The Quest for Relevant Air Power

French Air Force │ 99
had formalised or was in the process of formalising cooperation
with Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, the United
Kingdom, and Brazil. 103 Furthermore, Luxembourg contemplated
the FAF controlling its airspace. 104
Cooperation on an Operational Level. In the post–Cold War
era, the FAF has gained a high level of experience in combined air
campaigns. In Operation Allied Force, Mirage 2000Ds were often
air refuelled by British tankers, escorted by Dutch F-16s, and supported
by German electronic combat/reconnaissance (ECR) Tornados.
105 The Europeanisation of air power was particularly visible
when a French Mirage 2000D detachment to Central Asia was
super seded by a trinational air component consisting of Danish,
Dutch, and Norwegian F-16s. Against the backdrop of Operation
Enduring Freedom, this component took over from the FAF in
late 2002. During the transitional phase, the airlift assets of the
involved European nations were coordinated through the EACC. 106
Moreover, to build European defence, integrated exercises and
exchange of pilots have been considered of major importance. Integrated
exercises in the framework of NATO have allowed the
Courtesy Gripen International; photo by FMV
A FAF Boeing C-135FR tanker aircraft refuelling SwAF Gripen combat
aircraft