| Aeronavale |
The Aviation Navale of the Marine Nationale is currently undergoing an extensive modernisation. Some ageing aircraft types were retired during the past years such as the F-8P Crusader, the Etendard IVP and the Br1050 Alizé as well as the aircraft carrier Foch which was recently replaced by the new carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The backbone of the Aviation Navale is the Super Etendard which will soldier on until at least 2010. Most of the surviving aircraft were recently upgraded to Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM) standard. After the SEM modernisation the aircraft is also capable of performing reconnaissance tasks resulting in the retirement of the dedicated Etendard IVP which served the French navy for forty years and the disbandment of 16F at Landiviseau. The Super Etendard is serving with two squadrons at Landiviseau after 14F was disbanded some years ago. 12F (ex Crusader) has reformed as the first Rafale M unit with 10 aircraft. 11F and 17F will follow
from 2010. The current Rafale order is for
38 Rafale Ms. A type which was withdrawn from service in late 2000 was the Br1050 Alizé. The last unit operating the Alizé was 6F at Nimes-Garons which disbanded. The other Alizé unit was 4F at Lann-Bihoué which received the first of
three E-2C Hawkeyes in December 1998. A fourth aircraft is on order.
Two Flottiles operate the Atlantique II which replaced the Atlantic I during the second half of the 80's and early 90's. A total of 28 aircraft have been delivered. 21F at Nimes Garons and 23F at Lann-Bihoue each have eight aircraft on strength with the remainder being placed in storage or away for maintenance. Additional fixed wing aircraft in use with the Aviation Navale are the N262 which is in use for inshore patrol tasks. Another type which is in use for surveillance is the Falcon 20G Gardian which is being operated by 25F at Nouméa-La Tontouta and Tahiti-Faa. The latest aircraft to enter service in this role is the Falcon 50SURMAR of which four are on order. EMB121 Xingus and Falcon 10MERs are in use for liaison duties. Two fixed wing types are operated for training including the CAP10B and MS880 Rallye.
A variety of helicopters are operated by the French navy in various
roles at two bases being Hyeres for the units assigned to the Mediterranean
fleet and Lanvéoc-Poulmic for those assigned to the Atlantic
fleet.The main ASW helicopters are the Lynx which serves two Flottiles
and the AS565 Panther which serves one Flottile. SA365 Dauphins and
Alouette III's are in use as SAR helicopters. The helicopters of 31F,
32F and 34F will be replaced by NH90s. A total of 27
NH90s were ordered in 2000. In 2009 the first two will be delivered,
in 2010 another four to replace the Super Frelon. IN 2009 and 2010 two NH90s
will be delivered while the remaining sixteen will be delivered after 2015. Of
the 29 lynxes now in operation, 15 will remain in service after 2015. St Mandrier
has closed in 2005 and the helicopters are based at Hyères - La Palyvestre. In 2002 28F moved
from Hyères to Nîmes with its N262s as a replacement of 56S which
was disbanded in september 2002. |
|
|
Photo: Corné Rodenburg
Photo: Marco Ferrageau
|
AdlA Main Page
Order of Battle