French Air Force

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The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. Its official name is the Armée de l'Air (literally, "army of the air").

General description

The organization of the Air Force is based on having a complete control of the air operation and on the flexibility of execution . This makes it possible to optimize the reactivity in times of peace as in times of crisis.

From this point of view, the Air Force is organized in three levels:
*the central level of command
*great operational and organic commands
*air bases

First level: the central level of command

The Head of the Armed Forces and the President of France create the general defense policy. The Prime Minister is in charge of national Defense. The Minister for Defense is responsible for the execution of the military policy. He is advised by the head of staff of armies (CEMA) with regard to the use of the forces and the control of the military operations. The head of staff of the Air Force (CEMAA) determines the doctrines of use of the Air Force and advises the CEMA as for the use of the air forces. He is also responsible for the preparation and the support of the air forces. The CEMAA is assisted by the staff of the Air Force (EMAA), directed by the general major general (GMG), and by the services of the police headquarters, responsible for the support: military staff management of the Air Force (DPMAA), service of the police station of the air, service of the material of the Air Force, service of the infrastructure of the air, and the integrated structure of maintenance in operational condition of the aeronautical materials of Defense (SIMMAD) . Lastly, the CEMAA is assisted by two inspections: the inspection of the Air Force (IAA) and the inspection of the health services of the Air Force (ISSAA).

Second level: Main commands

The French Air Force is founded on the principle of separation of the responsibilities between two types of main commands: operational commands (responsible for the use of the forces) and organic commands (in charge of their conditioning, their drive and the logistical support).

Third level: air bases

The air base is the essentiall combat tool of the Air Force whose operational activity unceasing.

The commander of an air base has authority over all the units stationed on the base, approximately 600 to 3 500 people. He supervises their conditioning and the execution of the orders.

The flying activity in France is carried out by a network of a score of bases platforms and five bases radars of air defense. It is supported by a dozen bases or detachments air with vocation of support (staffs, centers of operations, warehouses, workshops, schools...).

The organization of the bases is adapted to the flexibility and the speed of use of aircraft. In France, over the seas, or abroad, the bases very have an infrastructure of similar reception charged to provide support. The sailing units are spread to give the units the certainty that they will find on all the air bases the means necessary to execute their missions. This operating mode allows fast and easy creation projected air bases, which are established out of France.

Overseas, the presetting of certain air means (fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters) allows a fast response to any request for assistance entering within the framework of the international agreements. It also makes it possible as well as possible to ensure the defense of the interests of France. On average, a base platform, made up of a manpower of about 2200 men and women (that is to say nearly 5500 people with the families), represents an economic impact and financier of about 60 million euros per annum. The sites air thus constitute a major element of the regional planning.

History

The first use of a roundel on military aircraft was during the First World War by the French Air Force. It consisted of a blue-white-red design mirroring the Flag of France. The roundel was subsequently adopted by their allies, the British Royal Flying Corps, as their original painted Union Flags looked too much like the German cross.

It was originally established as the Aviation Militaire, a division of the French Army, in 1910, and is considered by many to be the world's first air force to be established. It did not become an independent branch of the military, however, until the 1930s.
* Armée de l'Air (Part I: From birth to "Torch", 1909-1942)
* Armée de l'Air (Part II: Fighting for Free France, 1940-1945)
* Armée de l'Air (Part III: End of empire in Indochina and Algeria, 1939-1962)

Equipment

The French Air Force operates more than 1,000 aircraft. 150 comprise the air mobility force (CFAP) and include aircraft such as the C-160 and the C-130 Hercules. The CFAP also includes 80 helicopters like the Super Puma and the Ecureuil. 330 fighter aircraft are incorporated into 19 squadrons charged with different missions.

Bases

* BA101 Toulouse-Francazal
* BA102 Dijon-Longvic
* BA103 Cambrai-Epinoy
* BA104 Le Bourget
* BA105 Evreux-Fauville
* BA106 Bordeaux-Mérignac
* BA107 Vélizy-Villacoublay
* BA110 Creil
* BA112 Reims-Champagne
* BA113 St Dizier-Robinson
* BA114 Aix-Les-Milles
* BA115 Orange-Caritat
* BA116 Luxeuil-St Sauveur
* BA117 Paris
* BA118 Mont-de-Marsan
* BA120 Cazaux
* BA123 Orléans-Bricy
* BA124 Strasbourg-Entzheim
* BA125 Istres-Le Tubé
* BA126 Solenzara
* BA128 Metz-Frescaty
* BA132 Colmar-Meyenheim
* BA133 Nancy-Ochey
* BA188 Djibouti-Ambouli
* BA190 Tahiti-Faaa (Polynésie Fr.)
* BA200 Apt-St Christol
* BA203 Bordeaux-Cenon
* BA217 Brétigny sur Orge (CEV)
* BA273 Romorantin-Pruniers
* BA274 Limoges
* BA277 Varennes sur Allier
* BA278 Ambérieu-en-Bugey
* BA279 Châteaudun
* BA551 Toul-Thouvenot
* BA552 Compiègne
* BA701 Salon-de-Provence
* BA702 Avord
* BA705 Tours-St Symphorien
* BA709 Cognac-Châteaubernard
* BA721 Rochefort-St Agnant
* BA722 Saintes-Thénac
* BA725 Chambéry-Les bains
* BA749 Grenoble
* BA901 Drachenbronn
* BA902 Contrexeville
* BA921 Taverny
* BA922 Doullens
* BA942 Lyon-Mont Verdun
* BA943 Nice-Mont Agel
* DA115 Narbonne
* DA136 Toul-Rosières
* DA160 Dakar-Yof (Sénégal)
* DA279 Chartres
* Cayenne-Rochambeau (French Guyana)
* CEV Melun-Villaroche
* Nouméa (New Caledonia)
* BA365''' Lamentin (Martinique)
* Roissy-Charles de Gaulle
* St Denis (Réunion)

Units

The list is incomplete.

Surveillance and Communications Command (CASSIC)

The surveillance and communications command is charged with means of detection and communication.

The ceremony for the 10 years of CASSIC

Strategic air command (CFAS)

CAS is charged with nuclear weapons.
* refueling squadron 00.093 Bretagne
* Fighter squadrons. All are equipped with Mirage 2000 N K2 fighter/bombers, and have as their primary mission strategic nuclear bombing using the ASMP standoff missile, and as their secondary mission conventional air assault.
** 1/4 Dauphiné
** 2/4 La Fayette
** 3/4 Limousin
* strategic reconnaissance squadron 1/91 Gascogne (French Air Force)
* tactical instruction center 00.339 Aquitaine