French Air Force chief warns of overuse of fighter jets, citing a 15% excess in operations and a need for modernization as global rivals expand their fleets.
French fighter jets overused
General Jérôme Bellanger, head of the French Air and Space Force, stated that France’s fighter jets are being used more than 15% beyond their capacity to meet ongoing missions like aerial security, nuclear deterrence, and high-intensity operations.High usage during summer operations
Bellanger cited an example of mobilizing about 80% of the force’s fighter jets during the summer for nuclear exercises and operations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Côte d'Ivoire, highlighting the strain on the fleet.Current fleet size and international comparisons
As of the end of 2025, the French Air and Space Force has 184 combat aircraft, including 112 Rafale, 50 Mirage 2000D, and 22 Mirage 2000-5F. This number is lower than those of Greece and Germany, and significantly less than the 1,200 in Russia and 1,800 in China.Call for military reform and modernization
Bellanger urged a review of the size of the fighter aviation force in the next military programming law, emphasizing the need to balance the effort on fighter aviation. France plans to receive two more Rafale aircraft by 2027 but will retire some Mirage 2000 models.Abandoned program and future aircraft plans
The Franco-German Scaf program, aimed at developing a successor to the Rafale, was canceled in June. However, the Future Combat Aircraft (ACF), intended to replace the Rafale, must be airborne by 2040 for conventional missions. A new Rafale version, the F5, is expected by 2035 and will include key ACF components.National development with possible international cooperation
The ACF will be developed in France, with potential international collaboration, though such cooperation will not be essential for the aircraft’s creation.
