French Air and Space Force
Air and space warfare branch of France's armed forces
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2025 | Planned entry of Rafale F4 standard into operational service. |
2025 | Initial deliveries of Falcon 2000 Albatros Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft begin. |
2025 | Continued delivery of EDA-S amphibious vessels is planned, with four additional units intended for the Toulon naval base. |
2024 | Commencement of the new Military Planning Law (LPM) for 2024-2030, focusing on four strategic priorities: strengthening deterrence assets, preparing for high-intensity warfare, protecting national interests, and enhancing international partnerships. |
2024 | Planned completion of Atlantique 2 aircraft upgrades for the entire fleet. |
2024 | Ongoing modernization of first-rank surface combatant fleet, offshore patrol vessels, and logistic support fleets begins under the new Military Planning Law. |
2024 | Decision made to delay the start of construction of BDGM vessels by one year, pushing the construction start to 2025. |
2024 | FDI-class frigate Amiral Ronarc'h began sea trials. |
2024 | Late 2024 reports suggested the first Patrouilleur Hauturier ship would likely enter service in 2027. |
2024 | Initiation of major naval modernization programs, including replacement of ballistic missile submarines, nuclear attack submarines, and nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. |
June 2024 | Third Barracuda-class submarine began sea trials. |
May 2024 | A second Patrouilleur Outre-mer vessel arrived in Tahiti. |
March 2024 | Steel cut on the first SNLE 3G ballistic missile submarine. |
2023 | Second Barracuda-class submarine delivered. |
2023 | Initial operational capability for SLAM-F unmanned systems planned to be achieved, starting with shore-based elements. |
2023 | Minister of Armed Forces expressed support for feasibility studies on developing light force projection ships. |
2023 | Preliminary design work completed on 220 MW K22 nuclear reactors to power the new aircraft carrier. |
2023 | Parliamentary review of the 2024-30 LPM initiated amendments for light amphibious ships to restore troop and cargo transport capabilities in overseas territories. |
December 2023 | Construction of the third Jacques Chevallier-class vessel began. |
November 2023 | First seven Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (PH) vessels were ordered. |
October 15 2023 | The lead ship of the Patrouilleur Outre-mer class, Auguste Benebig, was launched at the Socarenam shipyard in Saint Malo. |
July 2023 | Syracuse 4B telecommunication satellite launched. |
July 2023 | The Jacques Chevallier was delivered to the French Navy. |
June 2023 | Successfully tested the Helma-P laser weapon system on the Horizon-class Forbin destroyer |
June 28 2023 | Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu discussed an additional €500 million needed for two more PH vessels during a Senate hearing. |
April 2023 | Auguste Benebig arrived at her home base in New Caledonia. |
April 4 2023 | The 2024-2030 Military Programming Law (LPM) was unveiled, revealing revised plans for patrol vessel acquisitions, including only 7 Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (PH) to be in service by 2030. |
March 2023 | CSO-3 satellite launched, completing the current Earth observation satellite constellation. |
March 2023 | The last six student fighter pilots received their badges on Alpha Jet, marking the end of the advanced jet training program with this aircraft. |
March 22 2023 | Transformed the Territorial Command of the Air and Space Army (CTAAE), formerly the Air Forces Command, on March 22, 2023. |
2022 | At Euronaval 2022, a partnership agreement was signed between the Belgian, Dutch, and French navies to enhance cooperation in mine warfare vessel development. |
December 2022 | French Navy begins delivery of the latest Exocet Block 3c anti-ship missile variant |
December 2022 | Sixth upgraded Atlantique 2 aircraft delivered to the French Navy. |
December 2022 | Sea trials for the Jacques Chevallier commenced. |
December 22 2022 | DGA awards Airbus Defence and Space and Dassault Aviation €10.9 million each for architecture studies on future maritime patrol aircraft, examining A320neo and Falcon 10X platforms. |
November 2022 | Upgraded Atlantique 2 aircraft reaches milestone of performing full spectrum of assigned missions. |
November 2022 | FDI-class frigate Amiral Ronarc'h launched. |
November 2022 | First Ophrys-class diving support vessel (VSP) was delivered, part of the planned 8 vessels to support mine warfare capabilities. |
July 2022 | Arbalète and Arquebuse entered operational service with the French Navy. |
July 2022 | Auguste Benebig began sea trials. |
May 2022 | Withdrew the last two Transall C-160 Gabriel reconnaissance aircraft from service. |
May 2022 | French Navy begins leasing 6 commercial H160 helicopters for search and rescue missions, to be operated for 10 years. |
April 2022 | The Jacques Chevallier was launched. |
February 2022 | Construction of the second ship of the class, Jacques Stosskopf, began. |
2021 | Formed the Air Force Firefighters Brigade (Brigade des pompiers de l'air), bringing together rescue and firefighting personnel into 25 units of around 1,500 personnel. |
2021 | Atlantique 2 aircraft upgrades reach full operating capability with the fifth upgraded aircraft delivered. |
December 17 2021 | FDI-class frigate Amiral Ronarc'h formally laid down. |
November 2021 | All 3 CERES electromagnetic intelligence satellites launched. |
November 2021 | First unmanned Mine Warfare Prototype of the SLAM-F system was delivered, marking a significant milestone in the French Navy's mine warfare vessel modernization program. |
November 2021 | First two EDA-S amphibious vessels (Arbalète and Arquebuse) were delivered to the French Navy. |
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