All French Air Force articles
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NewsFrance performs first ‘wet’ contact between A400M and H225M helicopter
France has carried out the first in-flight refuelling of an Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal using its Airbus Defence & Space A400M
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Analysis
How 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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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.
