French Naval Aviation

French Naval Aviation
Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale
French Fleet Air Arm Roundel
Founded20 March 1912
Country France
Branch French Navy
TypeNaval aviation
Size6,800 personnel
178 aircraft[1][2]
NicknamesSky Navy
'La Marine du Ciel
MottoHonneur, patrie, valeur, discipline
Commanders
Current
commander		Contre-amiral Eric Janicot

French Naval Aviation (often abbreviated in French to: Aéronavale (contraction of Aéronautique navale), or Aviation navale, or more simply l'Aéro) is the naval air arm of the French Navy. The long-form official designation is Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale. Born as a fusion of aircraft carrier squadrons and the naval patrol air force, the Aéronavale was created in 1912. The force is under the command of a flag officer officially titled Admiral of Naval Aviation (ALAVIA) with his headquarters at Toulon naval base. It has a strength of around 6,800 military and civilian personnel. It operates from four airbases in Metropolitan France and several detachments in foreign countries or French overseas territories. Carrier-borne pilots of the French Navy do their initial training at Salon-de-Provence Air Base after which they undergo their carrier qualification with the US Navy.

Structure

Active bases of the French naval air arm (status 2013)

Immediately after the end of World War II, the Aeronavale only had Supermarine Seafire Mk.III (Flottille 1F) and Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers (Flotilles 3F et 4F).

Components

The flight personnel of the French Navy falls into three categories: fighter aviation, fixed-wing aviation and helicopter aviation.

Operationally the French Naval Aviation has four components:

Units

Operational squadrons are known as Flottilles and normally consist of 12 aircraft :

  • 1F to 10F are carrier based anti-submarine squadrons
  • 11F to 20F are fighter and attack squadrons
  • 21F to 30F are maritime patrol squadrons
  • 31F to 39F are helicopter squadrons

Shore-based training and transport squadrons are known as Escadrilles de Servitude :

  • 1S to 19S are communications squadrons
  • 20S to 29S are helicopters squadrons
  • 50S to 59S are training squadrons
Squadron Insignia Type Aircraft Base Role Notes
Embarked Air Group (Le Groupe aérien embarqué)[3]
4F
Fixed wing E-2C Hawkeye Lann Bihoué Carrier airborne early warning [4]
11F
Fixed wing Rafale M Landivisiau Strike fighter [5]
12F
Fixed wing Rafale M Landivisiau Strike fighter [6]
17F
Fixed wing Rafale M Landivisiau Strike fighter [7]
Ended
Rotary Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin Hyères Plane guard Not part of the GAE. Charles de Gaulle set sail on cruises with two Dauphin helicopters from 35F.
Naval Patrol and Maritime Surveillance Aviation (l'Aviation de patrouille et de surveillance maritime)[8]
21F
Fixed wing Atlantique 2 Lann Bihoué Anti-submarine warfare / Naval patrol [9]
Detachments at Dakar and Djibouti.
23F Fixed wing Atlantique 2 Lann Bihoué Anti-submarine warfare / Naval patrol [10]
24F Fixed wing Falcon 50 M Lann Bihoué Maritime surveillance / Search and rescue [11]
25F Fixed wing Falcon 200 Guardian GAM Faa'a Maritime surveillance / Search and rescue [12]
Detachment at Nouméa.
Shipborne and Shore-based Helicopters (Les hélicoptères embarqués et basés à terre)
31F Rotary NH90 Caïman Hyères Search and rescue [13]
32F Rotary Airbus Helicopters H160M Guépard Lanvéoc Previously used SA321G Super Frelon.[14]
33F
Rotary NH90 Caïman Lanvéoc Anti-submarine warfare / Search and rescue [15]
34F Rotary Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin/NH90 Caïman Lanvéoc Anti-submarine warfare Disbanded 4 September 2020. Planned to re-activate in 2021[16] operating leased SA365M3 Dauphins from Heli-Union and NHV as temporary equipment.[14] To convert to NH90 Caïman.[17]
35F Rotary Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin SPI Hyères Search and rescue Detachments at La Rochelle, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage[18] and Faa'a. Uses additional leased AS365N3 from Heli-Union.[14]
36F Rotary Eurocopter AS565 Panther Hyères Small ship flights [19]
Support Aviation (l'Aviation de soutien)
10S Rotary/ Fixed wing/UAV Schiebel S-100 Serval Hyères Experimental [20]Aviation and airborne weapons research and development, evaluation at several locations.
22S Rotary Dauphin, EC120 Colibri Lanvéoc Rotary operational training / Liaison
28F
Fixed wing Embraer Xingu Lann Bihoué Naval patrol and maritime surveillance operational training / Utility / Liaison [21]
50S Fixed wing SR20 and CAP-10 Lanvéoc Elementary flying training [20]
57S
Fixed wing Falcon 10 M Landivisiau Combat aviation operational training [22]
Insignia

