French Air and Space Force

Air and Space Force
Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace
Founded	Part of the French Army in 1909 – An independent service arm in 1934 2 July 1934 (official)
Country	France
Type	Air and space force
Role	Aerial and space warfare
Size	41,160 personnel (2017)[1][2] 1057 aircraft,[2]
Part of	French Armed Forces
Colours
Engagements	World War I World War II Indochina War Algerian War Chadian–Libyan conflict Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Opération Harmattan Military intervention against ISIL Operation Serval Operation Barkhane
Website	www.defense.gouv.fr/air
Commanders
Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force	Général d'armée aérienne Philippe Lavigne
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	E-3 Sentry
Fighter	Rafale, Mirage 2000
Helicopter	AS532 Cougar, Fennec, EC725 Caracal
Trainer	Alpha Jet, Pilatus PC-21, SOCATA TBM, Extra EA-300
Transport	Lockheed C-130, Airbus A310, Airbus A330, Airbus A400M, Dassault Falcon 7X, Dassault Falcon 900, Dassault Falcon 2000, Transall C-160, Boeing C-135FR

The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (French: Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, lit. 'Army of the Air and Space') is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, and then made an independent military arm in 1934, becoming the French Air Force. On 10 September 2020, it assumed its current name, the French Air and Space Force.^[3][4] The number of aircraft in service with the French Air and Space Force varies depending on the source, however sources from the French Ministry of Defence give a figure of 658 aircraft in 2014.^[5][6] The French Air and Space Force has 232 combat aircraft in service, with the majority being 130 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 102 Dassault Rafale.^[7] As of early 2017, the French Air and Space Force employs a total of 41,160 regular personnel. The reserve element of the air and space force consisted of 5,187 personnel of the Operational Reserve.^[8]

The Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) is a direct subordinate of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA).

French Armed Forces
Components
Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace Armée de Terre Marine nationale Gendarmerie Garde nationale
Ranks
Ranks in the French Army Ranks in the French Navy Ranks in the French Air and Space Force
History
Military history of France La Grande Armée
v t

History[]

In the beginning[]

Establishment of the Service Aéronautique[]

The founding of the Service Aéronautique began in 1909, when the French War Minister approved the purchase of a Wright Biplane. The following year, another Wright biplane, a Bleriot, and two Farmans were added to the lone acquisition. On 22 October 1910, General Pierre Roques was appointed Inspector General of what was becoming referred to as the Cinquieme Arme, or Fifth Service.^[9]

In March 1912, the French parliament enacted legislation to establish the air arm. It was projected to consist of three distinct branches based on aircraft missions—reconnaissance, bombing, or countering other aircraft.^[9]

Inventing the fighter plane[]

France was one of the first states to start building aircraft. At the beginning of World War I, France had a total of 148 planes (eight from French Naval Aviation (aéronautique navale)) and 15 airships.^[10] In August 1914, as France entered World War I, French airpower consisted of 24 escadrilles (squadrons) supporting ground forces, including three squadrons assigned to cavalry units. By 8 October, expansion to 65 escadrilles was being planned. By December, the plans called for 70 new squadrons.^[9]

Meanwhile, even as procurement efforts scaled up, inventive airmen were trying to use various light weapons against opposing airplanes. Roland Garros invented a crude method of firing a machine gun through the propeller arc by cladding his propeller with metal wedges deflecting any errant bullets. After destroying three German airplane, Garros came down behind enemy lines on 18 April 1915. His secret weapon was thus exposed, and Anthony Fokker came up with the synchronization gear that by July 1, 1915, that turned airplanes into flying gun platforms.^[11]

Founding fighter formations[]

On 21 February 1916, the Verdun Offensive began. New weapons demand new tactics. Commandant was the original French pilot, having learned to fly in March 1911. This experienced flier was given a free hand to select pilots and airplanes for a new unit tasked with keeping German observation craft from over the French lines. The ad hoc unit commandeered all available Morane-Saulniers and Nieuport 11s, as well as the 15 best pilots regardless of posting. This ad hoc unit patrolling the skies over Verdun was the first French Groupement de Chasse. The Groupement was successful despite Tricornet's death in a mishap. Under the leadership of new commander Captain Auguste de Reverand, such flying aces as Georges Guynemer, Charles Nungesser, and Albert Deullin began their careers.^[12]

Encouraged by the success of their original Groupement, the French massed several escadrilles for the Battle of the Somme. The burgeoning French aircraft inventory afforded the formation of Groupement de Combat de la Somme under Capitaine . The Groupement was formed on 1 July 1916 with a posting of four Nieuport escadrilles: Escadrilles N.3, N.26, 73, and N.103. Three other squadrons--Escadrilles 37, N.62, and N.65 were temporarily attached at various times.^[12]

On 19 October 1916, three fixed Groupes de Combat were established, each to consist of four escadrilles. Numbered 11, 12, and , they were only the first three Groupements.^[12]

Concentrating airpower[]

During March 1917, Groupe de Combat 14 and Groupe de Combat 15 were formed. Again, each new Groupe was assigned four Nieuport fighter squadrons; again, each was sent to support a different French field army.^[12]

On 10 January 1918, Groupe de Combat 16 was formed from four SPAD escadrilles. In February, five more Groupe de Combats were founded from SPAD squadrons: Groupes de Combats number 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. The various Nieuport models were now being phased out as the new SPADs filled the inventories of the French.^[13]

