Aviation Navale

The Aviation Navale (Naval Air Force) of the French Navy includes 162 airplanes (138 of them combat-capable) and 6 800 men, both civilians and military personel. They operate from six airbases, 5 of them in the metropole and one overseas.

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Born as a fusion of carrier squadrons and naval patrol air force, the Aviation Navale was created on the 19 June 1998. The headquarter is under command of an admiral (ALAVIA) in Toulon.

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It has four components:

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• The air complements of the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle (Rafale, Super Étendard and E-2 Hawkeye)
• Naval patrol air units (Breguet Atlantique)
• On-board helicopters (Dauphin Panther, Puma, Cougar, Gazelle, Super Frelon)
• Support air units

Carrier-born pilots of the French navy do their initial formation at Salon-de-Provence Air Base, then within the US Navy.

Related Topics:
Salon-de-Provence Air Base - US Navy

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