Back Franse Lugmag Afrikaans القوات الجوية الفرنسية Arabic Fransa Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri Azerbaijani Armée de l'air et de l'espace (Frañs) Breton Exèrcit de l'aire i de l'espai francès Catalan Francouzské letectvo Czech Armée de l'air Danish Französische Luftstreitkräfte German Aera kaj kosma armeo (Francio) Esperanto Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (Francia) Spanish
The French Air and Space Force (French: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, pronounced [aʁme d(ə) lɛʁ e d(ə) lɛspas], lit. 'Army of Air and Space') is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces.[1] Formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the French Air Force (Armée de l'air). On 10 September 2020, it assumed its current name, the French Air and Space Force, to reflect an "evolution of its mission" into the area of outer space.[2]
The number of aircraft in service with the French Air and Space Force varies depending on the source; the Ministry of Armed Forces gives a figure of 658 aircraft in 2014.[3][4] According to 2025 data, this figure includes 207 combat aircraft: 99 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 108 Dassault Rafale.[5] As of 2021,[update] the French Air and Space Force employs a total of 40,500 regular personnel, with a reserve element of 5,187 in 2014.[6]
The Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) is a direct subordinate of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA), a high-ranking military officer who in turn answers to the civilian Minister of the Armed Forces.[7]
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- ^ "Armée de l'Air et de I'Espace". defense.gouv.fr. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- ^ "France: Goodbye Air Force, hello Air and Space Force". 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Annuaire statistique de la défense 2013–2014" (in French). 10 July 2014.
- ^ "Annuaire statistiques de la défense 2012–2013". Archived 1 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in French). 4 June 2013.
- ^ "Military Database". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
- ^ "Key defence figures 2014" (PDF) (in French). Defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2014.
- ^ "L'organisation de l'armée de l'Air et de l'Espace". defense.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2 June 2024.