With the Groupes success, the French were encouraged to amass airpower into still larger tactical units. On 4 February 1918, Escadre de Combat No. 1 was created out of Groupe de Combat 15, Groupe de Combat 18, and Groupe de Combat 19. It was followed by Escadre de Combat No. 2, formed on the 27th from Groupe de Combat 11, Groupe de Combat 13, and Groupe de Combat 17. Each groupe would be stocked with 72 fighters.^[14]

The escadres were not the end of the French accumulation of air power. On 14 May 1918, they were grouped into the Division Aerienne. As bombing aircraft were also being concentrated into larger units, the new division would also contain Escadre de Bombardement No. 12 and Escadre de Bombardement No. 13. The bombing units were both equipped with 45 Breguet 14 bombers. The last addition to the new division was five protection squadrons, operating 75 Caudron R.11 gunships to fly escort for the Breguets.^[14]

On 25 June 1918, Groupe de Combat 22 was founded. Groupe de Combat 23 followed soon thereafter. A couple of night bombardment groupes were also founded.^[15]

Committing the Division Aerienne[]

Then, on 15 July 1918, the Division was committed to the Second Battle of the Marne. From then on, whether in whole or in part, the Division Aerienne fought until war's end. By the time of the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, the French could commit 27 fighter squadrons to the effort, along with reconnaissance and bombing squadrons. The 1,137 airplanes dedicated to the battle were the most numerous used in a World War I battle.^[16]

When the 11 November 1918 armistice came, French air power had expanded to 336 escadrilles, 74 of which were SPAD fighter squadrons. France had 3,608 planes in service.^[10] Confirmed claims of 2,049 destroyed enemy airplanes included 307 that had been brought down within French lines. French airmen had also destroyed 357 observation balloons.^[16] Howeverk 5,500 pilots and observers were killed out of the 17,300 engaged in the conflict, amounting to 31% of endured losses.^[17] A 1919 newspaper article reported that the French Air Force had a 61% percent war loss.^[18]

Interwar period[]

Military aeronautics was established as a "special arm" by the law of 8 December 1922.^[19] However, it remained under the auspices of the French Army. It was not until 2 July 1934, that the "special arm" became an independent service and was totally independent.

The initial air arm was the cradle of French military parachuting, responsible for the first formation of the Air Infantry Groups (lang-fr|Groupements de l'Infanterie de l'Air) in the 1930s, out of which the Air Parachute Commandos (French: commandos parachutistes de l'air) descended.

The French Air Force maintained a continuous presence across the French colonial empire, particularly from the 1920s to 1943.

World War II[]

The French Air Force played an important role in WWII, most notably during the Battle of France in 1940. The Vichy French Air Force had later a significant presence in the French Levant.

The engagement of the Free French Air Forces from 1940 to 1943, and then the engagement of the aviators of the French Liberation Army, were also important episodes in the history of the French Air Force. The sacrifices of Commandant René Mouchotte and Lieutenant illustrated their devotion.

1945–present[]

After 1945, France rebuilt its aircraft industry. The French Air Force participated in several colonial wars during the Empire such as French Indochina after the Second World War. Since 1945, the French Air Force was notably engaged in Indochina (1945–1954).

The French Air Force was active in Algeria from 1952 until 1962 and Suez (1956), later Mauritania and Chad, the Persian Gulf (1990–1991), ex-Yugoslavia and more recently in Afghanistan, Mali and Iraq.

From 1964 until 1971 the French Air Force had the unique responsibility for the French nuclear arm via Dassault Mirage IV or ballistic missiles of Air Base 200 Apt-Saint-Christol on the Plateau d'Albion.

Accordingly, from 1962, the French political leadership reprioritized its military emphasis on nuclear deterrence, implementing a complete reorganisation of the Air Force, with the creation of four air regions and seven major specialised commands, among which were the Strategic Air Forces Command, COTAM, the Air Command of Aerial Defense Forces (French: , CAFDA), and the Force aérienne tactique (FATac).^[20] In 1964 the Second Tactical Air Command was created at Nancy to take command of air units stationed in France but not assigned to NATO. The Military Air Transport Command had previously been formed in February 1962 from the Groupement d'Unités Aériennes Spécialisées. Also created in 1964 was the Escadron des Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air (EFCA), seemingly grouping all FCA units. The Dassault Mirage IV, the principal French strategic bomber, was designed to strike Soviet positions as part of the French nuclear triad.

In 1985, the Air Force had four major flying commands, the Strategic Air Forces Command, the Tactical Air Forces Command, the Military Air Transport Command, and CAFDA (air defence).^[21]

CFAS had two squadrons of S2 and S-3 IRBMs at the Plateau d'Albion, six squadrons of Mirage IVAs (at Mont de Marsan, Cazaux, Orange, Istres, St Dizier, and EB 3/94 at Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur Air Base), and three squadrons of C-135F, as well as a training/reconnaissance unit, CIFAS 328, at Bordeaux. The tactical air command included wings EC 3, EC 4, EC 7, EC 11, EC 13, and ER 33, with a total of 19 squadrons of Mirage III, Jaguars, two squadrons flying the Mirage 5F (EC 2/13 and EC 3/13, both at Colmar), and a squadron flying the Mirage F.1CR. CoTAM counted 28 squadrons, of which ten were fixed-wing transport squadrons, and the remainder helicopter and liaison squadrons, at least five of which were overseas. CAFDA numbered 14 squadrons mostly flying the Mirage F.1C. Two other commands had flying units, the Air Force Training Command, and the Air Force Transmissions Command, with four squadrons and three trials units.

