French Army Light Aviation - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The French Army Light Aviation is the aviation service of the French Army

French Army

The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...

History

The French Army Light Aviation was established on 22 November 1954 for observation, reconnaissance, assault and supply duties.

Composition

Army Light Aviation Command (COMALAT)

The 4th Airmobile Brigade
4th Airmobile Brigade (France)
The 4th Airmobile Brigade is a helicopter unit of the French Army. It makes up for most of the French Army Light Aviation. The brigade is heir to the traditions and honours of the 4th Airmobile Division...

(4e Brigade Aéromobile) has most of the ALAT's strength.
- 1st Combat Helicopter Regiment (1er Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (1er RHC) in Phalsbourg
  Phalsbourg
  Phalsbourg is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France, with a population of about 5000.In 1911, it was a town of Germany, in the imperial province of Alsace-Lorraine, lying high on the west slopes of the Vosges, 25 miles north-west of Strasbourg by rail...
  
  with 22 Gazelle
  Aérospatiale Gazelle
  The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
  
  , 20 Puma
  Aérospatiale Puma
  The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
  
  and 14 Cougar
  Eurocopter Cougar
  -See also:-External links:* *...
- 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (3e RHC) in Etain with 33 Gazelle
  Aérospatiale Gazelle
  The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
  
  , 16 Puma
  Aérospatiale Puma
  The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
- 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment (5e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (5e RHC) in Pau with 16 Gazelle
  Aérospatiale Gazelle
  The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
  
  , 16 Puma
  Aérospatiale Puma
  The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
  
  , 7 Cougar
  Eurocopter Cougar
  -See also:-External links:* *...
  
  and 9 Eurocopter Tiger
  Eurocopter Tiger
  The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.-Origins:...

Army Special Forces Brigade
French Army Special Forces Brigade
The Army Special Forces Brigade is the French Army's special forces unit. It is based in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.- History :The BFST is the heir of the Groupement Spécial Autonome created in 1997 and then commanded the 1er RPIMa and a special operations flight belonging to the 4e Régiment...
- 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales) (4e RHFS) based at Pau Pyrénées Airport
  Pau Pyrénées Airport
  -Military usage:Apart from the civilian terminal, there are military installations on the south side of the airfield. These host the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment, the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment and the French Army's paratrooper's training....

Current aircraft inventory

Aérospatiale Gazelle

The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...

|| || combat helicopter || SA341F

SA342M || 182 ||
|-----
| Aérospatiale Puma || || transport helicopter || SA330 || 82 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Caracal || || transport helicopter || EC725 || 12 || deliveries underway
|-----
| Eurocopter Cougar || || transport helicopter || AS532 || 18 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Fennec

Eurocopter Fennec

|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.-External links:* * *...

|| || utility helicopter || AS555 UN || 14 ||
|-----
| Eurocopter Tiger

Eurocopter Tiger

The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.-Origins:...

|| || attack helicopter || HAD & HAP || 80 || deliveries underway
|-----
| NHIndustries NH90 || || transport helicopter || TTH || 34 || (+34 options)
|-----
| Pilatus PC-6

Pilatus PC-6

|-See also:-References:* Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–1994. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0 7106 1066 1.* Taylor, John W. R. Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965....

|| || utility transport || PC-6/B2-H4 || 5 ||
|-----
| SOCATA TBM

Socata TBM

|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0 7106 2537 5....

|| || utility transport || TBM 700 || 8 ||

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