Every French Military Aircraft — Complete List
France has operated 109 distinct aircraft types across its military history — 41 still in active service, 4 on order or entering service and 64 retired or former.
Service status109 types
Fighters & Combat Aircraft
23 types
Rafale
Status In service Service entry2001
Mirage 2000
Status In service Service entry1983
Alpha Jet
Status In service Service entry1978
Super Etendard
Status Retired Service entry1978
Mirage F1
Status Retired Service entry1973
Jaguar
Status Retired Service entry1972
Mirage IV
Status Retired Service entry1964
Étendard IVM
Status Retired Service entry1962
Mirage III / 5 / 50
Status Retired Service entry1961
Super Mystère B2
Status Retired Service entry1958
F-8 Crusader
Status Retired Service entry1957
SO 4050 Vautour
Status Retired Service entry1956
F-100 Super Sabre
Status Retired Service entry1954
F-84F Thunderstreak
Status Retired Service entry1954
Mystère IV
Status Retired Service entry1954
DH.112 Venom
Status Retired Service entry1952
MD-450 Ouragan
Status Retired Service entry1952
F-84 Thunderjet
Status Retired Service entry1950
F-86 Sabre
Status Retired Service entry1949
A-1 Skyraider
Status Retired Service entry1946
DH.100 Vampire
Status Retired Service entry1946
Gloster Meteor
Status Retired Service entry1944
Yak-9 Frank
Status Retired Service entry1942Strategic Bombers
1 type
Military Helicopters
22 types
H160M Guépard
Status In service Service entry2021
H225M / EC725 Caracal
Status In service Service entry2005
NH90 / Caiman
Status In service Service entry2004
EC665 Tiger
Status In service Service entry2002
H125M / AS550 Fennec
Status In service Service entry1990
AS565 Panther
Status In service Service entry1986
H215M / AS532 Cougar
Status In service Service entry1978
SA340 Gazelle
Status In service Service entry1971
SA330 Puma
Status In service Service entry1968
Guimbal Cabri G2
Status Retired Service entry2008
H145M / EC645
Status Retired Service entry2002
H155 / EC155 Dauphin 2
Status Retired Service entry1999
H120 / EC120 Colibri
Status Retired Service entry1998
H135M / EC365
Status Retired Service entry1996
AS332 Super Puma
Status Retired Service entry1981
SA321 Super Frelon
Status Retired Service entry1966
SA316 Alouette III
Status Retired Service entry1961
SA315 Alouette II
Status Retired Service entry1957
H-34 Choctaw
Status Retired Service entry1954
Westland Whirlwind
Status Retired Service entry1954
H-19 Chickasaw
Status Retired Service entry1950
Bell 47
Status Retired Service entry1946Transport & Tanker Aircraft
27 types
A400M Atlas
Status In service Service entry2013
Airbus A330 MRTT
Status In service Service entry2011
Falcon 7X
Status In service Service entry2007
Falcon 2000
Status In service Service entry1995
Airbus A330
Status In service Service entry1994
Socata TBM
Status In service Service entry1990
CN-235
Status In service Service entry1988
Falcon 900
Status In service Service entry1986
Falcon 50
Status In service Service entry1979
EMB 121 Xingu
Status In service Service entry1977
Falcon 10
Status In service Service entry1971
DHC-6 Twin Otter
Status In service Service entry1966
Falcon 20
Status In service Service entry1965
PC-6 Porter
Status In service Service entry1960
C-130 Hercules
Status In service Service entry1956
Falcon 8X
Status Entering Service entry2016
Airbus A319 CJ
Status Retired Service entry1995
Jetstream 41
Status Retired Service entry1992
ATR-72
Status Retired Service entry1989
ATR-42
Status Retired Service entry1985
F406 Caravan II
Status Retired Service entry1985
C-212 Aviocar
Status Retired Service entry1974
C-160 Transall
Status Retired Service entry1967
PA-31 Navajo
Status Retired Service entry1967
Nord 3400