Dassault Aviation led the way mainly with delta-wing designs, which formed the basis for the Dassault Mirage III series of fighter jets. The Mirage demonstrated its abilities in the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War, becoming one of the most popular jet fighters of its day, selling very widely.

In 1994 the Commandment of the Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air was reestablished under a different form.

The French Air Force is expanding and replacing its aircraft inventory. The Air Force is awaiting the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, which is in development. As of November 2016, 11 A400M aircraft had been delivered to ET00.061 at Orleans-Bricy, and integration of the new Dassault Rafale multi-role jet fighter was underway, whose first squadron of 20 aircraft became operational in 2006 at Saint-Dizier.

In 2009 France rejoined the NATO Military Command Structure, having been absent since 1966.^[22] France was a leading nation, alongside the United States, Great Britain and Italy in implementing the UN sponsored no-fly zone in Libya (NATO Operation Unified Protector), deploying 20 fighter aircraft to Benghazi in defense of rebel held positions and the civilian population.^[23]

The last remaining squadron of Dassault Mirage F1s were retired in July 2014 and replaced by the Dassault Rafale.

On 13 July 2019, President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a space command within the French Air Force by September 2019, and the transformation of the French Air Force into the French Air and Space Force.^[24] According to Defense Minister Florence Parly, France reserves the right to arm French satellites with lasers for defensive purposes.^[25]

The official renaming occurred on 24 July 2020, with the new Air and Space Force logo unveiled on 11 September 2020.^[4]

Structure[]

The Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) determines French Air and Space Force doctrines application and advises the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA) on the deployment, manner, and use of the Air and Space Force. They are responsible for the preparation and logistic support of the French Air and Space Force. The CEMAA is assisted by a Deputy Chief, the Major Général de l'Armée de l'Air. Finally, the CEMAA is assisted by the Inspectorate of the French Air and Space Force (IAA) and by the French Air and Space Force Health Service Inspection (ISSAA).

The Air and Space Force is organized in conformity to Chapter 4/ Title II/ Book II of the Third Part of the Defense Code (French: code de la Défense), which replaced decree n° 91-672 of 14 July 1991.

Under the authority of the Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) in Paris, the Air and Space Force includes:

• Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force, heading the Etat-major de l'Armee de l'air et de l'espace (EMAAE) ;
• Forces;
• Air Bases;
• Directorate of Human Resources of the French Air and Space Force;
• Services.^[26]

Air and Space Force headquarters is co-located, alongside the Chief of the Defence Staff's offices (EMA) as well with Army and Navy headquarters at the Balard. It numbers 150 aviators. The new site succeeds the former (BA 117), the air staff headquarters buildings, dissolved on 25 June 2015.

Commands[]

The French Air and Space Force has had three commands: two grand operational commands (CDAOA and CFAS) and one organic command (CFA)).

