All French Air Force articles
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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.
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NewsPentagon 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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NewsFinal 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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NewsSerbia 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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NewsRafale 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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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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NewsSecond 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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NewsDassault 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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NewsFrance 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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NewsAirbus 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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NewsCroatia 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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NewsFrance 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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AnalysisHow 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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NewsFrench 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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NewsFrance 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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NewsF3-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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NewsFrance 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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NewsAnglo-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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NewsPICTURE: 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.