Air Forces Command

Air Forces Command, known in French as Commandement des Forces Aériennes and commonly abbreviated CFA, is an organic command of the French Air and Space Force. Its role is to prepare and maintain units so that they can conduct their assigned missions; it is not itself an operational headquarters directing combat operations. The command is headquartered at Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base. The CFA brings together a broad set of capabilities required to generate air power. Its fighter organization covers air defence, air-to-ground operations, reconnaissance, and remotely piloted aircraft. The aircraft and units associated with this mission set include Dassault Rafale fighters, Mirage 2000 variants, Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, and airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets such as the ALSR. Fighter formations are distributed among several French air bases and overseas or expeditionary locations, reflecting the force's responsibilities for homeland air defence, international deployments, training, and combat readiness. The command's projection and support aviation component prepares tactical transport and liaison fleets. These capabilities include A400M Atlas and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, Falcon business jets used for military liaison and transport tasks, and several helicopter types, including Puma, Fennec, and Super Puma aircraft. Together, these units support the movement of personnel and equipment, airborne logistics, command liaison, and other operational requirements. Airspace control is another central responsibility. The relevant brigade prepares airborne early-warning and control assets, ground-based radar and air-defence systems, missile-defence capabilities, communications networks, and the systems used to monitor and control aerospace operations. The command's airspace-control structure therefore links airborne and ground-based surveillance with the information and command architecture required for air operations. Since 2007, the Air Force's command, control, and information-systems network has been integrated into the joint Directorate of Infrastructure Networks and Information Systems, known by its French acronym DIRISI. The CFA also incorporates security and intervention forces. These include the French Air and Space Force's air commando riflemen, who perform air-base security, special operations support, combat search and rescue, and target-acquisition tasks. The Air Force Parachute Commando No. 10, or CPA 10, is identified as the command's most elite special-forces formation. Security and intervention structures additionally cover air-base protection units, rescue and firefighting personnel, and incident-response functions. Following the September 2013 merger of the former Air Forces Command and the Air Force Support Command, the CFA also became responsible for major support functions. The Air Force Aerial Weapon Systems Brigade prepares personnel responsible for the maintenance and repair of aerial weapons and target systems. The Air Force Maneuver Support Brigade prepares engineers and logistics personnel, including expeditionary support elements needed to sustain air operations on bases and in deployed environments. The command is therefore best understood not as a commercial brand or equipment manufacturer, but as a force-generation and readiness organization. Its scope extends from combat aviation and remotely piloted systems to transport, airspace surveillance, base security, weapons maintenance, engineering, and logistics. The available reference material does not establish a separate founding date, independent legal personality, commercial ownership structure, or listed-company status.

The Air Forces Command is an organic command of the French Air and Space Force. Its institutional purpose is to prepare subordinate formations for operational employment rather than to conduct operations as an independent operational headquarters. The command's headquarters is located at Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base. The CFA's structure reflects the principal capabilities needed to generate French air power. Its fighter component prepares air-defence, strike, reconnaissance, and remotely piloted aircraft units. The formations listed under this structure operate or support aircraft including the Rafale, Mirage 2000 variants, Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, and ALSR intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. Fighter units are distributed across metropolitan French bases and overseas or expeditionary locations, allowing the force to maintain domestic defence, training, and deployed capabilities. A second major element is the Brigade Aérienne d'Appui et de Projection, responsible for tactical transport and liaison aviation. Its listed equipment includes the A400M Atlas, C-130 Hercules, Falcon 900, Puma, Fennec, Super Puma, and TBM aircraft. These assets support the movement of forces and equipment, liaison, and other air-force projection requirements. The Airspace Control Brigade prepares the systems used to observe and manage the air environment. Its responsibilities include airborne early warning and control, ground radar, ground-based air-defence and missile-defence systems, communications networks, and the command-and-control architecture known as the Système de Commandement et de Conduite des Opérations Aérospatiales. The reference material states that, from 2007, the air force's command, control, and information-systems network was integrated into DIRISI, the joint directorate responsible for infrastructure networks and information systems. Security and intervention responsibilities are assigned to the Brigade Aérienne des Forces de Sécurité et d'Intervention. It prepares the Air Force's commando riflemen, including formations involved in special operations, combat search and rescue, and target acquisition. CPA 10 is identified as the elite parachute-commando unit within this sphere. The brigade also covers air-base security units and rescue and firefighting personnel, whose functions are organized around protection of air-force installations and response to incidents. A major organizational change occurred in September 2013, when the former organic Air Forces Command and the Air Force Support Command were merged. The resulting CFA incorporated two support brigades that had previously belonged to the CSFA. The Air Force Aerial Weapon Systems Brigade became responsible for maintaining and repairing aerial weapons and target systems. The Air Force Maneuver Support Brigade became responsible for ground-based engineering and logistics personnel, including expeditionary elements supporting air operations. The merger therefore broadened the CFA from a command focused on operational aviation preparation into a more comprehensive force-generation organization covering aircraft, airspace systems, protection, weapons support, infrastructure, engineering, and logistics. The available reference material records Philippe Lavigne as commander of the Fighter Brigade in February 2016. It does not provide a complete succession list for CFA commanders or brigade commanders. It also does not establish a separate founding year, a commercial legal structure, or a distinct operational history independent of the French Air and Space Force. Accordingly, the command is most accurately described as a French military organization whose importance lies in preparing and sustaining forces for missions assigned elsewhere in the national and joint command structure.

