All French Air Force articles
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NewsPartners close to agreement on next FCAS phase: Dassault chief
Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defence & Space appear to be inching closer to an agreement on the crucial Phase 1B contract for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) being developed by France, Germany and Spain.
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News
Second German C-130J to arrive at new French home this weekend
Super Hercules is part of Franco-German squadron based at Evreux in Normandy.
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News
Dassault plans Rafale rate rise to cope with export success
Output of Rafale fighters will increase to three per month by the middle of the decade on the back of export sales success for Dassault Aviation.
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France signs for 169 H160M Guepard helicopters, with deliveries to start in 2027
France has ordered 169 Airbus Helicopters H160M Guepards for the three branches of its armed forces, officially kicking off development activity for the type.
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Airbus Helicopters waits on go-ahead for H160M and Tiger MkIII developments
Airbus Helicopters is hopeful that a pair of development contracts will be signed off shortly allowing it to begin work on two key military programmes.
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Croatia signs for used Rafales from France
Croatia has signed for the acquisition of 12 secondhand Dassault Rafale fighters from France, following approval for the deal earlier this week.
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France 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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
