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www.defense.gouv.fr/air
THE F
RENCH A
IR FO
RCE
03AIR FORCE SITES
04THE AIR FORCE mEmbERS
05AIRCRAFT IN SERVICE
01ROLE OF THE
FRENCH AIR FORCE
02COmmITmENT AT HOmE
AND AbROAD
Techniciens
de maintenance aéronautique
Opérateurs de drone Harfang
Pilote de combat
sur Mirage 2000
Fusillier commando en opération.Contrôleur de défense aérienne
A Hercules C-130 prepares to take off from Fort-de-France airbase on a mission in Haiti.
Mirage 2000 C turnaround underway following a flight assistance mission.
A Mirage 2000 C takes off to performan air defence mission above the Kourou Space Center.
A Mirage 2000 D takes off from Solenzara airbase during the Serpentex exercise.
Two Rafale aircraft on an escort mission to Abu Dhabi.
01The Air Force is i
nvolved in all five of the str
ategic functions identified
in the French White Paper on Defence and National Security (LB
DSN),
ensuring the defence and security of th
e country on a daily basis.
ROLE OF THE FRENCH
AIR FORCE
01
Knowledge and Anticipation“Knowledge and anticipation constitute a new strate-gic function, a priority, and they are our first line of defence. They encompass every area of intelligence, including Space.”
The French Air Force makes a vital contribution to this “knowledge and anticipation” function. It takes part in strategic monitoring and operational support activi-ties. The Air Force uses the GRAVES system to carry out Space surveillance, an activity that will be of crucial diplomatic, economic and military importance in the fu-ture. Thanks to its Operations Center in Lyon, the Air Force, working within an interministerial and multina-tional framework, is capable of assessing threats to the country’s air space at any time.
Prevention“Prevention entails taking action to prevent the appearance or worsening of threats to national security.”
In this area, the French Air Force actively combats all forms of trafficking, illegal immigration and piracy.Its presence is felt all over the world. Its combat and transport aircraft and helicopters are permanently pre-positioned on airbases in Senegal, Chad, Gabon, Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates.
Deterrence“The credibility of deterrence relies on two complementary components, seaborne and airborne, with specific assets and methods of penetration.”
The airborne component is represented in the French Air Force by the “Forces Aériennes Stratégiques” (FAS – French Air Strategic Command), with the Mirage 2000 N carrying the ASMP medium-range air-to-ground missile. As of 2010, this aircraft is being phased out and replaced by the Rafale/ASMP-A combination. These air-craft are supported by ageing Boeing C-135 FRs, which will need to be replaced by Multirole Transport Tankers.France is the only European country with this inde-pendent capability, which plays a vital role in the country’s defence at a relatively low cost. The air-borne component only accounts for 13% of the cost of the nuclear deterrent.
A Rafale from the fighter squadron 1/91 “Gascogne”, carrying an ASMP-A missile.
A C-135 FR from the air-to-air refuelling squadron GRV 2/91 “Bretagne” seen landing.
Mirage 2000 N formation.
Mirage 2000-5in the United Arab Emirates.
Helios satellite.
A Mirage F1 CR in Africa.
A Harfang UAV in Afghanistan.
An E-3F AWACS in French Guiana.
Djibouti airbase.
4 5
01Protection
“The French Air Force deploys significant assets to protect French citizens against threats from the sky and from Space.”
Everyday, some 10,000 to 15,000 aircraft fly over France. Working within an interministerial framework, more than 1,000 members of the Air Force keep watch round the clock to detect and identify these aircraft. They also guarantee freedom of action for Government authorities and protect the country’s key facilities. Command and control (C2) resources, airspace and Space surveillance systems as well as interceptors, evenly distributed across airbases throughout the country, are all part of the permanent air security posture.In addition to this permanent mission, the Air Force is also called on in the event of natural catastrophes or industrial disasters to help those in difficulty and sup-port public health action. Other public service missions include providing assistance to aircraft in distress, contributing to anti-terrorist measures and helping to
fight forest fires. To give an idea of the scale of these operations, Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft took off 2,000 times in the past 12 months and provided assis-tance to 200 aircraft in distress. They flew on 130 search and rescue operations and saved twenty lives. The Air Force is responsible for coordinating and carrying out these actions.
Intervention“Intervention outside France remains the most impor-tant type of action (because it is the most demanding) for determining the size of our armed forces.”
French Air Force aircraft are deployed or ready to inter-vene in a wide range of operations, from humanitarian missions to combating terrorism. Fifteen hundred air force personnel are currently deployed on temporary missions. Based in 12 countries across the globe, they are particu-larly responsible for ensuring the operational readiness of thirty aircraft, including fighters, tanker aircraft, tactical transport aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.
