French Air and Space Force

  

French Royal Air and Space Force
Armée royale de l'air et de l'espace
Active	December 1, 1909 (1909-12-01) (as part of the French Army) July 2, 1930 (1930-07-02) (as an independent branch)
Country	France
Allegiance	King of the French
Type	Air and space force
Role	Air and space warfare
Size	56,500 active personnel (2021) 9,810 reserve personnel 918 aircraft
Part of	French Armed Forces
Engagements	Franco-German War Great War First Indochina War Algerian War Syrian Civil War Insurgency in the Maghreb
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	King Jean IV of France
Chief of the Air and Space Force	Général d´armée aérienne Joakim Ascone
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	E-3 Sentry
Fighter	Rafale, Mirage 2000
Helicopter	AS532 Cougar, Fennec, EC752 Caracal
Trainer	Alpha Jet, Pilatus PC-21, SOCATA TBM, Extra EA-300
Transport	Lockheed C-130, Airbus A310, Airbus A330, Airbus A400M, Dassault Falcon 7X, Dassault Falcon 900, Dassault Falcon 2000, Transall C-160, Boeing C-135FR

The French Royal Air and Space Force (French: Armée royale de l'air et de l'espace) is the air and 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 space warfare in modern militaries and as an "evolution of its mission" into the wider area of outer space.

France's aviation history is long and has seen French aircraft see major action in several war since the 20th century, starting with the Franco-German War against Germany in 1910 where the French Air Force saw its first deployment. Following the war, the Air Force went under major reorganization, reforms, and expansion under both the Third Republic and especially under the Fourth Republic where it became an independent branch of the military in 1930 and was one of the largest air forces in Europe by 1932 on the eve of the Great War, having air bases in both mainland Europe and in several overseas colonies in Africa and Asia. During the Great War, the French Air Force fought against the German Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom where it fought in its most famous air campaign, the Battle of Britain. French Air Force units also fought against the Italian Air Force in Southern Europe by 1935. In 1938, the air force was disbanded along with the rest of the French military following France's defeat and subsequent division in 1938. In 1944, the modern air force was established following rearmament of North France and was commonly known as the North French Air Force between 1944 until 2001 upon French reunification.

During the Cold War, the French Air Force participated in several conflicts such as the Algerian War in the 1960s and was viewed as one of North France's most important military units, being viewed as the "shield of Western Europe" by many in the Western Bloc. Since the end of 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 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 French monarch serves as the 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 General Staff (CEMA) and the 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 Wright Biplane for the military. In the following year, more biplanes would be purchased including a Bleroit and two Farmans. On 22 October 1910, general Pierre Roques was appointed 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.

Personnel

Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air at a war memorial.

Ecole de l'air cadets at the National Day Parade.

The French Air and Space Force has 56,500 active personnel and 9,810 reservists as of 2021. During the Cold War, the French Air Force reached a strength of 70,000 in the early 1980s. Since then the number has been continuously reduced. In 2003, it had 61,000 personnel, and this was reduced to 58,700 by 2010. Professions in the force are divided into flying and non-flying personnel. The latter category includes Systems Aerial Mechanics (French: mécanicien système aéronautique), Aerial Controllers (contrôleur aérien), Meteorologists (météorologue), Administrative Personnel, Air Parachute Commandos (Commandos parachutistes de l'air), in Informatics, in Infrastructures, in Intelligence, Commissioner of the Armies (Commissaire). The flying component includes Pilots, Mechanical Navigating Officer (Mécanicien Navigant), Navigating Arms Systems Officer (Navigateur Officier Système d'Armes), Combat Air Medic (Convoyeur de l'Air).

Officer training and selection is carried out at a number of institutions:

• École de l'air (Air School) for officer training, and then further training at the following specialist schools:
• École Militaire de l'Air (Military Air School)
• École des commissaires des armées (Commissioners Armies School)
• École de pilotage de l'Armée de l'air (Piloting School of the French Air and Space Force)
• École de l'aviation de transport (Aviation Transport School)
• École de l'aviation de chasse (Aviation Hunter Fighter Pilot School)
• École de transition opérationnelle (Operational Transition School)

Training for non-commissioned officers (Sous-Officiers) is done at:

• École de formation des sous-officiers de l'Armée de l'air (Air Force NCO School)
• École interarmées (Inter-arm School) for administrative specialists
• Escadron de formation des commandos de l'air (Commandos de l'Air School) for the Air Force Security Regiment

See also

• French Naval Aviation
• List of military aircraft of France

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