• (French: Commandement de la Défense Aérienne et des Opérations Aériennes (CDAOA)), is responsible for surveillance of French airspace, as well as all aerial operations in progress. This command does not possess aircraft. Instead it exercises operational control over units of the Air Forces Command (CFA).
  • Air Defence and Air Operations Staff (French: État-major de la défense aérienne et des opérations aériennes) composed of the:
    • Air Force Operational Staff (French: État-major opérationnel Air (EMO-Air)) and the
    • Permanent readiness command center (French: Centre de permanence Air), both situated at the Balard complex (the French Air and Space Force main HQ)
    • direct reporting units:
      • Air Force Operations Brigade (French: Brigade aérienne des opérations (BAO)) (all units at BA 942 Lyon-Mont Verdun air base)
        • National Air Operations Center (French: Centre national des opérations aériennes (CNOA))
        • Core Joint Force Air Component HQ (Core JFAC HQ)
        • Operational Center for Military Surveillance of Space Objects (French: Centre opérationnel de surveillance militaire des objets spatiaux (COSMOS))
        • Analysis and Simulation Center for Air Operations Preparation (French: Centre d’analyse et de simulation pour la préparation aux opérations aériennes (CASPOA))
      • Air Force Operational Awareness and Planning Brigade (French: Brigade aérienne connaissance-anticipation (BACA))
        • Air Force Intelligence Center (French: Centre de renseignement air (CRA)) at BA 942 Lyon-Mont Verdun air base
        • National Target Designation Center (French: Centre national de ciblage (CNC)) at BA 110 Creil-Senlis air base
        • Satellite Observation Military Center 01.092 "Bourgogne" (French: Centre militaire d’observation par satellites (CMOS) 01.092 Bourgogne) at BA 110 Creil-Senlis air base
        • Land-based Electronic Warfare Squadron (French: Escadron électronique sol (EES)) at BA 123 Orléans-Bricy air base
        • Intelligence Training Squadron 20.530 (French: Escadron de formation au renseignement (EFR) 20.530) (Metz), training air and space force and naval officers, integrated in the Joint Intelligence Training Center (CFIAR) in Strasbourg^[27]
    • territorial units:
      • Detection and Control Center 07.927 (French: Centre de détection et de contrôle (CDC)) Tours – Cinq-Mars-la-Pile (Codename: Raki, AOR: Northwestern France)
      • Detection and Control Center 04.930 (French: Centre de détection et de contrôle (CDC)) Mont-de-Marsan (Codename: Marina, AOR: Southwestern France)
      • Detection and Control Center 05.942 (French: Centre de détection et de contrôle (CDC)) Lyon – Mont Verdun (Codename: Rambert, AOR: Southeastern France)
      • Detection and Control Center 05.901 (French: Centre de détection et de contrôle (CDC)) Drachenbronn (Codename: Riesling, AOR: Northeastern France) – disbanded in 2015, functions absorbed into the Lyon – Mont Verdun DCC
• Strategic Air Forces Command (CFAS)), is responsible for the air force's nuclear strike units (Dassault Rafale B armed with ASMP-A missiles), as well as the tanker / strategic transport aircraft (C-135FR, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker).
• Air Forces Command (CFA)), Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base, as an organic command, prepares units to fulfill operational missions. From September 2013, the former organic commands CFA and CSFA were merged into CFA. CFA is organized in six brigades:
  • Fighter Brigade – (French: Brigade Aérienne de l'Aviation de Chasse (BAAC)), is responsible for all air defense, air-to-ground and reconnaissance aircraft (including Dassault Rafale, Mirage 2000-5F, Mirage 2000B/C/D, Transall C-160 Gabriel). In February 2016 it was commanded by Brigadier General (Air) .^[28]
  • (French: Brigade Aérienne d'Appui et de Projection (BAAP)), is responsible for all tactical transport and liaison aircraft (aircraft and helicopters: Transall, C-160, Hercules C-130, A310/319, Dassault Falcon 50/900, Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma, Eurocopter Fennec, Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma, SOCATA TBM);
  • (French: Brigade Aérienne de Contrôle de l'Espace (BACE)), is responsible for (Airborne early warning and control aircraft, and ground radar, ground-based air defense systems and missile defence, communication networks) airspace surveillance, constituting the ). Since 2007 the command, control and information systems network of the air and space force have been is integrated into the Joint Directorate of Infrastructure Networks and Information Systems (DIRISI)).
  • (French: Brigade Aérienne des Forces de Sécurité et d'Intervention (BAFSI)), is responsible for units of the French Air and Space Force's commando riflemen (Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air, tasked with special operations, CSAR and target acquisition), amongst which the most elite is the Air Force Parachute Commando n° 10, C.P.A 10 (, unit of the French Special Forces. The BAFSI also includes the security units of the air bases (34 squadrons (of company strength) and detachments (of platoon strength)) and the rescue and firefighting personnel (called incident technicians and grouped into squadrons of company size);
  • (French: Brigade Aérienne des Systèmes d'Armes Aériens (BASAA)) provides the maintenance and repair of aerial weapons and target systems.
  • (French: Brigade Aérienne d'Appui à la Manœuvre Aérienne (BAAMA)) provides the ground-based engineer and logistics personnel (including expeditionary) needed for the sustainment of air operations.
• French Space Command (French: Commandement de l'espace (CDE))

These last two brigades belonged until 2013 to the Air Force Support Command (CSFA), which maintained the arms systems, equipment, information and communication systems (SIC) as well as infrastructure. The CSFA supported the human element, the military logistics (supply and transport), wherever, previously, forces of the French Air and Space Force operated or trained. These two brigades are now subordinate to the CFA.

The official designation of the service was changed in July 2019 from Air Army (Armée de l'Air) to Air and Space Army (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace), when the previous joint Inter-Service Space Command (Commandement interarmées de l'espace (CIE)) under the French General Staff was transformed into the Space Command (Commandement de l'espace (CDE)) and absorbed into the Air and Space Force as its fourth command.

All air regions were disestablished on 1 January 2008. In the 1960s, there were five air regions (RA). The number was then reduced to four by a decree of 30 June 1962 with the disestablishment of the 5th Aerial Region (French North Africa). The decree of 14 July 1991 reduced the air regions to three: « RA Atlantic », « RA Mediterranean » and «  RA North-East ». On 1 July 2000 was placed into effect an organization consisting of « RA North » (RAN) and « RA South » (RAS). The territorial division was abolished by decree n°2007-601 of 26 April 2007.^[29][30]

From 2008 to 2010 the French Air Force underwent the "Air 2010" streamlining process. The main targets of this project were to simplify the command structure, to regroup all military and civil air force functions and to rationalise and optimise all air force units. Five major commands, were formed, instead of the former 13, and several commands and units were disbanded.^[31]

Support services[]

The Directorate of Human Resources of the Air and Space Force (DRH-AAE) recruits, trains, manages, administers, and converts personnel of the Air and Space Force. Since January 2008, the DRH-AAE groups the former Air Force directorate of military personnel (DPMMA) and some tasks of the former Air Force Training Command. The directorate is responsible for Air and Space Force recruitment via the recruiting bureau.

