List of Escadres of the French Air and Space Force
This is a list of Escadres of the French Air and Space Force.
Escadres are commanded by a Lieutenant-colonel or Colonel, known as the "Chief de corps". The term Escadre replaced "regiment" in 1932. Until 1994, it meant a unit composed of several squadron-sized units, generally equipped with the same type of equipment, or at least the same type of mission as well as wing maintenance and support units or sub-units.
Between 1993 and 1995, under the « Armées 2000 » reorganisation, the Escadre level of command was withdrawn from use. In 2014 it was reintroduced, with additions.
Former and active French Air Force escadrilles form the following former and active Escadres, as of June 14, 2015, :
Active Escadres
The list of active Escadres as of 2018 includes:Strategic Air Forces Command4th Fighter Wing, recreated on August 26, 2015, at BA113 Saint-Dizier – Robinson Air Base, operates Dassault Rafale fighters in the nuclear strike role
- 31st Aerial Refueling and Strategic Transport Wing, created on August 27, 2014, at BA125 Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, operates Boeing C-135FR/KC-135R Stratotanker in process of conversion to Airbus A330 MRTT
- Fighter Aviation Air Force Brigade
- *2nd Fighter Wing, recreated on September 3, 2015, at BA116 Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur Air Base, operates Dassault Mirage 2000-5F air defence fighters
- *3rd Fighter Wing, recreated on September 5, 2014, at BA133 Nancy – Ochey Air Base, operates Dassault Mirage 2000D fighter-bombers
- *5th Fighter Wing, recreated on July 18, 2024, at Base Aérienne 115 Orange-Caritat, operates Dassault Rafale C and B fighters in the tactical fighter role.
- *8th Fighter Wing, recreated on August 25, 2015, at BA120 Cazaux Air Base, operates Dassault Alpha Jet in the advanced jet and tactical training roles
- *30th Fighter Wing, recreated on September 3, 2015, at BA118 Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, operates Dassault Rafale fighters in the tactical fighter and operational evaluation roles
- Support and Projection Air Force Brigade
- *61st Transport Wing, recreated on September 1, 2015, at BA123 Orléans – Bricy Air Base, operates Airbus A400M Atlas and Lockheed C-130H/H-30 Hercules tactical transport aircraft
- *64th Transport Wing, recreated on August 27, 2015, at BA 105 Évreux-Fauville Air Base, operates CASA/ITPN CN-235-200M/-300M tactical transport and SAAB 340 aircraft
- Airspace Control Air Force Brigade
- *36th Airborne Command and Control Wing, created on September 3, 2014, at BA702 Avord Air Base, operates Boeing E-3F Sentry AEW&C aircraft
- *Surface-to-Air Air Defence Wing - 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, created on September 3, 2014, at BA702 Avord Air Base, operates SAMP/T in the air defence and ballistic missile defence role
- Aviation Maneuver Support Air Force Brigade
- *Deployable Command and Control Air Force Wing, created on August 27, 2015, at BA105 Évreux-Fauville Air Base, operates ground-based Command and control C4I systems