Base aérienne 367 Cayenne-Rochambeau
Summary
Operating Country | 🇫🇷 France |
Location | 🇫🇷 France |
Status | ◉ Active |
Usage | Dual |
Year built | 2002 |
Operating Organization | French Air and Space Force |
Units |
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Description
Base aérienne 367 "Capitaine François Massé", formerly known as Cayenne-Rochambeau, is an air base of the French Air and Space Force. It is located in the department of Guyane, on the site of Cayenne-Félix Éboué airport, near Matoury, and utilizes the airport's runway. The base was created on October 1, 2002.
Its history traces back to November 1974 when an Alouette III helicopter detachment from Guadeloupe was established at the La Madeleine site. In August 1979, the detachment moved to the Rochambeau site, formerly a US Army camp established in 1943. In 1987, the first AS355 Écureuil helicopter was received, and a defense station with "Centaure" and altimetry radars was declared operational on September 16, 1987, to protect the Guiana Space Centre (CSG).
On May 9, 1989, the Escadron d'hélicoptère outre-mer 00.068 (EHOM), operational assets, a military control center, and air participation in the inter-service staff were formed. On October 9, 1992, the Commandement des Forces aériennes en Guyane (CFAéG) was created. On October 1, 2002, the Rochambeau air site was officially named "Capitaine François Massé" in honor of a pilot who died in service in 1989. On April 23, 2013, the EHOM 00.068 became the Escadron de transport 068 Antilles-Guyane.
As of 2020, the base hosts the Escadron de transport 00.068 "Antilles-Guyane", equipped with nine helicopters (five SA330 Puma and four AS555 AN Fennec) and three CASA CN-235 aircraft. It also includes a military air terminal 1D.367 and a military control center "Kourou". The base has approximately 280 military personnel and 3 civilian defense employees. Its primary missions include maintaining security in the sovereignty zone, air defense of the department, especially surveillance of the CSG airspace, and providing air mobility for the French Armed Forces in Guyane (FAG) due to the vast forest and limited road access. Additionally, it performs public service missions for isolated populations and provides logistical support.