Back Aéronavale Czech Aéronavale German Aviation navale Spanish Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale French Aéronautique navale Italian 海軍航空隊 (フランス海軍) Japanese Prancūzijos laivyno aviacija Lithuanian Aviation navale NB Aviação Naval Francesa Portuguese Авиация ВМС Франции Russian
| French Naval Aviation | |
|---|---|
| Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale | |
 | |
| Founded | 20 March 1912 |
| Country |  France |
| Branch |  French Navy |
| Type | Naval aviation |
| Size | 6,800 personnel 178 aircraft[1][2] |
| Nickname(s) | Sky Navy 'La Marine du Ciel |
| Motto(s) | Honneur, patrie, valeur, discipline |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Contre-amiral Eric Janicot |
| French Navy |
|---|
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| Command |
| Components |
| Equipment |
| Personnel |
| History |
| Awards |
French Naval Aviation (often abbreviated in French to: Aéronavale (contraction of Aéronautique navale), or Aviation navale, or more simply l'Aéro) is the naval air arm of the French Navy. The long-form official designation is Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale. Born as a fusion of aircraft carrier squadrons and the naval patrol air force, the Aéronavale was created in 1912. The force is under the command of a flag officer officially titled Admiral of Naval Aviation (ALAVIA) with his headquarters at Toulon naval base. It has a strength of around 6,800 military and civilian personnel. It operates from four airbases in Metropolitan France and several detachments in foreign countries or French overseas territories. Carrier-borne pilots of the French Navy do their initial training at Salon-de-Provence Air Base after which they undergo their carrier qualification with the US Navy.
- ^ "World Air Forces 2019". Flightglobal: 16. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ "Defence Key Figures: 2016 Edition". Defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016. (download PDF file or see HTML version Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine)