Salon du Bourget 2013 - L’Armée de l’air, an Instrument of Power for France
Digital Issue - Centre d'études stratégiques aérospatiales et Armée de l'air - June 2013 - 104 pages
On the occasion of the Salon du Bourget, it with great pleasure that I preface for the first time this special edition of Revue Défense Nationale, dedicated to the French Air Force. Through its many high quality contributions, this edition offers the excellent opportunity to discover how the Armée de l’air puts its five core capabilities into action across its numerous commitments. The five capabilities, of planning, commanding and conducting air operations; collecting intelligence; immediate response; rapid and long distance projection; and high-level training are those which ensure the Air Force is ready for action within our sovereign territory and beyond. Modernisation of these capabilities will ensure that tomorrow’s Air Force will remain a powerful tool in the service of the nation, supporting the five strategic functions of deterrence, protection, awareness and anticipation, prevention and intervention. The very coherence and strength of the Air Force is rooted in its ability to put all its capabilities into effect in support of these functions. Lire la suite
Permanent missions
French command and control (C2) is now an essential element of air defence of the homeland, and of external operations. In tracing the history of C2 from the very beginning of air operations through to the latest developments, this article highlights one of the fundamental capabilities of the French Air Force. Lire la suite
The Strategic air forces (FAS) are the airborne component of the French nuclear deterrent and, since 1964 have been fundamental to the expression of French power. This component remains a central and unifying element for the development of the French Air Force. Lire la suite
The Air Force and National Security - Emaa - p. 23-27
In responding to the challenge of maintaining national security, the French state can rely upon the fundamental capabilities of its Air Force. The very special capabilities of this Force contribute effectively and appropriately to that national security. Lire la suite
The capability to act fast and far : three recent commitments
The author takes us back to the Afghan model, and to its first use in Afghanistan, to remind us of its basic principles. Study of recent conflicts has confirmed that the Afghan model, an air-dominated strategic tool, is as relevant as ever and has high coercion value when used in the right conditions. Moreover, it is a tool whose strength should be recognised and which should be integrated into the range of strategies that may be put into effect by our forces. Lire la suite
The air campaign in Libya was the fruit of careful preparation. Faced with a campaign in which the participants were sometimes difficult to distinguish, the French Air Force was able to adapt its resources to carry out precision strikes. Lire la suite
Serval: an Exemplary French Air Force Operation - Emaa - p. 43-50
An air force is a powerful tool: in Operation Serval in Mali, the French Air Force has fully demonstrated this fact through its reactivity, command and ISR capabilities, and its strategic and tactical mobility. Lire la suite
The fundamental capabilities at the heart of modernisation
Through its ability to supervise and drive air operations (using C2 Air), the French Air Force represents for France a real instrument of power, and provides the country with a key capability in the execution of its international responsibilities. Lire la suite
The author, who is an expert in the field, considers that the drone differs from a combat aircraft only to the extent that its in-flight endurance allows the pilot to remain on the ground. From this standpoint, he explains the invalidity of any reticence to use the drone as a tool like any other during combat. Lire la suite
This article spotlights the expansion of strategic space that will result from the introduction of A400M and MRTT aircraft. French force and power projection can now be envisaged using a more dynamic approach to the networking of our support bases. Lire la suite
Rafale is notable for its completely multi-role aspect. Its deployment in many different theatres of conflict enables us to understand its development better, and to see how it has been able to adapt fully to all of the types of operation to which the French Air Force has been committed over the past ten years. Lire la suite
There has been a gradual increase in simulation as an essential ingredient in the training of combat pilots. That notwithstanding, real flight remains the cornerstone of training experts in the military aeronautical environment. Could the best balance between the two be found in on-board simulation during real flight ? Lire la suite
The Men and Women of the French Air Force - Emaa - p. 76-78
By dint of the quality of their training, the men and women of the French Air Force are genuine assets to defence in general, but also to the whole of civil society to which they contribute in terms of the values they develop within their profession. Lire la suite
Looking to the future
Trying to identify changes in the battlefield fifteen years from now might seem to be attempting the impossible. In drawing inspiration from clear trends, it is nevertheless possible to see three major changes : the number and type of players present on the battlefield, a proliferation of technologies, and the nature of the environments of conflict. Such analysis is central to preparing aerospace power for the challenges of tomorrow. Lire la suite
Adapting Military Capability - Emaa - p. 94-97
Over the past ten years the strategic landscape has been dominated by what are called asymmetric conflicts. Whilst this context has served to highlight certain capabilities, it should not be used as a pretext for abando- ning others which are best suited to high-intensity conflict. Lire la suite
Franco-American Space Cooperation - Béatrice Hainaut - p. 98-102
Very early in the game France and the United States developed cooperation between their respective national space agencies. Scientific cooperation is today developing into more political cooperation in a framework for military use of space. This change partly results from the American administration, which would wish to develop its space diplomacy. Lire la suite