French joint defence service organisations, supporting the air and space force, include:^[26]

• The Integrated Structure of Maintaining Operational Conditioning of Aeronautical Defense Materials (French: Structure Intégrée de Maintien en Condition Opérationnelle des Matériels Aéronautiques de la Défense) (SIMMAD).
• The Aeronautical Industrial Service (French: Service Industriel de l'Aéronautique) (SIAE).
• The " Air Commissariat " (French: " Commissariat de l'Air ") between 1947 and 2007, then " Financial and General Administration Service " (French: " Service de l'Administration Générale et des Finances " (SAGF)) from 2008 until 2009, and finally the " Commissariat Service of the Armed Forces " (SCA) (French: Service du Commissariat des Armées) since 2010, have successively been designated as administrative services of the French Air and Space Force. The Commissioners as well as Civilians of this service carry out : operations support, individual legal rights, judicial, internal control accountability, financial and purchase executions, and support and protection of the combatant.^[32]

Wings[]

Commanded by a Lieutenant-colonel or Colonel, the Escadre is a formation that assembles various units and personnel dedicated to the same mission. The designation of " Escadre " was replaced with that of regiment in 1932 and was designated until 1994, a unit grouping :

• units (escadrons or groups) generally equipped with the same type of aircraft or at least assuring the same type of mission
• units of maintenance and support.

Escadres (wings) were dissolved from 1993 as part of the Armées 2000 reorganisation, were reestablished in 2014.^[33] The problems caused by having the aircraft maintenance units not responsible to the flying squadrons they supported eventually forced the change.

Four Escadres were reformed in the first phase:^[33]

• 31e Escadre Aérienne de Ravitaillement et de Transport Stratégiques at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base on 27 August 2014;
• 36e Escadre de Commandement et de Conduite Aéroportée at Avord Air Base on 5 September 2014;
• Escadre Sol-Air de Défense Aérienne – 1er Régiment d'Artillerie de l'Air (ESADA – 1^er RAA) at Avord Air Base (3 September 2014) ;
• the 3^e Escadre de Chasse at Nancy-Ochey Air Base (5 September 2014)

In the second phase, the French Air Force announced in August 2015 the creation of six additional wings:^[33]

• the 8e Escadre de Chasse at Cazaux Air Base (25 August 2015) ;
• the 4e Escadre de Chasse at Saint-Dizier ( 26 August 2015)
• the at Évreux-Fauville Air Base (27 August 2015) ;
• the 2e Escadre de Chasse at Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur Air Base (3 September 2015) ;
• the (French: fr:61e escadre de transport) at Orléans – Bricy Air Base (1 September 2015) ;
• the 30e Escadre de Chasse at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base (3 September 2015).

Also established was the Escadre Aérienne de Commandement et de Conduite Projetable (French: Escadre Aérienne de Commandement et de Conduite Projetable) at Évreux-Fauville Air Base on 27 August 2015.

The French Air and Space Force announced in August 2015 that unit numbering, moves of affected aircraft, and the transfer of historic material (flags, traditions and names) would be completed in 2016.^[33]

• the was re-constituted at Orléans – Bricy Air Base on 5 September 2017 taking over C-130 Hercules operations from 61e Escadre de Transport, so the latter can specialise in operating the A400M Atlas.

Another air force wing was added on September 5, 2019:

• the 33e Escadre de surveillance, de reconnaissance et d'attaque at Cognac – Châteaubernard Air Base operating the air and space force's drone fleet.

Squadrons and flights[]

Commanded by a lieutenant-colonel, the Escadron is the basic operational unit. This term replaced that of Group as of 1949 with the aim to standardize usage with the allies of NATO who were using the term 'squadron'. However, the term Group did not entirely disappear: the term was retained for the Aerial Group 56 Mix Vaucluse, specialized in Special Operations or Group – Groupe de Ravitaillement en Vol 02.091 Bretagne (French: Groupe de Ravitaillement en Vol 02.091 Bretagne) which is still carrying the same designation since 2004.^{[citation needed]}

A fighter squadron (escadron) can number some twenty machines, spread in general in three Escadrilles. A Transport Escadron (French: Escadron de Transport) can theoretically count a dozen Transall C-160, however, numbers are usually much less for heavier aircraft (three Airbus A310-300 and two Airbus A340-200 for the Transport Escadron 3/60 Estérel (French: Escadron de Transport 3/60 Estérel)).^{[citation needed]}

The squadrons have retained the designations of the former Escadres disbanded during the 1990s. For instance: Transport Escadron 1/64 Béarn (French: escadron de transport 1/64 Béarn) (more specifically Transport Escadron 01.064 Béarn), which belonged to the 64th Transport Escadre (French: 64^e Escadre de Transport) during the dissolution of the later (recreated in August 2015). Not all escadrons (Squadrons) are necessarily attached to an Escadre.^{[citation needed]}

The Escadrille (flight) has both an administrative and operational function, even of the essential operational control is done at the level of the Esacdron. A pilot is assigned to the Escadrille, however the equipment and material devices, on the other hand, are assigned to the Escadron. Since the putting into effect of the ESTA (Aeronautic Technical Support Escadrons), material devices and the mechanics are assigned directly to the base then put at disposition of the based Escadrons.^{[citation needed]}

The Escadrilles adopted the traditions of the prestigious units out of which most (SPA and SAL),^{[note 1]} are those traditions of the First World War.^{[citation needed]}

Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air[]

The Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air comprise:^[34]

• Protection squadrons (French: Escadrons de protection) (EP)
• Air Parachute Commando 10 (French: Commando parachutiste de l'air) (CPA 10)
• Air Parachute Commando 20 (CPA 20)
• Air Parachute Commando 30 (CPA 30)

Protection Squadrons protect airbases inside and outside the national territory, and in exterior operations as well.

