French Air Force

By Robert Wall
France is pressing ahead with efforts to field an enhanced standard of its Rafale multi-role fighter and pair it with an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
As European nations grow increasingly worried about security in the Indo-Pacific region, their air forces explore scenarios for operating there.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Robert Wall
The two fighters were returning from a refueling training mission in Germany when the accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time on Aug. 14.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
Airbus is exploring initiatives to reduce the operation cost of its Airbus A400M airlifter.
Farnborough Airshow

By Tony Osborne
The French Air and Space Force is forming a new squadron with the Rafale now that manufacturer Dassault has resumed deliveries of the fighter to France.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The tankers add to the four boom-equipped KC-135Rs that Metrea acquired from the Republic of Singapore Air Force in 2021.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Chen Chuanren
The UK and France are testing their ability to project power to the Indo-Pacific at a time of growing political tension between Western states and China.
Budget, Policy & Operations

For more information about Aviation Week Intelligence Network’s (AWIN) 2024 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast and other Aviation Week data products, please see: https://pgs.aviationweek.com/forecast
AWIN Knowledge Center

By Thierry Dubois
Maneuvers of Russian spacecraft around France's satellites means Paris urgently needs patrol spacecraft, the French Air and Space Force space commander says.
Space

By Tony Osborne
The Pacific deployment is intended to build interoperability between the three partner nations in the next-generation European Future Combat Air System.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Helen Chachaty
France’s defense materiel agency DGA placed orders totaling €20.3 billion ($22 billion) during 2023, the highest level of spending in 15 years.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
Government-backed export campaigns, weapon packages and a clear development road map are steering Rafale to export success.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Helen Chachaty
France has placed a long-awaited order for 42 more Dassault Rafale combat aircraft to equip the country’s air force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The two-seat Rafale B was formally transferred on Oct. 2 during a ceremony at the Mont-de-Marsan air base, where Croatian pilots are being trained on the type.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even speaks to Aerospace DAILY about France’s key helicopter defense acquisitions.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
The French Air and Space Force has kicked off Pégase 2023, an annual military exercise, to demonstrate its capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Helen Chachaty
Following the March announcement of the Dassault Rafale's F4.1 standard qualification, France is continuing to retrofit the combat aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Helen Chachaty
Germany, France, the Netherlands and Czech Republic are discussing the future of strategic airlift and eyeing solutions for heavy and outsized cargo aircraft.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Helen Chachaty
Dassault Aviation has resumed Rafale deliveries to France and is currently negotiating a contract for a fifth batch of aircraft.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Helen Chachaty
The French Air Force has welcomed the launch of Phase 1B of the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, which will replace its Dassault Rafale fleet.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Helen Chachaty
The country’s latest military programming law was presented to the Council of Ministers on April 4.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Thierry Dubois
This year’s AsterX—a name evocative of both space and a popular cartoon character—was part of a joint exercise inspired by the war in Ukraine.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy challenged the UK Royal Navy’s carrier strike group during its deployment to the Pacific in 2021, an Airbus official says.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Thierry Dubois
Among the lessons the French Air and Space Force has learned from the war in Ukraine is the importance of suppressing enemy air defenses.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne, Thierry Dubois
France plans to spend more than €400 billion on defense in 2024-30, President Emmanuel Macron has declared.
Budget, Policy & Operations