Aircraft inventory

Aircraft Origin Role Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft
Dassault Rafale France Swingrole fighter Rafale M
F3-R / F4		 42[23] [24][25]
Transport aircraft
Dassault Falcon 10 France Liaison aircraft Falcon 10MER 6[23] Being partially replaced by the Pilatus PC-24.[26]
Embraer EMB 121 Xingu Brazil Liaison aircraft – 10[23] [27]
Special role aircraft
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye United States AEW&C E-2C Hawkeye 2000 3[23] Entered service in 1998.[28]
E-2D 0[23]
(+3 on order)		 Planned to enter service at the end of 2027.[29]
Bréguet Atlantique 2 France ASW, MPA
 Standard 5 4[23] Out of 22 Atlantique 2 in service, 18 were modernised to the Standard 6.[30][31]
To be replaced by the Airbus A321 XLR MPA, which is in development since February 2025.[32]
Standard 6 18[23]
Dassault Falcon 20 France MSA Falcon 200 Gardian 5[23] [33]
To be replaced by the Falcon 2000LXS Albatros.
Dassault Falcon 50 France MSA Falcon 50M Triton 8[23] [34][35]
To be replaced by the Falcon 2000LXS Albatros.
Dassault Falcon 2000 France MSA and intervention Falcon 2000LXS Albatros 0[23]
(+12 on order)		 Successor of the Falcon 200 Gardian and the 50M Triton.[36][37]
7 ordered in December 2020, 5 ordered in October 2025.[38]
Helicopters
NHIndustries NH90 France /
Germany /
Italy /
Netherlands		 ASW / ASuW
SAR		 NH90NFH Caïman Marine 27[23] [39]
Eurocopter AS565 Panther France Surveillance / intervention /
utility
 AS565SA Panther 16[40] [41][42]
Helicopters of the Flotilla 36F are embarked on frigates.[43]
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin France SAR SA365 N SPI
(Secours Protection Intervention)		 6 Operated by the Flotilla 35F.[44][45]
SAR SA365 F Pedro 3 Operated by the Flotilla 35F from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier as a rescue helicopter.[46][47][45]
SAR Dauphin N3+ FI
(flotte intérimaire)		 2 Operated in French Polynedsia by the Flotilla 35F.[48][49][45]
Airbus Helicopters H160 France SAR – 6[23] Interim fleet of the French Navy, rented to Babcock.[50]
Airbus Helicopters H160M -Guépard France ASW / ASuW
SAR / Utility
 – 0
(+49 on order)		 169 H160M ordered by the French Armed Forces, among which, 49 for the French Navy.[51]
Trainer aircraft
Pilatus PC-24 Switzerland Multi-engine trainer /
Liaison		 – 2[52]
(+1 on order)		 Successor of part of the Dassault Falcon 10MER.[26]
3 aircraft PC-24 rented for the mission.[52]
2 first aircraft delivered in March and August 2026.[52]
Mudry CAP 10 France Basic trainer /
aerobatics		 CAP 10 5[53]
CAP 10C 2[54]
British Aerospace Jetstream 41 United Kingdom Military crew training – 1[23] Aircraft provided by AVDEF, a French company. Used for maritime patrol and surveillance rear crew training.[55]
UAVs
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Austria ISR UAS helicopter S-100F 3[56]
(+5 on order)		 [57]
Entered service in 2012.[58] 5 more systems ordered in 2026.[58]
Note: 1 system is equipped with two drones, so there are 6 drones in service, 10 on order.
Airbus Helicopters VSR700 France ISR UAS helicopter /
transport		 – 0
(+6 on order)		 6 ordered in January 2026.[59][60]
Based on the Cabri G2 helicopter.

Retired aircraft

This is a list of retired aircraft that have flown with French Naval Aviation.[61]

From 1951 to 1956, 164 Grumman Avengers were delivered to French Naval Aviation and in service until 1965
The Corsair F4U-7 was the first new aircraft delivered to the French Navy after 1945. It saw action during the Indochina war, Algerian war and operation Musketeer.
The Martin P5M-2 Marlin served in the French navy between 1959 and 1964.
During the Algerian War of independence, the French Navy flew Lockheed Neptunes on surveillance patrol to fight weapons smuggling by sea
The Crusader was the air superiority jet aircraft of the French Navy for 35 years
The Canard Voisin was the first seaplane used by the French Navy

Helicopters and autogyros

French Navy Lynx; In service from 1979 to 2020.