The CPAs carry out common missions, as well as specialized tasks; including intervention and reinforcement of protection at the profit of sensible points " air " inside and outside the national territory.

Air bases[]

Flying activity in France is carried out by a network of bases, platforms and French air and space defence radar systems. It is supported by bases, which are supervised and maintained by staff, centres of operations, warehouses, workshops, and schools. Both in France and abroad, bases have similar infrastructure to provide standardised support.

The French Air and Space Force has, as of 1 August 2014:

• Within the metropolitan territory of France, 27 airbases, out of the which 18 aeronautical platform with perceived runways and 5 Bases non-platform, two schools, 3 air detachments and " one attached air element " (EAR).
• Beyond the metropole/Europe, 7 Aerial Bases or permanent detachments in overseas or country.

Some French airbases house radar units (e.g. Lyon, Mont-Verdun, Drachenbronn, Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, Nice, Mont-Agel) to carry out air defence radar surveillance and air traffic control. Others house material warehouses or command posts. Temporary and semi-permanent foreign deployments include transport aircraft at Dushanbe (Tajikistan, Operation Héraclès), and fighter aircraft in N'Djamena (Tchad, Opération Épervier), for instance.

As swift as the French Air and Space Force operates, the closure of aerial bases is more constant and immediate, having known a strong acceleration since the 1950s. An airbase commander has authority over all units stationed on his base. Depending on the units tasks this means that he is responsible for approximately 600 to 2500 personnel.

On average, a base, made up of about 1500 personnel (nearly 3500 people including family), provides a yearly economic boost to its area of about 60 million euros. Consequently, determining the sites for air bases constitutes a major part of regional planning.^[35]

• BA 105 Évreux-Fauville Air Base. Command, operational and logistic support. Air transport units with 27× CASA CN-235M, 9× Transall C-160 NG.
• BA 107 Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base. Helicopter and heavy air transport units.
• BA 113 Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base 4e Escadre de Chasse, 50× Rafale B and Rafale C.
• BA 116 Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur Air Base. Air defence fighter base with 28× Mirage 2000-5F.
• BA 123 Orléans – Bricy Air Base. Air transport units with 17× Airbus A400M Atlas and 18× Lockheed C-130 Hercules. CFPSAA operational command.
• BA 133 Nancy – Ochey Air Base. Three strike fighter squadrons units with 70× Mirage 2000D,^[36] SAM sqns.
• BA 279 Châteaudun Air Base. Airplane maintenance, repair and storage airbase.
• BA 702 Avord Air Base. CFAS nuclear strike stockpile. AWACS 4× E-3F Sentry unit. Inflight refueling C-135FR unit.
• BA 705 Tours airbase. Fighter pilot training school were equipped with Alpha Jet. This school has been moved to BA 709 in 2020.
• DA 273 Romorantin air detachment. Logistic unit.
• BA 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. Transport support base for the air staff.
• BA 115 Orange-Caritat Air Base. Air defence 28× Mirage 2000C and 6× Mirage 2000B-S5.
• BA 118 Mont-de-Marsan Air Base. Home to 52× Rafale B and Rafale C. Home of CEAM, the Air and Space Force military experimentation and trials organisation, Air defence radar command reporting centre, and the air traffic control and air defence control training centre.
• BA 120 Cazaux Air Base, situated South-west of the port city of Bordeaux. Fighter pilot training squadron equipped with 45× Alpha Jet. Air and Space Force airplane stockpile.
• BA 125 Istres-Le Tubé Air Base. Two Transall C-160G strategic communication flight. Inflight refueling unit with 4× Airbus A330 MRTT and 14× KC-135FR. CEAM – the Air and Space Force military test centre.
• BA 126 Solenzara Air Base. Fighter gunnery range. SAR unit.
• DA 277 Varennes-sur-Allier. Air and Space Force supply depot. DA 277 was dissolved on 30 June 2015.
• Air Base 278 Ambérieu. Logistic support base.
• BA 701 Salon-de-Provence Air Base. Presentation Team equipped with 12× Alpha Jet. Officer instruction school. Enlisted instruction school.
• BA 709 Cognac – Châteaubernard Air Base. Basic flight training school equipped with 17× Pilatus PC-21 and UAV squadron with 8× MQ-9 Reaper.
• Air Base 721 Rochefort. Home of the NCO school, the École de formation des sous-officiers de l'armée de l'air.
• BA 942 Lyon – Mont Verdun Air Base. Air defence radar command reporting centre. National Air Operations Command (CNOA) location.
• . Air defence radar GM 406.
• DA 204 air detachment. Logistic unit.
• EETAA 722 Saintes. Air and Space Force electronic, technical instruction also as Military basic Bootcamp.
• EPA 749 Grenoble. Air and Space Force child support school.

