DÉFENSE ZONE
In 1912, the first five squadrons were created within the French air forces, which at the time made it the first air force in the world, albeit one integrated into the Army. On 2 July 1934, the air force became a fully fledged combat service. Today it has more than 40,500 airmen and airwomen and 578 aircraft, including 217 combat aircraft.
The fighter jets of the French Air and Space Force
In 2021, the French Air and Space Force had 211 fighter jets built by Dassault, the legendary Rafale and Mirage 2000. These aircraft carry out surveillance and protection of the airspace (air policing), air support and air assault, reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence missions.
The Rafale
The Rafale is a Dassault Aviation aircraft, 15.30 metres long and 10.90 metres wide. Its empty weight is around ten tonnes, and its maximum weight is 24.5 tonnes. It can reach a speed of Mach 1.8 (1,912 km/h).
There are three types of Rafale: the Rafale C (single-seat), the Rafale B (two-seat) and the Rafale M (navy).
The French Air and Space Force had 98 Rafale in 2021, spread mainly across fighter squadrons, but also in a Rafale conversion squadron (ETR) and a fighter and test squadron (ECE). They can be found at air bases 113 in Saint-Dizier, 118 in Mont-de-Marsan and 104 in Al Dhafra (United Arab Emirates).
The Rafale has been, and still is, regularly deployed on overseas operations, whether in Afghanistan (2009-2012), Libya (2011), Iraq (2014-2015), Syria (2015, 2018), Chad (2016), Mali or the Baltic states.
Read our detailed article on the Rafale by clicking here.
The Mirage 2000
The Mirage 2000 is also a Dassault Aviation aircraft. It is 14.34 metres long with a 9.13-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is around 7.6 tonnes and its maximum weight rises to 16.5 tonnes. It reaches a top speed of Mach 2.2 (2,340 km/h).
Different types of Mirage 2000 were built to meet different missions: the Mirage 2000 B (training), the Mirage 2000 C (air defence) and its improved version the Mirage 2000-5, the Mirage 2000-9 (for export), the Mirage 2000 N (nuclear strike) and the Mirage 2000 D (conventional strike).
The French Air and Space Force fleet included 113 Mirage 2000 in 2021, spread mainly across fighter squadrons, but also in a fighter and test squadron. They can be found at air bases 133 in Nancy, 118 in Mont-de-Marsan, 116 in Luxeuil, 115 in Orange and 188 in Djibouti.
This fighter jet has served in many operations and missions in foreign skies, in Iraq, Kuwait, Serbia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Jordan and the Baltic states.
Read our detailed article on the Mirage 2000 by clicking here.
The tactical transport aircraft of the French Air and Space Force
Tactical transport aircraft (ATT) have the particular ability to land and take off on rough airstrips and over short distances, which is a great advantage, particularly in overseas operations. These aircraft carry out airdrop, equipment or vehicle transport and medical evacuation missions.
Read our detailed article on these aircraft by clicking here.
The A400M Atlas
The A400M Atlas is a transport aircraft built by Airbus. It is 45.1 metres long with a 42.2-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is 82 tonnes and it flies at a cruising speed of 833 km/h.
In addition to its large capacity for carrying troops, equipment or vehicles, it can also refuel two Rafale in flight by adding a tank in its hold.
The French Air and Space Force has 18 A400M, to be joined by others until the fleet reaches 50 Atlas. All of these aircraft belong to a transport squadron at Air Base 123 in Orléans.
They are deployed on overseas operations in the Sahel and their capabilities are being validated as trials progress (airdrops at sea, assault landings, drops from both side doors…)
The C-160 Transall
The C-160 Transall, built by the Franco-German Transport Allianz, is 32.4 metres long and 40 metres wide. It weighs 33 tonnes empty and flies at a cruising speed of 485 km/h.
It is able to drop vehicles or freight from a height of three metres, and its assault landings can be carried out over an extremely short distance of 600 metres.
Like the A400M, the C-160 can also act as a tanker. The C-160 Transall Gabriel can carry out electronic reconnaissance and intelligence missions.
The French Air and Space Force has six C-160 Transall and two C-160 Transall Gabriel, spread across a transport squadron, an airborne electronic squadron (EEA) and a mixed air group (GAM), at air bases 123 in Orléans and 105 in Évreux.
