France is standing up a new wing and squadron for its Rafale (pictured) fleet, the same time as it draws down its Mirage 2000C fleet. (French Air and Space Force)
The French Air and Space Force is to stand up a new wing and squadron as part of a wider build-up of its Dassault Rafale combat aircraft fleet.
The reactivation of the 5th Fighter Wing (FW) and Fighter Squadron 1/5 ‘Vendée' at Orange-Caritat Air Base (known as 115 ‘Captain de Seynes') in southern France will take place on 18 July.
“The 5th FW will carry out conventional missions of the [French] Air and Space Force, including the permanent air security posture [and] air policing,” the service said on 12 July.
To this end, EUR175 million (USD191 million) has been invested in the base, some 50 km north of Marseille. When complete by 2030, the facility will house 2,100 personnel. The French Air and Space Force said 20 Rafale jets would be assigned to the new wing and squadron, with a further new squadron arriving after 2030.
In accordance with the Military Programming Law (LPM), the French Air and Space Force is continuing to ramp up its fleet of Rafale fighter aircraft in tandem with the drawdown of its Dassault Mirage 2000C fleet.
This activation follows the withdrawal of the Mirage 2000Cs from Orange-Caritat Air Base, and the mothballing of Fighter Squadron 2/5 ‘Ile-de-France' in the summer of 2022.
For more information on the French Air and Space Force, please see France – Air Force .
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