Overseas[]

• BA 160 Dakar, Senegal. Mixed units.
• Réunion, Indian Ocean.
• BA 188 Djibouti, Africa. Mixed units.
• Air elements Libreville/Gabon.
• Air elements N’Djamena/Chad. Mixed units.
• BA 190 French Polynesia (Overseas collectivity). Mixed unit.
• BA 365 Martinique (French department), West Indies. Mixed unit.
• BA 367 French Guiana (French department), South America. Mixed units.
• BA 376 fr:Base aérienne 186 Nouméa, New Caledonia (special collectivity of France)
• BA 104 Abu Dhabi

More than ten bases have been closed since 2009. (BA 922) was a former command and reporting centre; (BA 101), was closed on 1 September 2009; Colmar-Meyenheim Air Base (BA 132) was closed on 16 June 2010; Metz-Frescaty Air Base (BA 128) was closed on 30 June 2011; Brétigny-sur-Orge Air Base (BA 217), closed 26 June 2012; (BA 103), was closed on 28 June 2012; Reims – Champagne Air Base (June 2012); Drachenbronn Air Base (BA 901) closed on 17 July 2015; Dijon Air Base (BA 102), was vacated on 30 June 2016;^[37] (BA 110) vacated on 31 August 2016; and Taverny Air Base (DA 921), the former Strategic Air Forces Command headquarters.

Aircraft inventory[]

Aircraft of the French Air and Space Force include:^[38]

Type	Origin	Class	Role	Introduced	In service	Total	Notes
Combat Aircraft
Mirage 2000C/5F	France	Jet	Fighter-bomber	1983	40
Mirage 2000D	France	Jet	Attack	1995	68	68	55 pieces 2000D variant will be modernized MLU by 2025
Rafale B/C/N	France	Jet	Multirole	2006	101		More 42 Rafale M in naval aviation[7][39] Rafale N replaced the Mirage 2000N in nuclear strike roles
Reconnaissance
Boeing E-3F Sentry	USA	Jet	AEW&C	1990	4	4
Beechcraft Super King Air 350	USA	Propeller	ISR	2018	2	2	[40]
Transport and Tanker
Transall C-160	France/Germany	Propeller	Transport/ELINT	1968	11/2	8
Airbus A400M Atlas	Europe	Propeller	Transport	2014	18[41]	18	32 more on order
CASA CN235M-200/300	Spain	Propeller	Transport	1983	27	27
DHC-6 Twin Otter	Canada	Propeller	Transport	1976	5	5
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	USA	Propeller	Transport	1987	14	14	7 C-130H, 7 C-130H-30
Airbus A330 MRTT	Europe	Jet	Tanker & Transport	2018	4	4	4 delivered on an order of 15. The 5th and 6th will be delivered in July and December 2021.The 7th, 8th and 9th will be delivered in July, November and December 2022.The 10th, 11th, 12th will be delivered in July, September and December 2023.The final target of 15 aircraft will be reached between 2025 and 2030 by converting the 3 A330-200s[42][43]
Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules	USA	Propeller	Tanker & Transport	2018–2019	2/2	4	2 KC-130J and 2 C-130J to support Special Forces Operations[44]
Boeing C-135FR	USA	Jet	Tanker	1964	11	11
VIP Transport
Socata TBM 700	France	Propeller	Transport	1990	15	15
Dassault Falcon 7X	France	Jet	Transport	2009	2	2
Dassault Falcon 900	France	Jet	Transport	1991	2	2
Dassault Falcon 2000	France	Jet	Transport	2011	2	2
Airbus A330-243	Europe	Jet	Transport	2020	3	3	3 delivered to be converted to MRTT standart; 1 for presidential transport
Airbus A310-304	Europe	Jet	Transport	1993	2	2
Helicopter
Aérospatiale SA330 Puma	France	Rotorcraft	Transport	1968	18	18	To be replace by 26 H225M Caracal
Eurocopter AS555 Fennec	Europe	Rotorcraft	Trainer	1990	40	40
Eurocopter EC725 Caracal	Europe	Rotorcraft	CSAR/SOF	2006	10	10	8 on order. More 8 planned in transfer from French Army[45]
Trainer aircraft
Diamond HK36 Super Dimona	Austria	Propeller	Trainer	2010	5	5
Embraer EMB 121 Xingu	Brazil	Propeller	Trainer	1982	22	22
Extra EA-300	Germany	Propeller	Utility	2005	3	3
Mirage 2000B-S5	France	Jet	Conversion trainer	1993	7	7	based at Orange-Caritat: EC 2/5 Ile-de-France; unarmed aircraft which will be kept until the withdrawal of the Mirage 2000 D to ensure the conversion to Mirage 2000.
Pilatus PC-21	Switzerland	Propeller	Trainer	2018	17	17	[46][47]
Alpha Jet	France/Germany	Jet	Trainer	1978	20	20	Includes presentation team
UAVs
General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper	USA	UAV	ISR/Attack	2013	12	12	One of the six original crashed in Niger.[48] The drone lost in the Sahel in November 2018 is replaced by a Reaper rented, for two years, to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (for the annual sum of $1)[49]

Photo gallery with current main aircraft[]

• 

  Mirage 2000

• 

  Mirage 2000D

• 

  Rafale C

• 

  E-3F Sentry

• 

  Transall C-160R

• 

  A400M

• 

  A330 MRTT

• 

  C-130J

• 

  C-135FR

Air-defence[]

Name	Origin	Type	Number	Photo	Notes
SAMP/T	France  Italy	Surface-to-air missile	10		Systems "Mamba". Aster 30 has been successfully incorporated into a land based SAM system, fulfilling the "Ground-based area defence" mission requirement.
Crotale NG	France	Surface-to-air missile system	12		Short-range, mobile all-weather weapon system that holds eight VT-1 missiles.