These aircraft have served for more than fifty years in all of France’s overseas operations, notably in the Sahel.
The C-130 Hercules and C-130J Super Hercules
The C-130 Hercules is built by the American company Lockheed Martin. It is 29.8 metres long with a 40.4-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is 39 tonnes and its cruising speed is 540 km/h. The C-130J Super Hercules is an improved version with a greater payload capacity and requiring fewer crew members.
It notably carries out paratrooper drops for the special forces, but also humanitarian freight or equipment transport.
The French Air and Space Force fleet includes 14 C-130 Hercules and four C-130J Super Hercules. They are spread across transport squadrons, including a Franco-German squadron, at air bases 123 in Orléans and 105 in Évreux.
The Hercules has been deployed in many conflicts, notably during the war in Bosnia, but also in the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Central African Republic, the Sahel and Afghanistan.
The Casa CN-235
The Casa CN-235 is an Airbus aircraft 21.4 metres long with a 25.8-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is 10 tonnes, and its cruising speed is 450 km/h.
It is used for troop and freight transport missions, and for medical evacuations.
The French Air and Space Force has 27 Casa CN-235, spread across transport squadrons at Air Base 105 in Évreux but above all overseas and abroad, in La Réunion, French Guiana, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Djibouti.
To find out more: the fastest fighter jets in the world and how an air base is organised.
They have been deployed in Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and French Guiana, and have carried out many humanitarian missions following natural disasters (hurricanes, tsunamis, cyclones…)
The DHC-6 Twin Otter
The Twin Otter, built by the Canadian company De Havilland, is 15.7 metres long with a 19.8-metre wingspan, for an empty weight of 3.36 tonnes. Its top speed is 338 km/h.
The French Air and Space Force has five DHC-6 Twin Otter, spread across a transport squadron and a mixed air group, at air bases 123 in Orléans and 105 in Évreux. It is used in particular by the air special forces for exfiltration or hostage-rescue missions.
The support aircraft of the French Air and Space Force
The A330 MRTT Phénix
The A330 MRTT Phénix is built by Airbus. It is 58.8 metres long with a wingspan of 60.3 metres. Its empty weight reaches 125 tonnes and its cruising speed is 860 km/h.
The MRTT Phénix carries out various missions: troop or equipment transport, medical evacuations and air-to-air refuelling. It can also be used on humanitarian missions or act as a communications relay.
The French Air and Space Force fleet has six MRTT Phénix, but it is due to grow by three new aircraft at the end of 2022, and three more in 2023. These aircraft belong to the air refuelling and strategic transport squadron (ERVTS) at Air Base 125 in Istres.
The C135F
The C-135, built by Boeing, is 44.5 metres long and 39.9 metres wide. Its empty weight is 53.6 tonnes and it flies at a top speed of 980 km/h.
The C-135 can carry troops, freight or wounded personnel in a medical configuration. It also carries out air-to-air refuelling missions for French fighter jets.
The French Air and Space Force has nine C-135, belonging to the air refuelling and strategic transport squadron at Air Base 125 in Istres.
The E3-F SDCA Awacs
The airborne detection and control system (SDCA), more commonly known as Awacs, is also built by Boeing. It is 46.6 metres long with a 44.4-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is 73.5 tonnes and it can fly at 855 km/h maximum.
The E3-F Awacs, recognisable by the large rotating radar above its fuselage, carries out surveillance, detection and airborne command missions.
The French Air and Space Force has four Awacs, based within the airborne command and control wing at Air Base 702 in Avord.
The logistic transport aircraft of the French Air and Space Force
The Airbuses
The French Air and Space Force has several types of airliner.
The A310-300, 46.6 metres long with a 49.9-metre wingspan, carries out troop or freight transport missions. The A340, 59.4 metres long and 60.3 metres wide, also carries combat personnel or freight, but can also take part in medical evacuations. Finally, the only A330-200, 58 metres long with a wingspan of 60 metres, is the presidential aircraft.
The French fleet includes three A310, two A340 and one A330-200. Three former A330 have been converted into MRTT Phénix. The aircraft are stationed at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, from where they take off with troops deployed on overseas operations. They nevertheless belong to transport squadrons at air bases 110 in Creil and 107 in Villacoublay.
The Falcons
Different types of Falcon aircraft built by Dassault Aviation are used by the French air force, notably for medical evacuation missions or for transporting senior officials.
