The
French Air Force (
French:
Armée de l'Air (ALA), literally
Army of the Air) is the
air force of the
French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the
Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the
French Army,
then was made an independent military arm in 1933. The French Air Force
operates 635 aircraft, making it the fourth largest air force in terms
of aircraft in
NATO, and the second largest in the
EU after the
Royal Air Force.
History
The first use of a
roundel on military aircraft was during the
First World War by the French Air Force. It consisted of a blue-white-red design mirroring the traditional French
cockade. The roundel design was adopted by their allies, the British
Royal Flying Corps, as their original painted Union Flags looked too much like the
German cross, as used by the
Luftstreitkräfte.
The French took active interest in developing the air force from 1909 and had the first World War I fighter pilots. During the
interwar years, however, particularly in the 1930s, the quality fell after they compared with the
Luftwaffe, which crushed the French during the
Battle of France.
In the post–World War II era, the French made a successful effort to develop a domestic aircraft industry.
Dassault Aviation led the way with
delta-wing designs, which formed the basis for the
Mirage series of
jet fighters. The Mirage demonstrated its abilities in the
Six-Day War and the
Gulf War,
becoming one of the most popular jet fighters of its day, with a high
quantity of sales. The French Air Force participated in several
protracted colonial wars in Africa and Indochina after WWII, and
continues to employ its air power in African peacekeeping. During the
1960s, France pursued a policy of nuclear armament, to deter Soviet
aggression. The
Dassault Mirage IV, the principal French strategic bomber, was designed to strike Soviet positions as part of the French nuclear triad.
Currently, the French Air Force is expanding and replacing aircraft inventory. 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.
After an absence lasting several decades, the French President
Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that France will rejoin the NATO integrated command.
France has also been a lead nation, alongside the
USA,
Great Britain and
Italy
in implementing the UN sponsored no-fly zone in Libya, deploying 20
fighter aircraft to Benghazi in defense of rebel held positions and the
civilian population.
Status
The ALA is organised into three levels:
Central Command
Riflemen of the French Air Force
The
President of France,
Nicolas Sarkozy, is
Chief of the armed forces, responsible for the overall defence policy. The
Prime Minister is responsible for national defence and the
Minister of Defence is responsible for the execution of the military policy.
He is advised by the
Chief of Staff of the Armies (CEMA) in regard to the use of forces and the control of military operations. The
Chief of Staff-Air Force (CEMAA) determines the air force doctrines and advises the CEMA how to deploy
French aerial assets. He is responsible for the preparation and logistic support of the air force. The CEMAA is assisted by the
air force staff and by
its subordinate services.
Finally, the CEMAA is assisted by the inspection of the air force (IAA)
and by the air force health service inspection (ISSAA).
Greater operational and organic commands
Crotale missile-launchers of the French Air Force
In the ALA the responsibilities are separated in two main types of
commands: operational commands (direct responsible for force deployment)
and organic commands (in charge of conditioning and logistic support).
These commands are subject to change before 2010 (see Future).
- CFAS—Strategic Air Command (Commandement des Forces Aériennes Stratégiques)
All the air forces nuclear assets are placed in this command which is
responsible for the operational condition and the eventual deployment
of these weapons. The CFAS is one of the two pillars of the French
nuclear deterrent. CFAS has 3 squadrons of dual capable
Mirage 2000N fighter/bombers capable of carrying the nuclear
Air-Sol Moyenne Portée stand-off missile and a squadron of
C-135FR
in-flight refuelling tankers at its disposal to carry out their
missions. The commanding CFAS general is responsible for the execution
of the mission.
- CDAOA—Air Defence and Air Operations Command
This overall command is responsible for all air operations in
peacetime serving the public, for the defence of the French airspace and
for all offensive and defensive air operations at war.
- CFA—Joint Air Command
A new command which has been inaugurated in 2006. It is responsible
to ensure and to maintain the operational condition of all branches of
the air force now and for the future. At present day the CFA consists of
- 16 fighter squadrons and 25 air defence squadrons
- 1 electronic warfare squadron
- simulator and instruction centres
On its airbases in Europe and abroad the CFA has 16m000 personnel,
279 fighter aircraft, 122 transport aircraft and 85 helicopters.
- CASSIC—Air Surveillance, Information and Communication Systems Command
This command has already been dissolved and the 8100 personnel,
working in the former CASSIC have been transferred to the other existing
air force commands and to the DIRISI, the interim joint defence
communication and intelligence organisation.
CDAOA, based in Paris and Lyon, plans and executes all air
operations. ex-CASSIC personnel are embedded here to develop exercises
and operations abroad.
CFA prepares the forces. Since 2007, 38% ex-CASSIC personnel rejoined
the airspace control brigade which also controls all ground-air defence
units.
CSFA, based in Bordeaux, guards the technical and logistical assets. Since 2006 it has taken over many ex-CASSIC projects.
- CEAA—Air Force Training Command
Responsible for training all new air force personnel as well as on
the technical and on the job training of the other air force personnel,
as well as the officers and NCO training. CEAA is also responsible for
all schools and training facilities.
- CFPSAA—Operational Support Command
This command is responsible for the operational readiness and the
deployment of all base protecting squadrons, dog-handlers, fire
brigades, paratroopers and NBC and decontamination personnel. In 2007,
the CFPSAA has been renamed BAFSI (Brigade Aérienne des Forces de
Sécurité et d'Intervention).
Airbase Command
The air base command levels are the combat assets of the ALA. 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.
Flying activity in France is carried out by a network of bases, platforms and
French air 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 almost similar infrastructure
to provide standardised support. This operational mode allows fast and
easy creation of air bases outside of France.
