The French Air Force operates just over 1,000
aircraft of various types (combat, transport, liaison, training and
helicopters), from the Mirage 2000 to the Epsilon.
Twenty front line squadrons maintain 380 aircraft at readiness, prepared
to carry out missions at a moments notice. In order to take full advantage of
the flexibility of air power and to optimize the use of a limited number of
aircraft, all squadrons have primary and secondary missions:
Air-Defense with ground attack
Ground attack with air-defence
Reconnaissance with ground attack
AIR ACTIVITY
The air activity is conducted in France from about twenty operational
bases and five air defence radar sites, supported by approximately ten other
bases (HQs, operation centres, supply and maintenance depots, etc.)
The pre-positioning of some air assets overseas (combat and transport aircraft,
helicopters) facilitates a swift response to any request for assistance within
the framework of bi-lateral agreements and thus enables the defence of French
national interests.
The total annual flying commitment generates 320,000 flying hours each year
Aircraft of the French Airforce :
Fighter/Attack Aircraft :
-Rafale B/C
Rafale is a twin jet
combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long
range missions in day and night-time and in all weather conditions,
previously carried out by a number of different aircraft. The missions
include ground and sea attack, air defence and air superiority,
reconnaissance and high accuracy strike or nuclear strike deterrence.The
aircraft has been developed for the French Air Force and Navy. 76 have
been ordered out of a total requirement of around 300 (60 for the Navy and
234 for the Air Force)
-Mirage 2000 C/B/D/N/-5F
Mirage 2000 is a
multirole combat fighter by Dassault Aviation of France. It has been
operational with the French Air Force since 1984 and has been selected by
Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Greece, India, Peru, Qatar, Taiwan and the United Arab
Emirates.Mirage 2000-5 is the latest of the Mirage 2000 family, and
incorporates advanced avionics, new multiple target air-to-ground and
air-to-air firing procedures using the RDY radar and new sensor and
control systems.
-Jaguar A/E
Produced to meet a joint Anglo-French requirement in 1965
for a dual-role advanced/operational trainer and tactical support
aircraft, the Jaguar has been transformed into a potent fighter-bomber.A
variety of weapons including cluster, freefall, retard and laser guided
bombs, as well as rockets can be carried on the four wing and one fuselage
stations. Two 30mm cannon are mounted internally. To mark targets for
laser-guided weapons, the aircraft carries the thermal imaging and laser
designation (TIALD) pod. For self-defence, overwing Sidewinder infra-red
missiles are carried and the aircraft is fitted with a comprehensive suite
of electronic countermeasures.
- Mirage F-1 CR/CT/C/B
Following on the Mirage F-2, which was a revival of the
classic arrow-wing design with stabilizers, the Mirage F-1 is a defense
and air superiority single-seater plane. This revival was made possible by
technological advances which permit manufacture of ultra-thin but robust
wings, enabling at supersonic speeds flight performance equivalent to that
of delta wings. The integrity of the fuselage structure allows the
aircraft to carry a maximum amount of fuel.
Air surveillance and Support :
-Boeing E3F-AWACS
The E-3 Airborne
Warning and Control System (AWACS) is built by Boeing Defense & Space
Group. The role of the E-3 is to carry out airborne surveillance, and
command, control and communications (C3) functions for both tactical and
air defense forces. In the USA the aircraft carries the designation E-3
AWACS. The UK designation is E-3 Sentry AEW (Airborne Early Warning) and
the French designation is E-3 SDA (Systeme de Detection Aeroporte).
-C 135 FR/KC-135R
The piloted component of the strategic air assets includes
the in-flight refuelling capability of the C
135 FR aircraft powered by four CFM 56 engines ; these aircraft also
provide refuelling for all combat aircraft within the Air Force.
- C160 Gabriel
The C-160 Gabriel configures an ELINT subsystem provided by
Thomson-CSF Radars & Contre-Mesures for detection, analysis and
location of radar sources with a COMINT subsystem provided by Thomson-CSF
Communications for detection, interception, classification, listening-in,
analysis and location of radio transmitters. Thomson-CSF Radars &
Contre-Mesures has developed complete SIGINT electronic intelligence
systems for integration on board aircraft such as DC-8, Boeing 707, C-160,
Transall and C-130.
- DC8 Sarigue
Thomson-CSF work in communication electronic warfare
includes realization of the major listening-in and electromagnetic
intelligence collection systems for the French forces, realization of
interception and counter-measures tactical systems for numerous
international customers on all continents. The company has contributed -
in cooperation with Thomson-CSF Detexis - to the realization of French
airborne intelligence programs, such as Sarigue and Transall Gabriel.
France monitors radio communications of neighboring countries using the
Gabriel and Sarigue intelligence planes.
The DRM (Direction du renseignement militaire) collection network
consists of a small electro-magnetic interception unit aboard a Hélios
spy satellite, and listening stations aboard Sarigue and Gabriel aircraft
as well as aboard the Berry, a naval vessel.