ROLE OF THE FRENCH
AIR FORCE
01
A Fennec helicopter in action during the floods that hit southern France.
A Hercules C-130 and Transall C-160 on the ground of Fort-de-France airbase.
Two Mirage 2000 C aircraft on patrol.
“Vigipirate” anti-terrorist patrol at Roissy CDG airport in Paris.
ASTER missile fired from a SAMP/T system. Air defence controller.
Fennec MASA helicopters in French Guiana.
6 7
02 COMMITMENT
AT HOME AND ABROAD
02“France’s a
rmed forces need undisputed operational supremacy
to face enemies.” The Air Force plays an important ro
le in national security
and is a vital str
ategic component of any joint milita
ry operations.
Space surveillanceFrance is the only European nation equipped to assess
the situation in Space, with Air Force radar equipment and the GRAVES and SATAM systems detecting and tracking
low-orbit satellites. A Space center will soon be opened at the Lyon-Mont-Verdun base. The center will merge all the sensor data received to provide extremely accurate daily
reports on the situation in Space. Known as COSMOS, the center will be the Joint Space Command’s (CIE) surveillance tool. The Air Force has been instrumental in helping France
reaffirm its Space surveillance capabilities alongside fo-reign partners (Germany and the United States).
Air-land OperationsWith a total strength of more than 700, the French Air Force’s
paratrooper commandos (CPA n° 10, n° 20 and n° 30) can be used in air-land operations (special operations for CPA n° 10).
Their action is geared towards the use of the third dimension: high-altitude-qualified paratroopers (High-Altitude Low-Opening,
High-Altitude High-Opening), Forward Air Control and Close Air Support and reconnaissance of rudimentary airstrips.
At the same time, the Air Force’s units deploy tactical transport aircraft and utility helicopters and train their crews
for special missions, such as airdropping personnel and equipment, combat search and rescue missions, tactical
landings and evacuating nationals.
Force ProtectionWith its land-based, medium-range, surface-to-air defence system (SAMP/T), the French Air Force has extended the concept of land-based air defence and is now able to combat all modern airborne targets, including tactical ballistic and cruise missiles. The SAMP/T system is thus capable of defending combat forces, airbases and key points against attack from the air. It also represents France’s contribution to the initial missile defence capability defined in NATO’s Active Layered Theater Ballistic Missile Defence (ALTBMD) programme.
ProjectionAccording to the French White Paper on Defence and National Security, the country must be capable of pro-jecting 1,500 troops over a range of 8,000 kilometers in less than five days.The Air Force’s current internal resources allow it to meet 25% of this objective. This figure will drop further as C-160 aircraft are phased out. As of 2013, however, the Air Force will begin to take delivery of 50 A400M transport aircraft and, with the help of the MRTT fleet, will be in a position to meet this objective in full.
Nuclear roleThe strike capabilities of France’s nuclear deterrent are being sustained and improved in a number of ways. This can be seen in the progress made in the ASMP-A missile programme, the operational fielding of this missile on Ra-fale aircraft in 1/91 “Gascogne” fighter squadron in Saint-Di-zier since July 1st 2010, and the phasing out of Boeing C-135 and KC-135 tankers in favour of multi-role tanker transport aircraft (MRTTs).These developments also respond to new nuclear security standards applying to storage and deployment. With its la-test equipment, the airborne nuclear component rises to the challenge of the new geostrategic situation.
Air Policing and Flight AssistanceAbout a thousand air force personnel are on duty 24/7, all year round, to fulfil the Air Force’s air se-curity mission. At present, eight Rafale or Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft, five armed Fennec helicop-ters, one C-135 tanker and one E-3F AWACS air-craft are ready to intervene within 15 minutes to guarantee the Government’s freedom of action throughout the country’s airspace. This force is modular and can be strengthened extremely ra-pidly for major events such as summits of heads of state and so on.In 2009, Air Force aircraft flew on nearly 700 air policing and flight assistance missions.
Airbus A310 taking off from Haïti.
ASTER missile fired from an SAMP/T system.
Rafale on an air-to-air refuelling mission.
Fennec on a mission to protect the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana.
An EC 725 Caracal in Afghanistan.
Surveillance satellite constellation.
8 9
Techniciens
de maintenance aéronautique
Opérateurs de drone Harfang
Pilote de combat
sur Mirage 2000
Fusillier commando en opération.Contrôleur de défense aérienne
Harfang UAV operators.
Fighter pilot on a Mirage 2000.
Fusilier commando in action.Aircraft maintenance technicians.
Air defence controller.
