All French Air Force articles
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NewsF-35s lead NATO nuclear deterrence exercise for first time
Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35As are leading NATO’s annual nuclear readiness drills for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the alliance’s 76-year history as the exercise incorporates modern warfare lessons from Ukraine.
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NewsFrench air force deploys first upgraded Mirage 2000Ds to Djibouti
The French air force has made a first operational deployment with its newly upgraded Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000D RMV combat aircraft, sending a pair of the jets to support a security commitment in Djibouti.
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NewsFrance puts Rafale fighter’s F4.3-standard updates through early assessment
Elements of the Dassault Aviation Rafale’s future F4.3 operating standard have undergone early assessment by France’s DGA defence procurement body.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters eyes H160M export sales as Guepard flight testing begins
Airbus Helicopters has kicked off flight testing of the H160M Guepard it is developing on behalf of the French armed forces following a 17 July maiden sortie.
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NewsDassault warns over FCAS future unless ‘clear leader’ is appointed
Brewing tension between Future Combat Air System (FCAS) partners Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defence & Space looks ready to boil over amid a growing row about the lack of a clear leader on the project.
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NewsMetrea builds KC-135 fleet as it waits on final trio from French air force
Commercial aerial refuelling provider Metrea is continuing to build up its fleet of Boeing KC-135 tankers as it also readies for the start of a new contract with the Indian air force later this year.
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NewsBabcock eyes military training expansion and hails Ukraine contribution
UK aviation services provider Babcock has highlighted the ongoing success of its contribution to the training of Ukrainian air force pilots, as it eyes further expansion of its training business across Europe.
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NewsFrance details defence spending hike, as Rafale F5 study work advances
France’s defence ministry has announced new orders worth €4 billion ($4.7 billion), with its efforts around “strengthening defence capabilities and defence innovation” having totalled €12 billion through the first half of this year.
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NewsFrench air force sends its last KC-135 tankers into retirement
France formally retired the last of its Boeing KC-135 tankers on 30 June, bringing to an end an operational run with the type which began in 1964.
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NewsAirbus validates A400M firefighting performance in French tests
Airbus Defence & Space has successfully validated the firefighting performance of its A400M airlifter during a series of test flights in southern France earlier this year.
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NewsFrance completes first development firing with MBDA’s Mica NG missile
France’s DGA defence procurement body has conducted a first development launch of MBDA’s enhanced Mica NG air-to-air missile.
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NewsFrance and Saab to negotiate GlobalEye acquisition
France’s DGA defence procurement agency and Saab have entered an agreement related to the possible acquisition of the GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft.
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NewsDassault ready to unveil Neuron-successor UCAV for French air force
The French air force’s future unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) will break cover during the Paris air show, with developer Dassault Aviation to reveal a model of the type within its static display.
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NewsDassault chief Trappier outlines roadmap for F5-standard Rafale
Dassault Aviation’s planned F5-standard Rafale fighter will have more powerful engines, improved survivability and data links, and will be accompanied by an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) weighing more than 10t, according to the French airframer’s chief executive.
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NewsFirst donated Mirage 2000-5 fighters arrive, as Ukraine also boosts F-16 fleet
Ukraine’s air force has received its first Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5 fighters from France, while also continuing to boost its fleet of donated Lockheed Martin F-16s.
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NewsFrance on track to receive final Rafales from tranche 4 order this year
Dassault Aviation will complete deliveries under France’s tranche 4 domestic production order for the Rafale fighter this year, following on from its bumper shipments in 2024.
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NewsNorthrop begins production of first E-2D for French navy
The three airborne command and control turboprops will replace France’s fleet of E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft.
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NewsBabcock picked as preferred bidder for French military flight-training programme
UK-headquartered Babcock has been chosen as the preferred bidder for France’s tri-service Mentor2 pilot-training programme.
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NewsAirbus Helicopters keeps Guepard on track as it eyes H160M export sales
Airbus Helicopters is making steady progress with the final assembly of its first H160M Guepard prototype ahead of the test asset’s maiden sortie next year.
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NewsCommercial air refuelling provider Metrea acquires entire French KC-135 tanker fleet
The US company will acquire all 14 of the French air force’s Boeing KC-135 tankers, including both the KC-/C-135FR and KC-/C-135RG variants, as Paris transitions to an all-Airbus tanker fleet.