All French Air Force articles
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Babcock 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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France 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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French 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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Airbus 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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France 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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France 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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Dassault 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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Dassault 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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First 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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France 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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Northrop 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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Babcock 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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Airbus 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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Commercial 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.
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Pentagon supports French vow to supply Ukraine with Mirage 2000 fighters
Although previous objections had been expressed to Sweden providing Gripen fighters, Washington is expressing support for a similar move by France to transfer some of its older Dassault jets.
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Final assembly of first of three H160M prototypes to begin soon
Airbus Helicopters has increased the number of H160M Guepard prototypes it intends to build, with final assembly of the first of three examples set to begin shortly.
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Serbia set to become latest customer for Rafale fighter
Serbia looks set to become the latest customer for the Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter, with an order for a dozen examples to be finalised in the coming months.
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Rafale ramp-up in full swing to meet soaring demand
Dassault Aviation continues to increase production of its Rafale fighter to meet soaring demand from the export market as total orders for the multirole type near the 500-unit mark. The French airframer took in 60 orders for the Rafale last year – 42 tranche 5 jets for the French air ...
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Partners 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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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.