The Quest for Relevant Air Power

126 │ French Air Force
1990s, the FAF basically gave up its dedicated SEAD capability. 279
The FAF has instead been relying upon its allies for this particular
capability in combined air operations. 280 Yet, French lessons learned
from Operation Allied Force stressed the need to reacquire a
SEAD capability. 281 In the longer term, an anti-radar seeker might
be developed for the modular AASM. 282
In the years to come, manned aircraft assets are planned to be
complemented by remotely piloted combat aircraft as well as by a
limited ground based TBMD capability. The military planning law
for 2003–8 announced that by 2010 an initial TBMD capability
should be in place. 283 The 2008 Defence White Book highlights the
growing threat posed by ballistic and cruise missiles against Europe.
In 2009 the FAF received its first sol-air moyenne portée terrestre
(SAMP-T), or land-based medium range surface-to-air missile,
fire unit. Dubbed “Mamba,” it provides a TBMD capability against
missiles in the Scud category. 284 Dassault has taken on design
leadership of the Neuron remotely piloted combat aircraft programme.
By mid-2007, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland
participated in the project, with France supplying half of the
programme’s budget. 285
Air Mobility
Throughout the second half of the Cold War, the C-160 Transall
was the FAF’s principal transport aircraft. The C-160 was the result
of a joint Franco-German requirement statement issued in
the late 1950s. It was conceived as a tactical transport aircraft in
the same class as the C-130 Hercules. Yet, its performance fell
short of that of the Hercules and remained constrained. 286 For this
reason, the C-160 Transall fleet was complemented in 1987 by 12
C-130 Hercules aircraft for missions up to 5,000 km. Yet despite
this measure, the FAF’s airlift capacity has suffered from a chronic
weakness, incompatible with the missions assigned to the French
armed forces. 287 Reliance on the support of large US transport aircraft
was therefore necessary in several operations during the
Cold War. 288
As in the case of combat aircraft, the FAF has been seeking interim
solutions to mitigate the strain on the transport fleet.
Amongst others, 20 Casa CN-235 transport aircraft of limited size
and range were procured. 289 Likewise, two Airbus A310-300s were