Personnel[]

Since the end of the Algerian War, the French Air and Space Force has comprised about 17 to 19% of the French Armed Forces.^[50] In 1990, at the end of the Cold War, numbers reached 56,400 military personnel under contract, out of which 36,300 were part of conscription and 5,400 civilians.^[51]

In 2008, forecasts for personnel of the French Air Force were expected to number 50,000 out of which 44,000 aviators on the horizon in 2014.

In 2010, the number personnel of the French Air Force was reduced to 51,100 men and women (20%) out of which: 13% officers; 55% sous-officier; 29% air military technicians (MTA); 3% volunteers of national service and aspirant volunteers; 6,500 civilians (14%). They form several functions:

Non-flying personnel

Non-navigating personnel of the French Air and Space Force include and are not limited to : Systems Aerial Mechanics (French: mécanicien système aéronautique), Aerial Controllers (French: contrôleur aérien), Meteorologists (French: météorologue), Administrative Personnel, Air Parachute Commandos (French: Commandos parachutistes de l'air), in Informatics, in Infrastructures, in Intelligence, Commissioner of the Armies (French: Commissaire) (Administrator Task).

Flying personnel

Pilots, Mechanical Navigating Officer (French: Mécanicien Navigant), Navigating Arms Systems Officer (French: Navigateur Officier Système d'Armes) (NOSA), Combat Air Medic (French: Convoyeur de l'Air) (CVA).

Training of personnel[]

Officers, within their recruitment and future specialty, are trained at:

• École de l'air (French: École de l'air) (Air School) de Provence;
• (French: École militaire de l'air) (Military Air School);
• École des commissaires des armées (French: École des commissaires des armées) (Commissioners Armies School);
• École de pilotage de l'Armée de l'air (French: École de pilotage de l'Armée de l'air) (Piloting School of the French Air and Space Force);
• (French: École de l'aviation de transport) (Aviation Transport School);
• (French: École de l'aviation de chasse) (Aviation Hunter Fighter Pilot School);
• (French: École de transition opérationnelle) (Operational Transition School).

Officers of the French Air and Space Force are spread in three corps:

• Air Officer (French: Officiers de l'air);
• Officer Mechanics (French: Officiers Mécaniciens);
• Aerial Base Officer (French: officiers des bases de l'air), amongst which, officers of the Air Parachute Commandos (French: Commandos parachutistes de l'air) are featured.

Non-commissioned officers (Sous-Officiers) are trained at:

• École de formation des sous-officiers de l'Armée de l'air (French: École de formation des sous-officiers de l'Armée de l'air) (EFSOAA) de Rochefort;
• École interarmées (French: École interarmées) (Inter-arm School) for administrative specialists;
• Escadron de formation des commandos de l'air (French: Escadron de formation des commandos de l'air) (EFCA) at Orange-Caritat Air Base (BA 115) for the personnel concerned;

Military Air Technicians (French: militaires techniciens de l’air) having been trained until 1 July 2015 at the Center of Elementary Military Formation (French: " Centre de formation militaire élémentaire ") of the Technical Instruction School of the French Air and Space Force (French: École d'enseignement technique de l'Armée de l'air) of Saintes. Since 1 July 2015, training has taken place at Orange-Caritat Air Base, within the " Operational Combatant Preparation Center of the Air Force " (French: Centre de préparation opérationnelle du combattant de l'Armée de l'air).

Air traffic controllers are trained at the Center of Instruction Control and Air Defense (French: Centre d'Instruction du Contrôle et de la Défense Aérienne).

Ranks[]

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
French Air and Space Force[52] v t
			Général d´armée aérienne		Général de corps aérien		Général de division aérienne		Général de brigade aérienne		Colonel		Lieutenant-colonel		Commandant		Capitaine		Lieutenant			Sous-lieutenant			Aspirant						Élève-officier

Enlisted

NATO code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4				OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
French Air and Space Force[52] v t
	Major			Adjudant-chef			Adjudant				Sergent-chef						Sergent						Caporal-chef				Caporal		Aviateur 1e classe						Aviateur 2e classe

See also[]

• List of Escadres of the French Air Force
• List of French Air and Space Force aircraft squadrons
• French Naval Aviation

Notes[]

References[]

Citations

Further reading[]

• Olivier, Jean-Marc, (ed.), Histoire de l'armée de l'air et des forces aériennes françaises du XVIII^e siècle à nos jours" [History of the Air Force and French aerial forces since the 18th century to the present], Toulouse, Privat, 2014, 552 p.
• Pither, Tony (1998). The Boeing 707 720 and C-135. England: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-236-2.
• Diego Ruiz Palmer, "France's Military Command Structures in the 1990s," in Thomas-Durell Young, Command in NATO After the Cold War: Alliance, National and Multinational Considerations, U.S. Army Strategic Studies Institute, June 1997

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to French Air and Space Force.

• (in French) Official website
• (in English) Official website
• (in French) List of air bases, appendix of the budget bill for 2006, French Senate