Transport :
-C 160 Transall F/NG/R
The Transall C-160 first flew in 1963. Production was completed in 1972, but
in 1977 the program was reinstated to produce a “new generation” C-160 for
France. The last of these new generation aircraft entered service in 1987. The
wings are high-mounted and equally tapered outboard of the engines with blunt
tips. Two turboprop engines are mounted under and extend beyond the wings’
leading edges. The fuselage is long, thick, and tapered to the rear with a
round, solid nose, stepped cockpit and upswept tail section. The tail flats are
mid-mounted on a thinned body, equally tapered with blunt tips. The fin is tall
and tapered with a blunt tip and a fairing in the leading edge. 67 in use in the
French Airforce in the Tanker/Transport role.
-C 130H/H-30 Hercules
The C-130 has been in continuous production since 1954 and
over 2,100 Hercules have been built for 64 countries, accumulating over 24
million flight hours.The improvements built into the C-130J, which entered
production in 1997, have enhanced the performance of the aircraft in terms
of range, cruise ceiling,time to climb, speed and airfield requirements.
- CN-235-100
The CN-235 is a high-wing, pressurised, twin turbo-prop
plane with STOL performance that can carry a maximum payload of 6,000 kg.
Its maximum cruising speed is 240 Ktas and it has a range of 2,250
nautical miles with a payload of 3,550 kg. The CN-235 has been conceived
for tactical military transport and is capable of operating from unpaved
runways and has excellent low level flying characteristics for tactical
penetration.The CN-235 can be used to transport up to 48 paratroopers who
may jump out either of the two side doors or the rear ramp. The CN-235 is
able to carry out high and low altitude (HAD, LAPES) in-flight drops
distribution of up to four tons of supplies to forward troops. On medical
evacuation missions, the plane can transport up to 21 stretchers, with
four medics.
- A400M
The A400M (formerly
known as the Future Large Aircraft) is a military transporter designed to
meet the requirements of the air forces of Belgium, France, Germany,
Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The Airbus Military Company,
a subsidiary of Airbus Industrie, is responsible for management of the
A400M programmeDevelopment of the aircraft is scheduled to start in 2000,
with entry into service in 2006. It is expected that the number of
transporters required is about 280 aircraft, with Belgium requiring 12
aircraft, France about 70, Italy 32, Portugal 9, Spain 35, Turkey 20 and
the UK 45.
HELICOPTERS :
- SA 330 Puma
An agreement between was signed in 1967 between Westland and
Sud Aviation (later known as Aerospatiale) covering licence production of
48 SA330Es which were to be known as Puma HC1s.The Puma can operate as a
casualty evacuation aircraft, troop transport for up to 16 fully equipped
troops, as a medium lift transport carrying up to 5,500 lbs of freight.
- AS 532 UL Cougar (RESCO)
The Cougar name was adopted for all military variants, and
in 1990, all Super Puma designations were changed from AS 332 to AS 532 to
distinguish between civil and military variants. The Cougar was designed
to provide high performance, ease of deployment, low operating cost,
comfort, plus high mission readiness. For military use and adapting to
modern battlefield conditions, it features survivability, suitability for
tactical flight thanks to exceptional manoeuvrability, low observability,
low vulnerability to projectiles, crashworthiness. A multirole helicopter,
the Cougar can be armed with machine-guns and pod-mounted cannons, with
rockets, or with antisubmarine or antisurface weapon systems to suit
different mission requirements. Additional missions include: VIP
transport, electronic warfare, and anti-submarine warfare.
AS 532 Cougar Mk I UL/AL is the "long" version which can
carry up to 25 commandos or 6 injured passengers lying down and 10
other people. Like the other versions, it is capable of lifting 4.5
tons on a sling. The Horizon battlefield ground surveillance system
can be installed on the AS 532 UL.
-Cougar (Horizon)
The Horizon system,
Helicoptere d'Observation Radar et d'Investigation sur Zone, is
operational with the French Army. The helicopter surveillance system was
originally developed to counter any possible threat by the tank fleets of
the Warsaw Pact countries. The end of the Cold War and the uncertainty of
the timing and scope of new military threats has brought emphasis to the
importance of Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence, C3I, and
the role of the heliborne surveillance radar.
- AS 555 AN Fennec
The AS 550 C3 is the combat version of the single-engine
Fennec. It is fitted with sliding doors, a raised landing gear, an
instrument panel adapted to tactical flight and provisions for night
flight with night vision goggles. It can be fitted with axial weapons such
as a 20-mm gun, pod-mounted rocket launchers, a gun, a side-firing machine
gun, or in the anti-tank or air-air version, it can carry 4 missiles. The
AS 555 UN and AS 555 AN are the land versions of the twin-engine Fennec.
The AS 555 UN is particularly intended for reconnaissance/observation
missions, IFR training. The AS 555 AN is the armed version. It can be
fitted with the same weapons equipping the AS 550 C3.
-NH90
The NATO Frigate
Helicopter (NFH) is one of two versions of the NH90 twin engine multirole
helicopter being developed by NH Industries. The other version is the NH90
TTH Tactical Transport Helicopter. NH Industries, the prime contractor for
the programme, is a joint venture company owned by Agusta of Italy
(26.9%), Eurocopter Deutschland (24%) Eurocopter France (42.4%) and Fokker
of the Netherlands (6.7%). The estimated requirement by the participating
countries for naval NH90s is 182 (France 60, Germany 38, Italy 64 and the
Netherlands 20) and 544 for the Tactical Transport version. Four
prototypes have been built and flown and first deliveries are planned for
2003.
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