Status Retired Service entry1959
Noratlas
Status Retired Service entry1953
Douglas DC-3
Status Retired Service entry1936Special Mission Aircraft
13 types
Cirrus SR22
Status In service Service entry2001
Cirrus SR-20
Status In service Service entry1999
ATL-2 Atlantique
Status In service Service entry1991
King Air 350
Status In service Service entry1990
E-3 Sentry AWACS
Status In service Service entry1977
E-2 Hawkeye
Status In service Service entry1964
KC-130 Hercules
Status In service Service entry1962
GlobalEye
Status Entering Service entry2020
Airbus A310 MRTT
Status Retired Service entry2004
Br.1150 Atlantic
Status Retired Service entry1965
Alizé
Status Retired Service entry1959
KC-135 Stratotanker
Status Retired Service entry1957
P-2 Neptune
Status Retired Service entry1947Trainers
13 types
Pilatus PC-24
Status In service Service entry2018
Pilatus PC-21
Status In service Service entry2008
Grob G-120
Status In service Service entry1999
Mudry CAP 10
Status In service Service entry1970
PC-7 Turbo Trainer
Status Entering Service entry1978
Mudry CAP 232
Status Retired Service entry1986
TB-30 Epsilon
Status Retired Service entry1984
EMB 312 Tucano
Status Retired Service entry1983
CM 170 Magister
Status Retired Service entry1956
MS 733 Alcyon
Status Retired Service entry1953
T-28 Trojan
Status Retired Service entry1950
T-33 Shooting Star
Status Retired Service entry1948
Po-2 Mule
Status Retired Service entry1929Unmanned Aircraft
10 typesSafran Patroller
Status In service Service entry2023
S-100 Camcopter
Status In service Service entry2010
MQ-9 Reaper
Status In service Service entry2007
Eurodrone
Status Entering Service entry2028
Elbit Skylark
Status Retired Service entry2008
Harfang
Status Retired Service entry2008RQ-20 Puma
Status Retired Service entry2008Wasp III
Status Retired Service entry2007Crécerelle
Status Retired Service entry1999Canadair CL-289
Status Retired Service entry1990Other National Fleets
National fleets — aircraft in service by country
- 🇺🇸 United States · all-time
- 🇷🇺 Russia · all-time
- 🇨🇳 China · all-time
- 🇮🇳 India · all-time
- 🇰🇷 South Korea · all-time
- 🇯🇵 Japan · all-time
- 🇵🇰 Pakistan · all-time
- 🇰🇵 North Korea · all-time
- 🇪🇬 Egypt · all-time
- 🇹🇷 Turkey · all-time
- 🇫🇷 France · all-time
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia · all-time
- 🇮🇹 Italy · all-time
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan · all-time
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · all-time
- 🇮🇷 Iran · all-time
- 🇬🇷 Greece · all-time
- 🇩🇿 Algeria · all-time
- 🇩🇪 Germany · all-time
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · all-time
- 🇮🇱 Israel · all-time
- 🇧🇷 Brazil · all-time
- 🇪🇸 Spain · all-time
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia · all-time
- 🇵🇱 Poland · all-time
- 🇮🇶 Iraq · all-time
- 🇦🇺 Australia · all-time
- 🇨🇦 Canada · all-time
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine · all-time
- 🇦🇷 Argentina · all-time
Frequently Asked Questions
How many aircraft types has the France military ever operated?
France has operated 109 distinct aircraft types across its history and current inventory, including 41 still in active service and 64 retired or former types.
Does this list include retired France military aircraft?
Yes. This page covers every aircraft type the country has operated — past, present, and future — with a green In service, blue Entering service, or grey Retired status badge on each tile. For the current-only fleet, see the in-service listicle.
What about prototypes and test aircraft?
This page tracks operational service types. Pure prototypes, X-planes and test aircraft that never entered squadron service are not included.