See also

References & notes

  1. ↑ "World Air Forces 2019". Flightglobal: 16. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  2. ↑ "Defence Key Figures: 2016 Edition". Defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016. (download PDF file or see HTML version Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine)
  3. ↑ "Le groupe aérien embarqué" (in French). Marine Nationale. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Flotilla 4F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Flottilla 11F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Flottilla 12F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Flottilla 17F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "L'aviation de patrouille et de surveillance maritime" (in French). Marine Nationale. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "Flottilla 21F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Flottilla 23F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "Flottilla 24F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Flottilla 25F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  13. ↑ "Flottilla 31F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. October 2022. p. 68.
  15. ↑ "Flottilla 33F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  16. ↑ Allport, Dave (October 2020). "French Navy retires Lynx". Air International. Vol. 99, no. 4. p. 11. ISSN 0306-5634.
  17. ↑ "Flottilla 34F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Flottilla 35F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  19. ↑ "Flottilla 36F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  20. 1 2 AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. October 2022. p. 66.
  21. ↑ "Flottilla 28F". French Navy. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Escadrille 57S" (in French). Ministère des Armées. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "World Air Forces 2026". Archived from the original on 10 December 2025.
  24. ↑ "Press Conference" (PDF). Dassault Aviation. 26 July 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  25. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Key figures in 20162 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. 1 2 Lagneau, Laurent (6 October 2025). "La Marine nationale va louer trois Pilatus PC-24 pour remplacer une partie de ses avions de soutien Falcon 10M". Zone Militaire (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Xingu | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "E2C - Hawkeye | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "Northrop Grumman lance la production du premier E-2D Advanced Hawkeye destiné à la Marine française". GIFAS (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "La Marine réceptionne le dernier Atlantique 2 modernisé au standard 6 | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 18 February 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "La DGA livre le dernier avion Atlantique 2 rénové à la marine nationale | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 18 February 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  32. ↑ "Airbus signs new study contract to define France's future maritime patrol aircraft". www.airbus.com. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  33. ↑ "Falcon 200 - Gardian | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  34. ↑ "Un deuxième Falcon 50M Triton pour la Flottille 25F en Polynésie française | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 25 February 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  35. ↑ "Falcon 50 | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  36. ↑ "La DGA commande cinq avions de surveillance et d'intervention maritime Albatros à Dassault Aviation | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 1 October 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  37. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (31 January 2025). "French Navy's new Falcon 2000LXS Albatros aircraft performs maiden flight". Naval News. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  38. ↑ "Nouvelle commande de Falcon Albatros par la France - Press kits de Dassault Aviation". Dassault Aviation, acteur majeur de l'aéronautique (in French). 2 October 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "Caïman Marine | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "Un hélicoptère Panther de la Marine nationale a été endommagé en février après une faute humaine sur le « Tonnerre »". 14 April 2026.
  41. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Key figures in 20163 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  42. ↑ "Panther". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "Dauphin, Panther et H155 - France, Panther Marine // Helicopassion". www.helicopassion.com. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  44. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (19 May 2020). "La marine française navalise ses Dauphin N et réorganise sa flotte d'hélicoptères | Mer et Marine". www.meretmarine.com (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  45. 1 2 3 "Dauphin | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  46. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 December 2018). "Dauphin Pedro : Le Saint-Bernard des pilotes | Mer et Marine". www.meretmarine.com (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  47. ↑ "Dauphin | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  48. ↑ "Le détachement de la flottille 35 F en Polynésie française : mise en service opérationnelle du premier Dauphin N3+". archive.wikiwix.com. 17 November 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "Tahiti : Sauvetage en mer par la 35F | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 13 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  50. ↑ "Réception du 4e hélicoptère H160 de la flotte intérimaire de la Marine nationale - armement.defense.gouv.fr". armement.defense.gouv.fr. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "Le gouvernement commande à Airbus 169 hélicoptères pour les forces armées, un contrat de 10 milliards d'euros". franceinfo (in French). 22 December 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  52. 1 2 3 "La Marine nationale française sélectionne le Pilatus PC-24 !". Avia news (in French). 7 October 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  53. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Key figures in 20165 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  54. ↑ Roy, Gil (10 February 2021). "La Marine Nationale peut-elle redonner un nouveau souffle au Cap 10 de Robin Aircraft ?". Aerobuzz (in French). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  55. ↑ "Jetstream 41 A Stretch Too Far?". www.key.aero. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  56. ↑ "Schiebel livrera « progressivement » les nouveaux drones S-100 à la Marine nationale dès cette année". 10 April 2026. Archived from the original on 28 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  57. ↑ "Drone S-100 | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr (in French). 15 December 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  58. 1 2 Nassey, Helen (9 April 2026). "FRENCH NAVY FURTHER EXPANDS CAMCOPTER® S-100 FLEET". Schiebel Elektronische Geräte. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  59. ↑ "France orders Airbus VSR700 uncrewed aerial system". www.airbus.com. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  60. ↑ "Helicopter UAS for the Navy - VSR700 | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants". www.defense.gouv.fr. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  61. ↑ "Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  62. ↑ Grolleau, Henri-Pierre (8 September 2020). "French Navy retires Lynx from service". janes.com.
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