View source for French Air and Space Force

{{Icons|E-class|Altverse II}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name = French Royal Air and Space Force 
|native_name = ''Forces aériennes et spatiales françaises''
|image = Logo de l'Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace.svg
|image_size = 240px 
|dates = {{Start date and age|1909|12|1}} (as part of the [[French Army]])<br>{{Start date and age|1930|7|2}} (as an independent branch) 
|country = {{Flag|France}} 
|allegiance = [[File:Coat of Arms of the July Monarchy (1830-31).svg|22px]] [[Monarchy of France|King of the French]] 
|type = {{W|Air force|Air}} and {{W|space force}} 
|role = {{W|Aerial warfare|Air}} and {{W|space warfare}} 
|size = 40,500 active personnel (2021)<br>5,810 reserve personnel<br>918 aircraft 
|command_structure = [[French Armed Forces]] 
|colors = {{legend2|#1e64b4|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{legend2|#ffffff|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{legend2|#c80000|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
|battles = * [[Great War I]] 
* [[First Indochina War]] 
* [[Great War II]] 
* [[Algerian War]] 
* [[Syrian Civil War]] 
* [[Insurgency in the Maghreb]] 
|commander1 = [[Monarchy of France|King]] [[Jean IV of France]] 
|commander1_label = {{W|Commander-in-chief}} 
|identification_symbol = [[File:Drapeau royaliste français.png|150px]] 
|identification_symbol_label = {{W|Flag}} 
|identification_symbol_2 = [[File:Roundel of France.svg|100px]] 
|identification_symbol_2_label = {{W|Roundel}}
|identification_symbol_3 = [[File:Fin Flash of France.svg|100px]] 
|identification_symbol_3_label = {{W|Fin flash}}
|aircraft_electronic = {{W|Boeing E-3 Sentry|E-3 Sentry}} 
|aircraft_fighter = {{W|Dassault Rafale|Rafale}}, {{W|Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000}}  
|aircraft_helicopter = {{W|Eurocopter AS532 Cougar|AS532 Cougar}}, {{W|Eurocopter Fennec|Fennec}}, {{W|EC752 Caracal}} 
|aircraft_trainer = {{W|Alpha Jet}}, {{W|Pilatus PC-21}}, {{W|SOCATA TBM}}, {{W|Extra EA-300}}
|aircraft_transport = {{W|Lockheed C-130}}, {{W|Airbus A310}}, {{W|Airbus A330}}, {{W|Airbus A400M}}, {{W|Dassault Falcon 7X}}, {{W|Dassault Falcon 900}}, {{W|Dassault Falcon 2000}}, {{W|Transall C-160}}, {{W|Boeing C-135FR}}
}}
The '''French Air and Space Force''' ({{W|French language|French}}: ''Forces aériennes et spatiales françaises'') is the {{W|Air force|air}} and {{W|Space force|space}} force of the [[French Armed Forces]]. Formed in 1909 as the ''Service Aéronautiqu'', the aviation army of the [[French Army]], it was the first military aviation force in human history and is the oldest active air force in the world. In 1930, the French military was restructured and saw the French Air Force reorganized as an independent service branch. On 10 September 2020, it was renamed to the French Air and Space Force to emphasize the growing importance of {{W|Space warfare|space warfare}} in modern militaries and as an "evolution of its mission" into the wider area of {{W|outer space}}.

France's aviation history is long and has seen French aircraft see major action in [[Great War I]] against [[Germany]] and the [[Netherlands]] and later in [[Great War II]] as part of the [[Axis powers]]. The modern air force was created in the 1960s following the [[Orléans Restoration]] as part of the creation of the modern French Armed Forces. Since the [[Cold War]], the French Air Force has partaken in several multinational operations and continues this practice into the present day having participated in overseas operations with the [[Northern Treaty Organization]] such as the [[Syrian Civil War]] as part of the [[International Security Assistance Force]] and as part of French involvement in the [[Insurgency in the Maghreb]]. As a member of the NTO, the French Air and Space Force is part of the [[Allied Air Command]].

The number of aircraft has varied with sources giving different numbers; the [[Ministry of the Armed Forces (France)|Ministry of the Armed Forces]] listed 684 aircrtaft in 2014, while a 2018 estimate had it at 435, however the most recent estimate from 2021 has listed 918 active aircraft. As of 2021, the French Air and Space Force has 40,500 active duty personnel and another 5,810 in the reserve. The [[Monarchy of France|French monarch]] serves as the {{W|Commander-in-chief|commander-in-chief}} of the air and space force as part of the wider armed forces while the [[Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force]] (CEMAAE) is the most senior official of the branch and is subordinate only to the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (France)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] (CEMA) and the [[Minister of the Armed Forces (France)|Minister of the Armed Forces]].

==History==
===Beginnings and early history===
The history of the French Air and Space Force dates back to the founding of the ''Service Aéronautique'' in 1 December 1909 after the French War Minister purchased a {{W|Wright Biplane}} for the military. In the following year, more biplanes would be purchased including a {{W|Bleroit}} and two {{W|Farmans}}. On 22 October 1910, general {{W|Pierre Roques}} was appointed {{W|Inspector General}} of what was officially called the ''Cinquime Arme'' or the Fifth Service of the French Army. Roques himself would be instrumental as the founder and creator of the French Air Force at-large.

In March 1912, the French Parliament passed legislation to formally establish an air arm. It was projected to consist of three main branches based on aircraft missions—reconnissance, bombing, and countering enemy aircraft. 
===Development and Great War I=== 
===Interwar period===
===Great War II===
===1959–present===
==Structure==
===Commands===
===Fighter wings===
===Support services===
==Air bases==
==Equipment==
===Aircraft===
===Air defence===
===Satellites===
==Personnel==
==Ranks==
==See also==
{{Portal|France}} 
*[[French Naval Aviation]]
*{{W|List of military aircraft of France}} 
{{Air forces in Europe}}
{{Space forces}} 
[[Category:French Air and Space Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1909]]
[[Category:Military of France]]
[[Category:Air forces by country]]