1. 2016Fighter Brigade leadership recorded

   The Fighter Brigade was recorded as being commanded by Brigadier General Philippe Lavigne in February 2016.

   Source
2. 2013Merger with the Air Force Support Command

   In September 2013, the former organic Air Forces Command and the Air Force Support Command were merged, bringing major weapons-support, engineering, and logistics responsibilities into the CFA.

   Source
3. 2007Integration of air-force information-system networks

   The French Air Force command, control, and information-systems network was integrated into DIRISI, the joint Directorate of Infrastructure Networks and Information Systems.

   Source

A force-generation and readiness command within the French Air and Space Force, rather than an independent operational headquarters, commercial enterprise, or equipment brand.

• Fighter BrigadeCombat and reconnaissance aviation

  The Fighter Brigade prepares French air-defence, air-to-ground, reconnaissance, and remotely piloted aircraft units. Its listed equipment includes Rafale fighters, Mirage 2000 variants, Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, and ALSR reconnaissance systems. The brigade includes fighter, drone, transformation, experimentation, and historically named operational squadrons located in France and at overseas or expeditionary bases.

• Projection and Support Air Force BrigadeMilitary air transport and liaison

  This brigade prepares tactical transport and liaison aviation. The listed fleet includes A400M Atlas and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, Falcon 900 aircraft, and Puma, Fennec, Super Puma, and TBM platforms. Its capabilities support the movement of personnel and materiel, liaison missions, and the projection of French air-force resources.

• Airspace Control BrigadeAirspace surveillance and control

  The Airspace Control Brigade prepares airborne early-warning and control aircraft, ground radar, ground-based air-defence and missile-defence systems, communications networks, and aerospace-operations command-and-control systems. Its role is to generate the surveillance and control capabilities required for coordinated air operations.

• Air Force Security and Intervention Forces BrigadeAir-base security and special operations support

  This brigade prepares air commando riflemen and air-base protection forces. Its responsibilities include special-operations support, combat search and rescue, target acquisition, installation security, rescue, and firefighting. CPA 10 is identified as the elite parachute-commando formation within this capability set.

• Air Force Aerial Weapon Systems BrigadeWeapons maintenance and support2013

  The brigade provides the personnel and organization responsible for maintaining and repairing aerial weapons and target systems. It became part of the CFA following the 2013 merger with the former Air Force Support Command.

• Air Force Maneuver Support BrigadeMilitary engineering and logistics2013

  This brigade prepares ground-based engineering and logistics personnel, including expeditionary elements needed to establish, sustain, and support air operations. It was brought under the CFA after the 2013 merger with the former Air Force Support Command.

• 2013Merger of the Air Forces Command and Air Force Support CommandStrategy

  The French Air Force reorganized its organic force-preparation and support structures.

  What changed. The former Air Forces Command and Air Force Support Command were merged into a CFA that also included aerial weapon-system support and maneuver-support brigades.

  Aftermath. The command assumed a wider force-generation remit covering operational aviation preparation, weapons support, engineering, and logistics.

  Source
• 2007Integration of command-and-information networks into DIRISIStrategy

  The French Air Force's command, control, and information-systems network was incorporated into the joint infrastructure and information-systems directorate.

  What changed. Air-force network responsibilities were integrated into DIRISI while the CFA continued preparing airspace-control and operational command-system capabilities.

  Aftermath. The change placed the relevant network infrastructure within a joint defence information-systems framework.

  Source

1. Air Forces Command (France)