03Dijon
Villacoublay
Creil
Saint-Dizier
Paris
Bricy-Orléans
Metz
Ochey
Romorantin
Cinq-Mars-la-Pile Avord
Tours
Châteaudun
Cambrai
Reims
Lille
Taverny
Mérignac
Floirac
Brest
Bordeaux
Mont-de-Marsan
Cazaux
Istres
Nîmes
Varennes-sur-Allier
Salon-de-Provence
Orange
Cognac
Rochefort
Lyon
Mont-VerdunAmbérieu
La Valbonne
Évreux
Grenoble
Varces-Allières-et-Risset
Montlhéry
Brétigny
Saintes Clermont-Ferrand
PARIS - ILe-De-FRANCe
CLeRMONT-FeRRAND
ROCheFORT COGNAC
BORDeAux - MÉRIGNAC
MONT-De-MARSAN
ISTReSSALON-De-PROVeNCe
NîMeS ORANGe LAuDuN
LyON MT-VeRDuN
BOuRGeSAVORD
ÉVReux
CReIL
LILLe
TOuRS
CAzAux
Brest
DIjON
Ventiseri-Solenzara
Nancy Drachenbronn
Strasbourg
Cuers
Nice
Toulon
Draguignan
STRASBOuRGhAGueNAu
TOuLON
DRAGuIGNAN
ÉPINALLuxeuIL
LA VALBONNe
GReNOBLeANNeCy
ChAMBÉRy
VeNTISeRI-SOLeNzARA
NANCy
ORLÉANS BRICy
Overseas bases● Reunion● French Polynesia
Martinique● French Guiana● New Caledonia
Abroad bases Dakar (Senegal)
● Djibouti● United Arab Emirates● Gabon
Other Air locations
Airbases
Areas of Defence Air bases
Defence Air bases command
Closing of sites by 2012
ST-DIzIeRChAuMONT
MeTz
MONTLhÉRy
Luxeuil
03The operational str
ucture of the French Air Force is b
uilt on a network
of airbases. These are all interdependent and mutually complementary
to ensure rationalised use of re
sources.
AIR FORCE SITES
AS OF 2012
Defence BaseAirbases, which are the French Air Force’s actual combat units, are now grouped together in Defence Bases with other Ministry of Defence units. In this way, the resources of the different armed forces are pooled for common support and general administrative missions with a view to cutting operating costs. The money saved will be reinvested to procure new equipment and improve the conditions of defence personnel to enhance operational capability. The Defence Base Commander (ComBdD) reports to the Chief Of The Defence Staff.
AirbaseAn airbase is where all Air Force operational missions are prepared and from where they are carried out, whether they are permanent (e.g. permanent security posture, continuity of Government action) or temporary. To ensure that missions can be carried out without interruption, the airbase must be fully operational round the clock, ready for aircraft to land. The airbase is an administrative unit of the Air Force. As such, its Commander is the local representative of the Chief of the Air Staff (CEMAA).
12 13
0404
Air Force PersonnelAs of January 1st of 2011, the French Air Force is made up of 51,000 military personnel and 7,400 civilians, ma-king a total of less than 59,000, with women accounting for 22% of this total. This figure represents 14.7% of the country’s defence personnel.Although aircrews (pilots, navigators, and flight engi-neers) account for only 7% of Air Force personnel, all members of personnel play an equally vital role in gua-ranteeing the success of Air Force missions. In fulfilling their duties in their unit of assignment, members of per-sonnel in each of the 50 available professions all play a part in Air Force missions at all times, in all places and in all theatres of operations.
Being in the Air Force today Working in the Air Force is not like doing any other job, nor is it a choice to be made lightly. The general status of military personnel highlights the specifics of life in the armed forces. In particular, military personnel must be prepared to take lives and lay down their own.Everyone must keep the notion of “service” in mind. The notion of group, cohesion, and “esprit de corps” must be among the core values of personnel involved in air operations.The airbase plays a crucial role in ensuring cohesion, as it is where personnel from different commands, di-
visions and departments must work together to carry out a common mission.
Air Force budget The Air Force budget for 2010 amounts to €8.02 billion, representing 21.6% of the Ministry of Defence budget. Of this amount, €2.5 billion is earmarked for equipment.
Reserve ForcesThe French Air Force looks to the Reserve Forces to provide back-up, to keep the spirit of defence alive and to help maintain the bond between the nation and its armed forces. The Reserve Forces consist of the Operational Reserve and the Citizens’Reserve.The first was set up to provide operational units with back-up and to carry out missions on home territory. As of Ja-nuary 1st of 2008, 5,800 contracts had been signed, with an average of 25 days’active service per year.The Citizens’Reserve was set up to promote and spread defence values. It plays a vital opinion leadership role with local authorities and the population at large.
THE AIR FORCE MEMBERS
Every single airm
an, both flying and non flying, participate, within their sp
ecific field of
work, to the French Air Force missions. A
ll of those contrib
uting to the support of th
e
French Air Force structures, e
quipment men and women, bring their sk
ills to achieve the
organization wellbeing. The qualities expected of th
e air weapon must b
e detained by
each and everyone, whether they use the equipment or th
ey support it.
