA277' Varennes sur Allier ★ 'BA278' Ambérieu-en-Bugey ★ 'BA279' Châteaudun ★ 'BA551' Toul-Thouvenot ★ 'BA552' Compiègne ★ 'BA701' Salon-de-Provence ★ 'BA702' Avord ★ 'BA705' Tours-St Symphorien ★ 'BA709' Cognac-Châteaubernard ★ 'BA721' Rochefort-St Agnant ★ 'BA722' Saintes-Thénac ★ 'BA725' Chambéry-Les bains ★ 'BA749' Grenoble ★ 'BA901' Drachenbronn ★ 'BA902' Contrexeville ★ 'BA921' Taverny ★ 'BA922' Doullens ★ 'BA942' Lyon-Mont Verdun ★ 'BA943' Nice-Mont Agel ★ 'DA115' Narbonne ★ 'DA136' Toul-Rosières ★ 'DA160' Dakar-Yof (Sénégal) ★ 'DA279' Chartres ★ Cayenne-Rochambeau (French Guyana) ★ 'CEV Melun-Villaroche ★ 'BA365' Lamentin (Martinique) ★ Roissy-Charles de Gaulle ★ St Denis (Réunion)

Units

Main articles: List of French Air Force aircraft squadrons

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

1. Armée de l'Air
2. "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', January 15 2007.
3. "Les aéronefs", ''[Armée de l'air]''.

External links

★ Official Website

★ List of air bases, appendix of the budget bill for 2006, French Senate