French Army Light Aviation
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| French Army Light Aviation | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Active | 22 November 1954 – present |
| Country | France |
| Type | Army aviation |
| Size | 346 aircraft |
| Part of | French Armed Forces |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
General Bertrand Ract-Madoux |
The French Army Light Aviation (French: Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre, ALAT) is the aviation service of the French Army.
Contents |
[edit] History
The French Army Light Aviation was established on 22 November 1954 for observation, reconnaissance, assault and supply duties.
[edit] Aircraft
Complete and correct as of September 2011.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Quantity[1] | Comments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed-wing aircraft | ||||||||
| Pilatus PC-6 |  Switzerland |
Training aircraft | 5 | |||||
| SOCATA TBM |  France |
VIP transport & Utility | 11 | |||||
| Helicopters | ||||||||
| Eurocopter Tiger |  Europe |
Attack helicopter | 36 | 44 more on order. | ||||
| NHIndustries NH90 | Europe |
Transport helicopter | 0 | 34 on order. Plus an option for 34 more. | ||||
| Aérospatiale Puma | France |
Transport helicopter | 92 | |||||
| Eurocopter Caracal | France |
Transport helicopter | 8 | More on order. | ||||
| Eurocopter Cougar | France |
Transport helicopter | 23 | |||||
| Aérospatiale Gazelle | France |
Reconnaissance helicopter | 153 | |||||
| Eurocopter Fennec | France |
Training helicopter | 18 | |||||
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[edit] Composition
- Army Light Aviation Command (COMALAT)
- The 4th Airmobile Brigade (4e Brigade Aéromobile) has most of the ALAT's strength.
- 1st Combat Helicopter Regiment (1er Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (1er RHC) in Phalsbourg with 22 Gazelle, 20 Puma and 14 Cougar[2]
- 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (3e RHC) in Etain with 33 Gazelle, 16 Puma[3]
- 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment (5e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (5e RHC) in Pau with 16 Gazelle, 16 Puma, 7 Cougar and 9 Eurocopter Tiger[4]
- Army Special Forces Brigade
- 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales) (4e RHFS) based at Pau Pyrénées Airport
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/articles2/les-chiffres-cles-de-la-defense-edition-2011
- ^ http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/alat/1er-regiment-d-helicopteres-de-combat
- ^ http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/alat/3e-regiment-d-helicopteres-de-combat
- ^ http://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/presentation/organisation-des-forces/alat/5e-regiment-d-helicopteres-de-combat
