The Quest for Relevant Air Power

French Air Force │ 127
purchased in the early 1990s to replace two aging DC-8Fs. 290 The
last two DC-8Fs were replaced by two Airbus A340 TLRAs (très
long rayon d’action or very long range) aircraft in 2006–7, providing
extended reach. The FAF leased the two aircraft with the option
to buy at the end of the leasing period. 291 Regarding the much
larger C-160 Transall fleet, a major life extension and upgrade
programme was undertaken in the post–Cold War era. 292 Despite
additional improvements in the areas of self-protection and nightflight
capability, the lifespan of the Transall aircraft is limited. 293
The 1997–2002 military planning law foresaw their retirement
from 2003 onwards, but that time frame was deferred to bridge
expected shortfalls in airlift capacity. 294
Courtesy Airbus Military; photo by L. Olivas
A400M on its first flight. France plans to procure 50 A400M transport
aircraft.
In 2003 delivery of the first A400M for the FAF was scheduled
for October 2009. Yet due to serious delays in the programme, the
earliest possible deliveries are not expected to take place before
late 2012. As a result, French aviators expressed an interest in potentially
acquiring up to 12 American C-130J Hercules aircraft as
a further interim solution. 295
In the post–Cold War era, AAR has become an ever more important
element of air mobility. The FAF’s AAR capacity is closely
linked to its airborne nuclear component and reaches back to the