The Falcon 900 is 23.2 metres long with a 25.7-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is 11.7 tonnes and it flies at just over 1,000 km/h. It carries out medical evacuation missions only.
The Falcon 7X has the same characteristics, but its configuration increases its range and its carrying capacity. In addition, it is fitted with secure communications equipment and can therefore carry the President of the Republic when the A330-200 is not available.
Finally, the Falcon 2000 is 20.2 metres long with a 21.4-metre wingspan. A little lighter, its empty weight is 10.6 tonnes and its top speed 946 km/h. On alert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the aircraft can carry out medical evacuation missions for French nationals anywhere in the world.
The French Air and Space Force has two aircraft of each type, belonging to the transport squadron at Air Base 107 in Villacoublay.
The TBM 700
The TBM 700 single-engine turboprop, built by the French manufacturer Socata, is 10.65 metres long with a 12.68-metre wingspan, and reaches a cruising speed of 520 km/h.
The TBM 700 is used to transport VIPs, and is also used by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) for research and testing.
The French Air and Space Force has fifteen TBM 700, spread across transport squadrons and a transport and test squadron, at air bases 107 in Villacoublay, 106 in Bordeaux and 118 in Mont-de-Marsan.
The training aircraft of the French Air and Space Force
The Alpha Jet E
The Alpha Jet E, a Franco-German project by Dassault Aviation and Dornier, is 11.85 metres long with a 9.16-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is 3.3 tonnes and its top speed is 1,062 km/h (Mach 0.86).
Although they are designed for the tactical training of pilots, the Alpha Jets are also known for painting the sky blue, white and red during displays by the Patrouille de France.
The French Air and Space Force has 53 Alpha Jet E, spread across an operational conversion squadron, a training squadron and a fighter and test squadron, at air bases 120 in Cazaux and 118 in Mont-de-Marsan.
The Pilatus PC-21
The PC-21, built by the Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft, has a length of 11.23 metres and a wingspan of 9.11 metres. Its empty weight is 2.3 tonnes and its top speed is 685 km/h.
The Pilatus PC-21 is used for training future fighter pilots.
The French Air and Space Force has 17 PC-21, stationed within the flight training squadrons (EIV) and flight instructor training squadrons (EFIP) at Air Base 709 in Cognac.
The EMB-121 Xingu
The EMB-121 Xingu, built by the Brazilian company Embraer, has a length of 12.25 metres and a wingspan of 14.45 metres. Its empty weight is 3.5 tonnes and its top speed is 466 km/h.
The Xingu is used for training future transport pilots.
The French Air and Space Force has 22 EMB-121 Xingu, stationed within the flight training and flight instructor training squadrons at Air Base 709 in Cognac.
The Cirrus SR 20 and SR 22
The SR-20 and SR-22 are built by the American company Cirrus Design.
The Cirrus SR-20 is 7.92 metres long with a 10.85-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is 939 kg and it flies at a cruising speed of 289 km/h. The Cirrus SR-22 is 7.29 metres long with an 11.68-metre wingspan. Its empty weight is just over one tonne and it cruises at 333 km/h.
They are used for pilot training in the case of the Cirrus SR-20, and for training navigator weapon systems officers in the case of the Cirrus SR-22.
The French Air and Space Force has 17 Cirrus of all types, belonging to the flight training squadron of the French Air and Space Force Academy (École de l’Air et de l’Espace), at Air Base 701 in Salon-de-Provence.
The Grob G 120A
The G 120A is an aircraft built by the German company Grob Aircraft. It is 8.1 metres long with a 10.2-metre wingspan. Its cruising speed is 307 km/h.
It is used as an initial pilot training aircraft.
The French Air and Space Force has 18 Grob 120A, stationed within the flight training and flight instructor training squadrons at Air Base 709 in Cognac.
The gliders
The Marianne C201 and Pégase gliders, built by the French manufacturer Centrair, are respectively 9 metres and 6.5 metres long, with a wingspan of 18.55 metres and 15 metres.
They are used for basic pilot training, and the French Air and Space Force has 68 gliders in its fleet, stationed within the flight training and flight instructor training squadrons at Air Base 709 in Cognac and at Air Detachment 273 in Romorantin.
To subscribe to our magazine, receive the next print issues, access exclusive content and benefit from our partners’ gear and equipment offers, click directly on the image below
