Aerospatiale Gazelle

French Army Light Aviation Eurocopter Cougar in Afghanistan

The French Army Light Aviation (French: Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre, ALAT) is a the aviation service of the French Army.

History

The French Army Light Aviation was established on 22 November 1954 for observation, reconnaissance, assault and supply duties.

Composition

• Army Light Aviation Command (COMALAT)

• The 4th Airmobile Brigade (4e Brigade Aéromobile) has most of the ALAT:s strength.
  • 1st Combat Helicopter Regiment (1er Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (1er RHC) in Phalsbourg with 22 Gazelle, 20 Puma and 14 Cougar
  • 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (3e RHC) in Etain with 37 Gazelle, 16 Puma
  • 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment (5e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat) (5e RHC) in Pau with 52 various Gazelle and Puma helicopters

• Army Special Forces Brigade
  • ALAT detachment for Special Operations based in Pau-Uzein

Aircraft inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Notes
Aérospatiale Gazelle	France	combat helicopter	total Gazelle SA 341F SA 341M SA 342M	326 60 111 155
Aérospatiale Puma	France	transport helicopter	SA 330	126
Cessna 406	France	utility	Reims F406	2
Eurocopter Cougar	France	transport helicopter	AS 532 EC 725	28 3
Eurocopter Fennec	France	utility helicopter	AS 555	17
Eurocopter Tiger	European Union	attack helicopter	HAD & HAP	80	deliveries underway
Pilatus PC-6	Switzerland	utility transport	PC-6/B2-H4	5
Socata TBM	France	utility transport	TBM 700	8

See also

• Army aviation

References

External links

• ALAT homepage