14 15
7, 400 civilians
7, 400 officers
300 volunteers
14, 400 enlisted military personnel
29, 400 NCOs
A C-160 aircraft landing in the desert of Djibouti.
05AIRCRAFT
PHOTOMISSIONS AND SPECIFIC FEATURES
Rafale
FIG
HTE
R A
IRC
RA
FTThe Rafale is a multi-role aircraft used for air superiority, ground attack,
reconnaissance and nuclear deterrence. It carries air-to-air and cruise
missiles and new-generation precision-guided munitions.
Mirage 2000-5 / CAir superiority aircraft carrying air-to-air missiles.
Mirage 2000 D
This conventional ground attack aircraft can be equipped with various
weapons, including laser- or GPS-guided, or conventional munitions and
cruise missiles.
Mirage 2000 N
Armed with the ASMP-A nuclear cruise missile, the Mirage 2000 N is
a nuclear strike aircraft and a key component in the French nuclear
deterrent. It can also fire conventional air-to-ground munitions, laser-
guided or otherwise.
Mirage F1 CR / CT
Equipped with airborne sensors and a reconnaissance pod, this
reconnaissance aircraft can fire conventional air-to-ground munitions,
laser-guided or otherwise.
Drone Harfang D
RO
NE The Harfang medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial
vehicle is used by the armed forces for reconnaissance and surveillance
missions. It can be used for interministerial and public service missions.
E-3F SDCA
STR
ATE
GIC
CA
PAB
ILIT
Y
Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS). These four aircraft have
a 400km air detection range and 8 hour endurance over the zone of
operations.
C-135 FR
On its main mission (air-to-air refuelling), the C-135 FR enables to extend
the range of four Rafale aircraft to 5,000km. It is also used for logistic,
freight transport and medical evacuation missions.
Airbus A340 TLRA
These aircraft are on long-term loan and are used for very long-range
logistic and freight transport missions. They are able to carry 44 t of
equipment or 279 passengers to 5,500km.
Airbus A310
These aircraft are used for logistic and freight transport missions. They
are able to carry 23,5 t of equipment or 209 passengers to 7,000km.
C-130 Hercules
TRA
NSP
OR
T A
IRC
RA
FT
This aircraft is used for tactical, logistic and freight transport as well as for
special operations. It can carry 10 t of equipment or 120 passengers to
5,500km.
C-160 Transall
Tactical, logistic and freight transport aircraft with air-to-air refuelling
capability for fighters or another C-160. It can carry 4 t of freight
or 89 passengers to 4,400km.
CASA CN235/200This tactical, logistic and freight transport aircraft can carry 3 t of freight
or 40 passengers to 2,000km.
FALCON
The Falcon is a light transport aircraft that can carry 13 passengers
to 6,500km.
AIRCRAFTPHOTO
MISSIONS AND SPECIFIC FEATURESTBM 700This is a light transport aircraft that can carry 4 passengers to 2,000km.
EC 725
HEL
ICO
PTE
RS
Modern helicopter that has been optimized to carry out combat search and rescue operations. It is also used for utility and medical evacuation missions.
PUMA SA330SUPER PUMA The Puma is used on combat search and rescue operations, as well as public service and sovereignty missions.
FENNEC AS 555 The Fennec is a light, twin-turbine helicopter used for air defence and search and rescue missions. It also takes part in sovereignty and public service missions.
Alphajet
TRA
ININ
G A
IRC
RA
FT
The Alphajet is a French-German training aircraft used to train fighter pilots at the French-Belgian school for European pilots.
XINGU EMB 121This Brazilian twin-turboprop aircraft is used to train military transport pilots.
EPSILONThe Epsilon is a French-built, piston single-engine aircraft used for initial training and preparatory training for fighter pilots.
GROB 120The Grob 120 is a side-by-side, two-seater aircraft used for initial training and preparatory training for transport pilots.
SAMP/T
SUR
FAC
E-TO
-AIR
Medium-range, surface-to-air system equipped with ASTER missiles.CROTALE
Short-range, surface-to-air system.
AIRCRAFT IN SERVICE
05
18 19
Design & proDuction:Service d’information
et de relations publiques de l’armée de l’air (Sirpa air)
5 bis, avenue de la Porte de Sèvres75015 Paris
photos:Sirpa Air Photo Department
WO Thierry Labataille, WO Olivier Ravenel, WO Cyril Amboise, WO Richard Nicolas-Nelson, WO Anthony Jeuland.
EH 1/61 “Pyrénées”
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/air
e-mail: sirpa@air.defense.gouv.fr
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