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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. 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:
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 See Also: 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) 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 subsequently adopted by their allies, the British Royal Flying Corps , as their original painted Union Flags looked too much like the German Cross .]] 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. Armée de l'Air The "Future French Forces 2015" concept allows for 300 front-line fighters, mainly composed of the new generation fighter, the Rafale . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"In service"World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, '' Aviation Week & Space Technology '', January 15 2007 |
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| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"Service entry" Les aéronefs ", '''' |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Aérospatiale_Puma" class="copylinks">Aérospatiale Puma search & rescue<hr>transport helicopter SA 330 29 1974 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Airbus_A310" class="copylinks">Airbus A310 strategic transport A310-300 3 1994 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Airbus_A319" class="copylinks">Airbus A319 VIP transport A319 ACJ 2 2002 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Airbus_A340" class="copylinks">Airbus A340 strategic transport 2 2006 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Boeing_KC-135" class="copylinks">Boeing KC-135 aerial refuelling C-135FR 14 1985 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Boeing_E-3_Sentry" class="copylinks">Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning E-3F 4 1991 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/CASA_CN-235" class="copylinks">CASA CN-235 tactical transport CN-235-200<br>CN-235-200M 8<br>11 1991 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault_Falcon_50" class="copylinks">Dassault Falcon 50 VIP transport Mystère 50 3 1979 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault_Falcon_900" class="copylinks">Dassault Falcon 900 VIP transport Falcon 900 2 1987 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault_Mirage_2000" class="copylinks">Dassault Mirage 2000 '''fighter'''<hr>fighter/trainer<hr>fighter<hr>attack<hr>attack<hr>fighter '''total Mirage 2000'''<hr>Mirage 2000B<hr>Mirage 2000C<hr>Mirage 2000D<hr>Mirage 2000N<hr>Mirage 2000-5 '''286'''<hr>27<hr>90<hr>64<hr>62<hr>37 '''1983'''<hr>1983<hr>1983<hr>1993<hr>1988<hr>1999 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault_Mirage_F1" class="copylinks">Dassault Mirage F1 '''fighter'''<hr>fighter/trainer<hr>reconnaissance<hr> fighter/attack '''total Mirage F1'''<hr>Mirage F1B<hr>Mirage F1CR<hr>Mirage F1CT '''109'''<hr>14<hr>40<hr>55 '''1980'''<hr>1980<hr>1983<hr>1990 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault_Rafale" class="copylinks">Dassault Rafale fighter/trainer/attack<hr>fighter/attack<hr>fighter/attack '''total Rafale<hr>Rafale B<hr>Rafale C<hr>Rafale M '''33 in service and 49 delivered'''<hr>17 in service (27 delivered) <hr>5 in service (7 delivered) <hr>13 in service (15 delivered) 2004 for Rafale M / 2006 for Rafale C&B |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault-Breguet/Dornier_Alpha_Jet" class="copylinks">Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet trainer Alpha Jet E 99 1979 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/de_Havilland_Canada_DHC-6_Twin_Otter" class="copylinks">De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter utility transport 6 1978 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Embraer_EMB_121_Xingu" class="copylinks">Embraer EMB 121 Xingu trainer 35 1982 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Embraer_EMB_312_Tucano" class="copylinks">Embraer EMB 312 Tucano trainer 47 1993 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Eurocopter_Cougar" class="copylinks">Eurocopter Cougar 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 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Eurocopter_Ecureuil" class="copylinks">Eurocopter Ecureuil utility helicopter AS 355 5 1984 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Eurocopter_Fennec" class="copylinks">Eurocopter Fennec utility helicopter AS 555AN 43 1986 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Grob_G120" class="copylinks">Grob G120 trainer G120A-F 2 (16 more to be delivered 2007 " |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Jodel" class="copylinks">Jodel D-140 trainer 1966 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Lockheed_C-130_Hercules" class="copylinks">Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport C-130H<hr>C-130H-30 5<hr>9 1987<hr>1988 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mudry_CAP_10" class="copylinks">Mudry CAP 10 trainer CAP 10B 7 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Socata_TB" class="copylinks">Socata TB trainer TB 30 Epsilon 90 1985 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Socata_TBM" class="copylinks">Socata TBM liaison transport TBM 700 17 1992 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Transall_C-160" class="copylinks">Transall C-160 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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