French Naval Aviation

"...recommended for readers interested in contemporary naval aviation and naval matters in the European context, maritime uses of fighting aircraft and their ordnance, and the technical equipment aspects of search and rescue over the sea from a French perspective." --The Northern MarinerOver the last two decades, the Aéronautique Navale, French Naval Aviation, has grown into a powerful and battle-hardened force equipped with a large inventory of Rafale Marine naval strike fighters, E-2C Hawkeye early-warning aircraft, Falcon 50, Gardian and Atlantique 2 maritime surveillance/maritime patrol aircraft, Dauphin, Panther, Alouette and Caïman naval helicopters and CAP 10, Xingu and Falcon 10 trainers/light transport aircraft. Its well-trained aircrews, supported by highly qualified engineers, air traffic controllers, intelligence specialists and firemen, perform a wide range of missions over land and sea, both in continental France and abroad. With over 200 full-color images and detailed information, this book plunges the reader right into the heart of French Navy squadrons, as it depicts the everyday life of modern-day Aéronautique Navale units.