French Air and Space Force – Paris Air Show 2023 – Aerospace Power & High Intensity Warfare
The 54th edition of the Paris Air Show provides an opportunity for the Revue Défense Nationale (RDN) to dedicate a special issue to the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace—AAE), and the theme of aerospace power in particular.
In a context marked by the return of great power competition, the return of war to Europe and the militarisation of high airspace and space, aerospace power preeminence is constantly and firmly established. The war in Ukraine serves as a reminder: there can be no freedom of action on the ground without prior mastery of the third dimension. Through its operational characteristics (speed, range and accuracy) and the versatility of its resources, the AAE contributes directly to France’s strategic autonomy and offers political leaders decisive effects to “Deter—Defend—Defeat” a potential competitor or adversary.
Addressing the future challenges of aerospace power involves considering its adaptation to looming threats. While this reflection implies considerations on technical capabilities, it also encompasses the issue of human resources: each day, airwomen and men devote their proficiency and competence in the name of excellence, thus allowing the AAE to meet its operational requirements.
Lastly, this issue rounds off with an analysis of the consequences of the transition from a peace economy to a “war economy”. It will enable the reader to grasp the importance of industrial and logistics issues that constitute one of the foundations upon which aerospace strategy relies.
The aim of this special issue of the RDN is to draw an overview of today’s preoccupation, but most importantly, to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.
Digital Issue – June 2023 – 130 pages
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Preface - Stéphane Mille - p. 7-7
As the doors open onto the 54th edition of the Paris Air Show, this special issue of Revue Défense Nationale focuses on the interests of the French Air and Space Force in the current international context. Lire la suite
Challenges for Aerospace Power in a Disrupted Geopolitical Context
The period from 2013 to 2022 proved particularly demanding for the French forces, in particular with their commitment to Operations Serval and Barkhane. These two missions symbolise recent French commitments in the Sahel-Sahara Strip and highlight the skills of our armed forces. Without intending to be exhaustive, this article brings out some of the many ways in which the Air and Space Force contributed to the collective effort. Lire la suite
The conflict in Ukraine has made us conscious that Europe is no longer safe from a major crisis or even war. As NATO establishes its order of battle to face a high-intensity conflict, it is vital that the member countries of the Alliance, the Europeans in particular, take full measure of the changes needed for ensuring their protection in terms of organisation and capability. Lire la suite
Since 2022, the war in Ukraine has been conducted in the shadow of the nuclear threat. Russia is employing this threat in its strategy of coercion. Other nuclear weapon states must now decide how they wish to respond to the Russian rhetoric without sparking off a dangerous escalation. On bilateral and multilateral levels the nuclear world order is being disrupted by this conflict and by use of the nuclear threat. Lire la suite
The War in Ukraine and Space Theatre - Anne Maurin - p. 30-36
Exo-atmospheric space entered the battlefield before the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. In the months following 24 February 2022, two space coalitions combining public and private assets began to face each other, turning the contested space environment into a potential theatre of confrontation. Lire la suite
The French Air and Space Force contributes to the use of the third dimension as a diplomatic field of manoeuvre by deploying its assets for the purposes of influence or coercion. Deployments such as Pégase, in 2022, illustrate this ‘diplomacy of air power’, based on force and power projection, in the support of French Indo-Pacific strategy. Lire la suite
US Air Power in the Indo-Pacific Region - Paco Milhiet - p. 43-49
The United States is a multi-dimensional power with a systemic air advantage in the Indo-Pacific region. Nevertheless, the hybrid action conducted by the Chinese Air Forces, especially around Taiwan, is gradually redefining the regional balance. Lire la suite
Adapting Air Forces to New Threats
Not enough or far too much—the format of combat aviation has always been at the heart of public debate, one which reflects its importance for our defence as much as it does the pressing need to adapt it to the new threats if it is to remain credible. Hidden behind the headline numbers of aircraft is a set of far less obvious, though equally crucial variables to take into account for holding our place in the world. Lire la suite
Multi-domain operations (MDO) and the continuum of competition, contest and confrontation require the armed forces to reinforce the agility of their command and control (C2) systems in the integration their effectors in order to guarantee freedom of action and decisional superiority over adversary. Lire la suite
The US Air Force and the French Air and Space Force share common history, but also priorities and challenges in today’s technological and political environment. Regarding the threats that are looming on the horizon, both must engage in strategic thinking based on four priorities: readiness, preparedness, sustainability and interoperability. Lire la suite
In a context of an increasingly difficult international security environment and of modernisation of its capabilities, the French Air and Space Force has to respond to the challenges of recruitment and retention in the face of an enticing and predatory private sector. It has adopted a wide-ranging approach which includes adding value to team spirit and to the relationship between chief and subordinate. Lire la suite
Air Power and Moral Force - Amaury Colcombet - p. 77-82
For aviators, the idea of moral force is a matter of their collective ability to overcome the particular stresses of their profession in facing up to their responsibilities. These require them to transmit a message which can sometimes run contrary to the more easily drawn conclusions of recent conflicts. Lire la suite
At a time of unprecedented technological change our interests in space are being confronted by new risks and emerging threats. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces took them into account in its 2019 Space Defence Strategy (Stratégie spatiale de défense). It has created the Space Command (Commandement de l’Espace—CDE), whose build-up will generate an initial operational capability in Toulouse in 2025 to cover all military space operations. Lire la suite
A robust and credible ground-based air defence (GBAD) component contributes to control of the third dimension by producing decisive effects on modern battlefields. The stakes of GBAD at the centre of current headquarters’ thought processes are all the more relevant, given current military events. Lire la suite
Drones have been occupying an increasingly dominant position in recent conflicts. Their advantages are synonymous with opportunities for the armed forces. Nevertheless, they should be seen in the more general framework of the air order of battle since, more than an end in themselves, drones are a force multiplier meriting consideration as a complement to other piloted platforms. Lire la suite
Aerospace Sector Industries Facing the Possibility of a War Economy
Since the dawn of aviation, technology has shaped air warfare. In the face of hardening threats, agility, reactivity and resilience should be the drivers of strategic thought on use of the air arm. In favouring speed, range and precision, emerging and disruptive technologies will improve force generation and sustainability. Digital transformation is the catalyst at the heart of what is at stake in the future competitive environment. Lire la suite
European countries find themselves in the middle of a procurement trilemma, unable to achieve major economic advantages, the greatest possible strategic independence and relatively low procurement cost all at the same time. The different procurement strategies examined in the light of this trilemma establish the price of sovereignty. Lire la suite
The management of munitions stocks and flows is essential to prevent military manoeuvres from slowing or stalling. This article explains the workings of the Joint Munitions Service (Service interarmées des munitions—SIMu), which maintains French munitions stockpiles, and offers an insight to the complexity of its operations and how stocks are maintained. Lire la suite
At a time when the international security situation is characterised by permanent competition between states to guarantee their access to exo-atmospheric space, the growth in the space industry offers great opportunities. The Integrated Review and the Defence Command Paper give the necessary backing to the Own, Collaborate and Access framework, which will enable the United Kingdom to seize them. Lire la suite
