French Air Force

From Daily Escape

Revision as of 13:23, 15 October 2011

The French Air Force, officially the Armée Royale de l'Air (French: Royal 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.

Organization

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 optimize 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: Central level of command

As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the King of France makes defense policy; however, the Minister of Defense is responsible for national defense and 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.

Bases

Units

• Surveillance and Communications Command (CASSIC)
• Strategic Air Command (CFAS)
• Tactical Air Command

Aircraft inventory

Fighters

• 60 squadrons of Dassault Mirage 2000 multirole fighters
  • 5 squadrons of Mirage 2000B two-seat trainers
  • 20 squadrons of Mirage 2000C interceptors
  • 13 squadrons of Mirage 2000D ground attack fighters
  • 13 squadrons of Mirage 2000N nuclear strike fighters
  • 9 squadrons of Mirage 2000-5 Mark 2 multirole fighters
• 24 squadrons of Dassault Mirage F1 air superiority fighters
  • 3 squadrons of Mirage F1B two-seat trainers
  • 9 squadrons of Mirage F1CR reconnaissance fighters
  • 12 squadrons of Mirage F1CT ground attack fighters
• 18 squadrons of Dassault Rafale multirole fighters
  • 9 squadrons of Rafale B (two-seat version)
  • 3 squadrons of Rafale C (single-seat version)
  • 6 squadrons of Rafale M (carrier-borne version)

Bombers

• 13 squadrons of Dassault Mirage IV supersonic strategic bombers
• 1 squadron of Dassault nEUROn stealth bombers

Transport

Tactical transports

• 4 squadrons of CASA CN-235 tactical transports
  • 2 squadrons of CN-235-200
  • 2 squadrons of CN-235-200M
• 1 squadron of de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter utility transports
• 3 squadrons of Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transports
  • 1 squadron of C-130H
  • 2 squadrons of C-130H-30
• 4 squadrons of Socata TBM 700 liaison transports
• 14 squadrons of Transall C-160 tactical transports
  • 6 squadrons of C-160F
  • 2 squadrons of C-160G Gabriel (ELINT)
  • 6 squadrons of C-160NG

Tanker transports

• 3 squadrons of Boeing KC-135FR tankers

VIP transports

• 9 Airbus A310-300
• 6 A319 ACJ
• 6 Airbus A340
• 9 Dassault Falcon 50
• 6 Dassault Falcon 900

Helicopters

• 6 squadrons of Aérospatiale Puma utility helicopters
• 2 squadrons of Eurocopter Cougar medium utility helicopters
• 1 squadron of Eurocopter Ecureuil light utility helicopters
• 9 squadrons of Eurocopter Fennec light multipurpose helicopters

Special missions aircraft

• 1 squadron of Boeing E-3F Sentry AWACS aircraft

Trainers

• 21 squadrons of Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet advanced trainers
• 7 squadrons of Embraer EMB 121 Xingu trainers
• 10 squadrons of Embraer EMB 312 Tucano basic trainers
• 3 squadrons of Grob G120A-F trainers
• 1 squadron of Mudry CAP 10 trainers
• 19 squadrons of Socata TB 30 Epsilon trainers