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 number of aircraft in service with the French Air Force varies depending on source, however sources from the French Ministry of Defence give a figure of 806 aircraft in 2014. As of early 2014, the French Air Force employs a total of 58,870 regular personnel. The reserve element of the air force consisted of 5,450 personnel of the Operational Reserve.
The Minister of Defence is responsible for execution of 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 of the French Air Force (CEMAA) determines the air force doctrines and advises the CEMA how to deploy French air assets. He is responsible for the preparation and logistic support of the air force.
Aircraft Inventory[]
Combat Aircraft[]
Dassault Mirage 2000-5F x 32 (Multirole Fighter)- Dassault Mirage 2000N/D x 68 (Tactical Bomber)
- Dassault Mirage 4000 x 96 (Multirole Fighter)
Dassault Rafale x 136 (Multirole Fighter) - 116 more on order
ELINT Aircraft[]
- Dassault Mercure AEW3 x 8 (AEW&C)
- Dassault Falcon 8X Archange x 0 (SIGINT/ELINT Aircraft) - 4 aircraft on order
- Pilatus ASLR VADOR x 2 (ISTAR/SIGINT Aircraft) - 8 aircraft on order
Transport and Utility Aircraft[]
- / Airbus A310 MRTT x 4 (Aerial Tanker)
- / Airbus A330 MRTT Phénix x 12 (Aerial Tanker) - 4 more on order
- / Airbus A330-243 x 4 (VIP Transport) - 4 more on order
- / Airbus A400M Atlas x 22 (Tactical Transport) - 28 more on order
- Armstrong Whitworth Aberdeen x 16 (Tactical Transport)
- CASA/IPTN CN-235-200/300 x 28 (Transport Aircraft)
- Dassault Falcon 7X x 2 (VIP Transport)
- Dassault Falcon 900 x 2 (VIP Transport)
- Dassault Falcon 2000EX/LX x 2 (VIP Transport)
- De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter x 6 (Transport Aircraft)
- Embraer C-390 Millennium x 12 (Tactical Transport)
- Embraer KC-390 Millennium x 2 (Aerial Tanker)
- Socata TBM 700A x 16 (Utility Transport)
Helicopters[]
- Aérospatiale SA330 Puma x 22 (Transport Helicopter)
- Airbus Helicopters H160M Guépard x 0 (Utility Helicopter) - 40 on order
- Airbus Helicopters H215 Super Puma x 4 (VIP Transport)
- Airbus Helicopters H225 Super Puma x 2 (Transport/SAR Helicopter)
- Airbus H225M Caracal x 14 (CSAR/SOF Helicopter) - 8 more on order
- Eurocopter AS555 Fennec II x 40 (Utility/Training Helicopter)
Trainer Aircraft[]
- Airbus Helicopters H225 Super Puma x 2 (Rotorcraft Trainer)
- / Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet E+ x 56 (Advanced Trainer)
- Diamond HK36 Super Dimona x 6 (Motor Glider)
- / Diamond DA40 x 26 (Ab initio Trainer)
- Embraer EMB 121 Xingu AA/AN x 24 (Multi-Engine Trainer/Navigation Trainer)
- Grob G 120A-F x 16 (Basic Trainer)
- Pilatus PC-21 x 26 (Advanced Trainer)
Aerobatic Aircraft[]
- / Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet x 12 (Aerobatic Aircraft)
- Walter Extra 300 x 4 (Aerobatic Aircraft)
UAVs[]
- Dassault Grand Duc x 12 (Stealth UCAV)
- / EADS Barracuda x 12 (Reconnaissance UAV)
- / EADS Harfang x 4 (Reconnaissance UAV)
- IAI Eitan x 10 (Reconnaissance UAV)
