French Air Force The French Air Force ( ( ) , literally Army of the Air ) 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 , then was made an independent military arm in 1933 . The number of aircraft in service with the French Air Force varies depending on source , however sources from the French Ministry of Defence give a figure of 658 aircraft in 2013 . History . The French took active interest in developing the air force from 1909 and had the first World War I fighter pilots . During the interwar years , however , particularly in the 1930s , the quality fell after they compared with the Luftwaffe , which crushed the French during the Battle of France . In the post – World War II era , the French made a successful effort to develop a domestic aircraft industry . Dassault Aviation led the way mainly with delta - wing designs , which formed the basis for the Mirage series of jet fighters . The Mirage demonstrated its abilities in the Six - Day War , Yom Kippur War , the Falklands War and the Gulf War , becoming one of the most popular jet fighters of its day , with a high quantity of sales . The French Air Force participated in several protracted colonial wars in Africa and Indochina after WWII , and continues to employ its air power in Africa . From January 1964 , the French political leadership , now prioritising nuclear deterrence , put in train a complete reorganisation of the Air Force , with the creation of four air régions and seven major specialised commands , among which was the Strategic Air Forces Command ( Commandement des forces aérienne stratégiques ) ( CoFAS ) . The Dassault Mirage IV , the principal French strategic bomber , was designed to strike Soviet positions as part of the French nuclear triad . Also created in 1964 was the " Escadron des Fusiliers Commandos de l ' Air " ( EFCA ) , seemingly grouping all FCA units . In 1985 , the Air Force had four major flying commands , the Strategic Air Forces Command , the Tactical Air Forces Command , the Military Air Transport Command ( ) , and the " Commandement Air des Forces de Défense Aérienne " ( Air Command of Air Defence Forces ) . CFAS had two squadrons of S - 3 IRBM s at the Plateau d ' Albion , six squadrons of Mirage IV As ( at Mont de Marsan , Cazaux , Orange , Istres , St Dizier , and EB 3 / 94 at Luxeuil ) , and three squadrons of KC - 135 Fs , as well as a training / reconnaissance unit , CIFAS 328 , at Bordeaux . The tactical air command included wings EC 3 , EC 4 , EC 7 , EC 11 , EC 13 , and ER 33 , with a total of 19 squadrons of Mirage III , Jaguars , two squadrons flying the Mirage 5 F ( EC 2 / 13 and EC 3 / 13 , both at Colmar ) , and a squadron flying the Mirage F . 1 CR . CoTAM counted 28 squadrons , of which ten were fixed - wing transport squadrons , and the remainder helicopter and liaison squadrons , at least five of which were overseas . CAFDA numbered 14 squadrons mostly flying the Mirage F . 1 C . Two other commands had flying units , the Air Force Schools Command ( CEAA ) , and the Air Force Transmissions Command , with four squadrons and three trials units . In 1994 the Commandement des Fusiliers Commandos de l ' Air was established . Currently , the French Air Force is expanding and replacing aircraft inventory . The French are awaiting the A400M military transport aircraft , which is still in developmental stages , and the integration of the new Dassault Rafale multi - role jet fighter , whose first squadron of 20 aircraft became operational in 2006 at Saint - Dizier . After an absence lasting several decades , the French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that France will rejoin the NATO integrated command . France has also been a lead nation , alongside the United States , Great Britain and Italy in implementing the UN sponsored no - fly zone in Libya ( NATO ' Odyessy Dawn ' ) , deploying 20 fighter aircraft to Benghazi in defense of rebel held positions and the civilian population . From 2008 - 2010 the Air Force underwent an organisational streamlining process . This project was called Air 2010 , which was the year of the deadline for all transitions . The main targets of this project were to simplify the command structure , to regroup all military and civil air force functions and to rationalise and optimise all air force units . Five major commands , were formed , instead of the former 13 , and to disband several commands and units . Structure . The Minister of Defence is responsible for execution of military policy . He is advised by the " Chief of Staff of the Armies " ( CEMA ) in regard to the use of forces and the control of military operations . The Chief of Staff of the French Air Force ( CEMAA ) determines the air force doctrines and advises the