All French Air Force articles
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AnalysisHow Franco-German FCAS could accelerate economic recovery
The award earlier this year of an 18-month initial contract for risk-reduction work on a French-German future combat air system programme has propelled the effort’s industry partners towards launching demonstrator flights from as early as 2026.
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French air force plans Puma replacement with leased H225s
France has begun a process to replace its air force’s fleet of ageing SA330 Puma rotorcraft with leased Airbus Helicopters H225s.
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France confirms interest in Chinook acquisition
The French air force has finally confirmed a long-rumoured interest in acquiring Boeing CH-47F Chinooks for special forces missions and hopes to lease a pair of the tandem-rotor helicopters as a trial before making a purchase.
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F3-R-standard Rafale gains key French approval
France has declared initial operational capability (IOC) with the F3-R-standard Dassault Rafale fighter.
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France receives its first KC-130J tanker
The French air force received its first of two Lockheed Martin KC-130J tankers at Orleans-Bricy air base on 19 September. The remaining example is planned for delivery in 2020, the airframer says.
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Anglo-French cruise missile project hits latest target
MBDA has cleared a key milestone on its path to developing an Anglo-French successor for its current Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missile and AM39 Exocet anti-ship weapon, with the receipt of bilateral approval to advance into its definition phase.
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PICTURE: France retires last Mirage 2000Ns
The French air force has retired the last of its Dassault Mirage 2000Ns, closing a 30-year service life that totalled more than 350,000 flying hours. Three specially liveried examples took part in a ceremony at Istres air base on 21 June to mark the milestone.
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Adapted Falcons to meet French air force EW need
Dassault will adapt a trio of Falcon business jets with Thales mission equipment for operations with the French air force, after Paris selected the combination for its "Epicure" airborne electronic warfare (EW) requirement.
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France receives first C-130J transport
France's first Lockheed Martin C-130J was delivered to its Orléans air base on 22 December 2017.
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France welcomes first tanker-equipped A400M
France has taken delivery of its first Airbus Defence & Space A400M equipped with underwing hose-and-drogue refuelling pods, edging its air force closer to introducing a new tactical tanker capability.
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France speeds PC-21 deliveries
France appears to have accelerated the delivery of 17 Pilatus PC-21 high-speed turboprops which will operate as trainer aircraft for its air force.
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French Hercules upgrade enters avionics testing
A modernisation programme for the French air force's Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports has passed an early milestone, with Rockwell Collins having installed its Flight2 avionics suite in a system integration laboratory in Toulouse.
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PICTURE: First Phénix tanker rises for France
Airbus Defence & Space has moved a step closer to delivering an A330 multi-role tanker transport to the French air force, after flying its first example on 7 September.
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Avionics upgrade to boost French AWACS fleet
An avionics upgrade will enable France's Boeing E-3F airborne warning and control system (AWACS) fleet to remain operationally relevant until at least 2035, the nation's DGA defence procurement agency says.
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France, UK advance deep strike weapons study
France and the UK have launched a three-year programme to advance the replacement of their current inventories of air-launched cruise missiles and anti-ship weapons, to enter use around the end of the next decade.
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French air force, Qinetiq confirmed as PC-21 buyers
Pilatus has announced a trio of orders for its PC-21 turboprop trainer, with the commitments totalling 21 units.
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Video: A400M carries out sand strip landing tests
Airbus Defence & Space has carried out flight testing of its A400M transport on a specially prepared sand runway during certification demonstrations in Woodridge, UK.
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Dassault details Rafale deliveries
Dassault delivered seven Rafale fighters during the first half of 2016, with its production backlog for the type now standing at 76 aircraft.
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French air force Mirage 2000Ds to receive mid-life upgrade
France’s DGA defence procurement agency has contracted Dassault to provide a mid-life upgrade to 55 of the French air force’s Mirage 2000D ground-attack aircraft.
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France receives first A400M with tactical capability
Airbus has delivered its first A400M capable of conducting tactical tasks such as the airdrop of supplies, with the French air force accepting the tactical transport on 8 June. Other new features include the addition of cockpit armour and defensive aids system equipment, plus clearance for the Atlas to transfer ...
