page_title: French Air Force
section_title: Structure
hierarchical_section_title: French Air Force / Structure
caption_attribution_description: Le général d'armée aérienne André Lanata, chef d'état-major de l'armée de l'air , en 2016.
context_page_description: The French Air Force is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, and then made an independent military arm in 1934. The number of aircraft in service with the French Air Force varies depending on the source, however sources from the French Ministry of Defence give a figure of 658 aircraft in 2014. The French Air Force has 225 combat aircraft in service, with the majority being 117 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 108 Dassault Rafale. As of early 2017, the French Air Force employs a total of 41,160 regular personnel. The reserve element of the air force consisted of 5,187 personnel of the Operational Reserve.
  The Chief of Staff of the French Air Force is a direct subordinate of the Chief of the Defence Staff.
  President Emmanuel Macron has stated the intent to rename the French Air Force into the Air and Space Force, in recognition of the increasing importance of the space domain.
context_section_description: The Chief of Staff of the French Air Force (CEMAA) determines French Air Force doctrines application and advises the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA) on the deployment, manner, and use of the Air Force. He is responsible for the preparation and logistic support of the French Air Force. The CEMAA is assisted by a Deputy Chief, the Major Général de l'Armée de l'Air. Finally, the CEMAA is assisted by the Inspectorate of the French Air Force (IAA) and by the French Air Force Health Service Inspection (ISSAA).
  The Air Force is organized in conformity to Chapter 4/ Title II/ Book II of the Third Part of the Defense Code (French: code de la Défense), which replaced decree n° 91-672 of 14 July 1991.
  Under the authority of the Chief of Staff of the French Air Force (CEMAA) in Paris, the Air Force includes:
  Chief of Staff of the French Air Force, heading the Etat-major de l'Armee de l'air (EMAA) ;
  Forces;
  Air Bases;
  Directorate of Human Resources of the French Air Force;
  Services.
  Air Force headquarters is co-located, alongside the Chief of the Defence Staff's offices (EMA) as well with Army and Navy headquarters at the Ballard. It numbers 150 aviators. The new site succeeds the former Paris Air Base (BA 117), the air staff headquarters buildings, dissolved on 25 June 2015.
caption: Général d'armée aérienne André Lanata, former chief of staff of the Armée de l'Air
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