CEMA how to deploy French air assets . He is responsible for the preparation and logistic support of the air force . The CEMAA is assisted by the " air force staff and " by " its subordinate services " . Finally , the CEMAA is assisted by the inspection of the air force ( IAA ) and by the air force health service inspection ( ISSAA ) . Higher commands . The Air Force ' s responsibilities are separated in two main types of commands : operational commands ( direct responsible for force deployment ) and organic commands ( in charge of conditioning and logistic support ) . This command controls all the air force ' s nuclear assets , and is responsible for the operational condition and the eventual deployment of these weapons . The CFAS is one of the two pillars of the French nuclear deterrent . CFAS has two squadrons of dual capable aircraft , one of Mirage 2000N fighter / bombers capable of carrying the nuclear Air - Sol Moyenne Portée stand - off missile ( EC 2 / 4 at Istres Le Tube ) , one of Rafales ( EC 1 / 91 Gascogne at Saint - Dizier – Robinson Air Base ) and a squadron of C - 135FR in - flight refueling tankers . The CFAS commanding general is responsible for the execution of the mission . This overall command is responsible for all air operations in peacetime serving the public , for the defence of the French airspace and for all offensive and defensive air operations at war . CDAOA , based in Paris and Lyon , plans and executes all air operations . Former Commandement air des systèmes de surveillance , d ' informations et de communication ( CASSIC ) personnel are embedded here to develop exercises and operations abroad . A new command which was inaugurated in 2006 . Its headquarters is at Metz . It is responsible for ensuring and to maintain the operational condition of all branches of the air force now and for the future . Today the CFA consists of 16 fighter , 25 air defence squadrons , one electronic warfare squadron , and simulator and instruction centres . At its airbases in Europe and abroad the CFA has 16 , 000 personnel , 246 fighter aircraft , 111 transport aircraft and 83 helicopters . The command is divided into : Circa 2013 the CFA and the former commandement du soutien de la force aérienne ( CSFA ) merged . CSFA , based in Bordeaux , directed the technical and logistical assets . Since 2006 it had taken over many ex - CASSIC projects . Responsible for training all new air force personnel as well as on the technical and on the job training of the other air force personnel , as well as the officers and NCO training . CEAA is also responsible for all schools and training facilities . Airbases . The air base command levels are the combat assets of the ALA . An airbase commander has authority over all units stationed on his base . Depending on the units tasks this means that he is responsible for approximately 600 to 2500 personnel . Flying activity in France is carried out by a network of bases , platforms and French air defence radar systems . It is supported by bases , which are supervised and maintained by staff , centres of operations , warehouses , workshops , and schools . Both in France and abroad , bases have almost similar infrastructure to provide standardised support . This operational mode allows fast and easy creation of air bases outside of France . Overseas , fighters , transport aircraft and helicopters allow quick response to any request for assistance that falls within international agreements . On average , a base platform , made up of about 1500 personnel ( nearly 3500 people including family ) , provides a yearly economic boost to its area of about 60 million euros . Consequently , determining the sites for air bases constitutes a major part of regional planning . Bases . Northern region . Two bases have recently been closed ; DA 922 Doullens air detachment , a disbanded command reporting centre , and Taverny Air Base , the former Strategic Air Forces Command headquarters . Equipment . The French Air Force has 250 combat aircraft in service , with the majority being 144 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 87 Dassault Rafale . The last remaining squadron of Dassault Mirage F1 s will be retired in September 2014 and replaced by Rafale . The 2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security allows for only 225 combat aircraft in service with both the French Air Force " and " the French Naval Aviation by 2019 . With a split of around 180 in the air force and 45 in the navy . Personnel . As of early 2013 , the French Air Force employs a total of 47 , 538 regular personnel . The reserve element of the air force consists of ; 4 , 737 personnel of the Operational Reserve and 5 , 618 personnel of the Citizens Reserve .