French Army Light Aviation

French Army Light Aviation • Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre (ALAT)

As of 2026, the French Army is modernizing its rotary-wing fleet under the LPM 2024–2030 (Military Programming Law) and the Scorpion program, focusing on the induction of the H160M Guépard and the enhancement of its air defense capabilities against drone threats.

Personnel: ε113,800 (Total Army). Status: Operational / High-Readiness. Strategy: Deep-strike rotary operations, tactical air-mobility, and integrated short-range air defense within the Scorpion networked architecture.

• AIRCRAFT (Fixed-wing Liaison) 14 active platforms.

Tactical Transport & Liaison:

• 9 Daher TBM-700/B.


• 5 Pilatus PC-6B Turbo Porter.

• HELICOPTER 280+ active airframes.

Attack (Helicopter):

• 67 Eurocopter Tiger (Standardized towards HAD/HAD-E configuration).

Multi-role & Tactical Reconnaissance:

• 103 Aerospatiale SA342 Gazelle (Various versions for reconnaissance and Viviane anti-tank).


• 21 Airbus H160M Guépard (Initial delivery units of 80 total planned for Army ALAT).

Tactical Transport (Helicopter):

• 63 NHIndustries NH90 TTH (Caïman) (18 more on order).


• 24 Eurocopter AS532UL Cougar.


• 15 Aerospatiale SA330 Puma (Legacy units remaining in service during H160M transition).


• 8 Airbus H225M Caracal (Assigned to Special Operations Command / 4th RHFS).

Training (Helicopter):

• 35 Airbus H120 Colibri (Civil-military training fleet, leased via HeliDax).


• 17 Aerospatiale AS555 Fennec.

• UNCREWED AERIAL SYSTEMS (ISR)

Tactical ISR (Heavy):

• Safran Patroller (Actively entering service to replace legacy tactical drones).
  
  

• AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS (GROUND-BASED)

Point-defence Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM):

• 12+ Mistral (Includes MANPADS and vehicle-mounted Atlas systems).


• 12 VAB ARLAD (Scorpion-integrated anti-drone and SHORAD platforms).
  
  

• Main Battle Tanks (MBT): 215 Leclerc (Upgrading to XLR standard).


• Artillery (Self-propelled): 60 CAESAR (155mm); 32 AU-F-1 (Remaining in service).


• Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MRL): 9 M270B1 MLRS (Upgraded to handle new GMLRS variants)
  
  

Strategic Note: By 2026, the ALAT has established itself as the quantitative and qualitative leader in European combat helicopter operations. Organized around the 4th Air Combat Brigade, the force is transitioning from legacy types like the Puma and Gazelle to a high-readiness fleet of NH90 Caïmans and H160M Guépards. This modernization is deeply integrated with the Scorpion networking system, allowing for real-time data sharing between aircraft and ground units. In the air defense domain, the Army has prioritized the induction of the VAB ARLAD, reflecting lessons learned from recent conflicts regarding the urgent need for mobile, anti-drone point defense on the tactical battlefield.