The Quest for Relevant Air Power

French Air Force │ 131
was originally scheduled for 2003, it only entered service in
2008—a five-year delay. 318 For a potential successor system, various
cooperative European MALE RPA ventures and off-the-shelf
procurements are being considered, including purchasing the
American Reaper as a further interim solution. 319
Overall, concerns over European autarchy and politico-industrial
aspects have tended to outweigh concerns over operational needs.
Conclusion
In line with its international status, France has continued to
pursue a proactive defence policy in the post–Cold War era. Significant
French commitments to operations in the former Yugoslavia,
combined with lessons learned from participation in Desert
Storm, made a major defence reform in the mid-1990s
inevitable. Moreover, France’s emphasis upon nuclear doctrine
had to be reevaluated in the context of deployed multinational operations.
The new strategic environment required a thorough reorganisation
and modernisation programme of the FAF’s conventional
forces. The 1994 command structure reform allowed for a
flexible use of all available air assets by streamlining the command
echelons. Constant adaptation has allowed the FAF to contribute
to all strategic core functions of French defence policy. The transition
into a fully professional force occurred against the backdrop
of an increased emphasis upon projection. Since French defence
policy puts a premium upon national autarchy, the FAF has retained
a coherent force structure covering a broad array of air
power roles. Financial constraints, however, have forced the FAF
to forego certain specialised roles such as a dedicated SEAD capability,
and its RPA programmes have also suffered from several
setbacks. In the context of the Armed Forces Model 2015, two aircraft
types were given priority, the Rafale and the A400M, leading
to a homogenous force structure. Despite the cancellation of various
minor procurement programmes, major goals of the Model
2015 could not be achieved in time, and plans proved to be overambitious.
President Sarkozy embarked upon a reform in 2008,
reducing the force goal of modern combat aircraft to 300 for both
the FAF and the French Navy together, 70 of which are planned to
be simultaneously deployable.