Overseas, fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters allow quick
response to any request for assistance that falls within international
agreements. On average, a base platform, 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.
Bases
Northern region
BA117 Paris, HQ of the French Air Force
- BA 102 Dijon airbase. Air defence squadrons equipped with Mirage 2000-5.
- BA 103 Cambrai airbase. Units mainly equipped with Mirage 2000 RDI interceptors.
- BA 105 Évreux airbase. Command, operational and logistic support.
- BA 107 Villacoublay airbase. Helicopter and heavy air transport units.
- BA 110 Creil airbase. Heavy air transport units with Casa CN-235/100 for short distance and with Airbus A310-300.
- BA 112 Reims airbase. Tactical recce sqn with Mirage F1 CR.
- BA 113 Saint-Dizier airbase. Transition sqn for the new Dassault Rafale C.
- BA 116 Luxeuil airbase. CFA nuclear strike stockpile. Strike sqns equipped with Mirage 2000N.
- BA 117 Paris airbase. Central command.
- BA 123 Orléans airbase. Former CFAP and CASSIC command location. CFPSAA operational command.
- BA 128 Metz airbase. Location of the new CFA command, mixed air transport sqn.
- BA 132 Colmar-Meyenheim. Tactical squadrons equipped with Mirage F1-CT
- BA 133 Nancy Ochey airbase. Fighter squadrons Mirage 2000D, SAM sqns.
- BA 217 Brétigny. Personnel officer/nco selection and logistic units.
- BA 279 Châteaudun airbase. Airplane storage base.
- BA 702 Avord airbase. CFAS nuclear strike stockpile. AWACS Boeing E-3 Sentry unit. Inflight refueling KC-135 unit
- BA 705 Tours airbase. Fighter pilot training school.
- BA 901 Drachenbronn. Air defence radar command reporting centre.
- BA 921 Taverny. Strategic Air Command (CFAS)
- DA 273 Romorantin air detachment. Logistic unit.
- DA 922 Doullens air detachment. Disbanded command reporting centre.
Southern Region
- BA 101 Toulouse airbase. Instruction air transport unit Transall C-160 NG and Puma SA 330.
- BA 106 Mérignac airbase. Transport support base for the air staff.
- BA 115 Orange airbase. Air defence squadrons Mirage 2000D and transition sqn Mirage 2000B.
- BA 118 Mont de Marsan Airbase.
Home of CEAM, the Air Force military experimentation and trials
organisation, Air defence radar command reporting centre, instruction
centre for air defence control.
- BA 120 Cazaux airbase, situated South-west of the port city of Bordeaux. Air force airplane stockpile.
44°31′28″N 01°06′36″W
- BA 125 Istres airbase. CFAS nuclear strike stockpile. Strike squadron equipped with Mirage 2000N. Transall C-160 G strategic communication flight. Inflight refueling unit with C-135RF. CEAM, the Air Force military experience centre.
- BA 126 Ventiseri-Solenzara Air Base. Fighter gunnery range. SAR unit.
- DA 277 Varennes-sur-Allier. French Airforce Stock. Known for its strategic position in the middle of France.
- BA 278 Ambérieu airbase. Logistic support base.
- BA 701 Salon de Provence. Officer instruction school. Enlisted instruction school.
- BA 709 Cognac airbase. Basic flight training school.
- BA 721 Rochefort-Saint-Agnant. NCO school.
- BA 942 Lyon Mont-Verdun. Air defence radar command reporting centre. CNOA location. National Air Operations Command.
- BA 943 Nice Roquebrune. Air defence radar command reporting centre.
- DA 204 Mérignac. Logistic detachment.
- EETAA 722 Saintes. Air force electronic, technical instruction also as Military basic Bootcamp.
- EPA 749 Grenoble. Air force child support school
Overseas
Aircraft inventory
Alpha Jet, the French Air Forces advanced trainer
The French Air Force has 234 combat aircraft in service, with the majority being 158
Dassault Mirage 2000 and 59
Dassault Rafale. The last remaining squadron of
Dassault Mirage F1s will be retired in the next coming months as it is replaced by more Rafale. The
2008 French White Paper on Defence and National Security allows for only 300 combat aircraft in service with the
French Armed Forces (French Air Force and
French Naval Aviation). With a split of 240 in the Air force and 60 in the Navy.
Figures are sourced from the French Ministry of Defence. Correct and complete as of September 2011.
Ranks
| Flag officers |
|
|
général de division aérienne
|
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|
général de brigade aérienne
|
|
| Non-commissioned officers |
|
|
| Enlisted personnel |
|
|
aviateur de première classe
|
|
|
aviateur de deuxième classe
|
|
The minor towers next to the citizen.
Future
Like most modern defence organisations the French air force is
reorganising its commands, units and assets. This project to streamline
the forces is called Air 2010, which is the year of the deadline for all
transitions. The main targets of this project are to simplify the
command structure, to regroup all military and civil air force functions
and to rationalise and optimise all air force units. The solution to
reach these aims seems to be changing the organisation into five major
commands, instead of the former 13, and to disband several commands and
units.
- CDAOA (air defence and air operations command)
- CFA (air force command)
- CSFA (logistic command)
- DRHAA (human resource direction)
- SAGF (administration and finance service)
Gallery
Fighter aircraft
Transport aircraft
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Transall C160NG escardon Anjou
-
Hercules C130H & C130H30 escadron Franche Comté
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Casa Cn 235-200 escadron vercors
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Airbus A340 escadron Esterel
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Airbus A310 escadron Esterel
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Dassault Falcon50 ETEC 65
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Dassault Falcon 900 ETEC 65
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Trainers
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Socata Epsilon TB30 E.P.E.A.A
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