France military

Global rank #9

NATOEU

France ranks #9 of 24 in the 2026 Military Atlas Index. It spends $68.0B on defense (2.0% of GDP) and has 204K active personnel.

Key statistics

~290. Carried by SSBN (Le Triomphant class) and Rafale fighters (ASMP-A). Both legs active.

Sources: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database (2025), World Bank (2025), FAS Status of World Nuclear Forces (2026), IISS The Military Balance (2026), Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), citing FlightGlobal World Air Forces (2026), Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) (2026), CSIS Missile Threat (2026).

Equipment inventory

No equipment found.

France: Aircraft (49)

SOCATA TBMTransport Aircraft2,042confirmedPC-6Transport Aircraft · Switzerland2,026confirmedParrot AnafiUAV / Drone2,025confirmedDassault RafaleFighter Jet · France~200 (Air + Navy)confirmedDassault RafaleFighter Jet · France105confirmedMirage 2000DFighter Jet · France52confirmedRafale MFighter Jet · France41confirmedAlpha JetTransport Aircraft · France30confirmedDassault Mirage 2000-5FFighter Jet · France25confirmedA400MTransport Aircraft · Multi-national24confirmedCN235Transport Aircraft · Spain18confirmedD140Transport Aircraft · France17confirmedG120ATrainer Aircraft · Germany17confirmedA330 MRTTTransport Aircraft · Spain13confirmedC-130HTransport Aircraft · United States13confirmedEMB-312Transport Aircraft · Brazil13confirmedMQ-9 ReaperUAV / Drone · United States12 Reaper blocks I-VconfirmedYak-130Transport Aircraft · Russia11confirmedEMB-121Transport Aircraft · Brazil10confirmedFalcon 50 (MPA)Maritime Patrol Aircraft · France8confirmedSR20Trainer Aircraft · United States7confirmedDHC-6Transport Aircraft · Canada5confirmedERJ-145 (AEW)Transport Aircraft · Brazil5confirmedPC-21Transport Aircraft · Switzerland5confirmedSR22Trainer Aircraft · United States5confirmedY-7Transport Aircraft · China5confirmed707 (E-3F) (AEW)Transport Aircraft · United States4confirmedFalcon 8X (SIGINT)Transport Aircraft · France4confirmedC-130JTransport Aircraft · United States3confirmedCERESSatellite · France(ELINT/SIGINT)confirmedE-2C/D (AEW)Transport Aircraft · United States3confirmedERJ-145 (Recce)Reconnaissance · Brazil3confirmedExtra 300Transport Aircraft · Germany3confirmedC295Transport Aircraft · Spain2confirmedII-76Transport Aircraft · Soviet Union2confirmedKing Air 200/350 (C-12)Transport Aircraft · United States2confirmedPleiadesSatellite · France(ISR)confirmedSyracuse-3Satellite · France(COMMUNICATIONS, designed to integrate with UK Skynet & ITA Sicral)confirmedSyracuse-4Satellite · France(COMMUNICATIONS)confirmedAirbus A330Transport Aircraft1confirmed

ArtemisUAV / Drone1confirmed

Athena-FidusUAV / Drone · France(COMMUNICATIONS, also used by ITA)confirmedCSO-1Satellite · France(ISR)confirmedCSO-2UAV / Drone · France(ISR)confirmedHelios 2AUAV / Drone · France(ISR)confirmedHelios 2BSatellite · France(ISR)confirmedVictor 6000UAV / Drone · France1confirmedFrench tanker SommeTransport Aircraft—confirmedPC-7 Turbo Trainer MkIITransport Aircraft · Switzerland—confirmed

France: Helicopters (16)

H225MHelicopter · France2,045confirmedH125M/AS350/550Helicopter · France104confirmedSA342Helicopter · France86confirmedTigerHelicopter · France67confirmedAS565/550Helicopter · France41confirmedH215M/AS332/532Helicopter · France38confirmedNH90 (NFH)Helicopter · France27confirmedH135Helicopter · France20confirmedH145 (UH-72A/B)Helicopter · Germany15confirmedSA330Helicopter · France15confirmedMi-8/17Helicopter · Soviet Union11confirmedH215M/AS332Helicopter · France10confirmedMistral-class landing helicopter dockHelicopter3confirmedh225Helicopter · France2confirmedH160MHelicopter · France1confirmedMi-24/35Helicopter · Soviet Union1confirmed

France: Land (41)

VABArmored Vehicle · France(estimated)confirmedVBL/VB2LArmored Vehicle · France1,134confirmedVBMR GriffonArmored Vehicle · France737confirmedVBCI VCIArmored Vehicle · France515confirmedVBMR-L ServalArmored Vehicle · France292confirmedVBL UltimaArmored Vehicle · France251confirmedAMX-56 LeclercTank · France222 Leclerc (226 upgrading)confirmedAMX-10RCArmored Vehicle · France192confirmedAMX-56 LeclercTank · France166confirmedRT-F-1Artillery System · France(MOR)confirmedVBCI VPC (CP)Armored Vehicle · France107confirmedEBRC JaguarArmored Vehicle · France99confirmedVAB GEArmored Vehicle · France72confirmedCAESARArtillery System · France60confirmedVXB-170 (VBRG-170)Armored Vehicle · France60confirmedBvS-10Armored Vehicle · Sweden49confirmedERC-90D SagaieArmored Vehicle · France40confirmedVAB VOA (OP)Armored Vehicle · France40confirmedAMX-30EBGArmored Vehicle · France38confirmedLeclerc XLRTank · France34confirmedAU-F-1Artillery System · France32confirmedCentaureArmored Vehicle · France32confirmedAMX-30DArmored Vehicle · France27confirmedVAB NRBCArmored Vehicle · France26confirmedAravisArmored Vehicle · France20confirmed

EFAEngineering Vehicle20confirmed

PTAArmored Vehicle18confirmed

Leclerc DNGArmored Vehicle · France17confirmed

MinotaurArmored Vehicle12confirmed

TR-F-1Artillery System · France12confirmedGriffon VOA (OP)Armored Vehicle · France11confirmed

SPRATEngineering Vehicle · France10confirmed

M270 MLRSArtillery System · United States9confirmedBuffaloArmored Vehicle · United States4confirmed81mm mortarArtillery System · Turkey1confirmedAMX-30B/B2Tank · France1confirmedDouble Eagle Mk IIMine Clearing Vehicle · Sweden1confirmedLLR 81mmArtillery System · France(some MOR)confirmed

PAPMine Clearing Vehicle · France1confirmed

VAB-EHCArmored Vehicle · France1confirmedAT4Rcl · United States—confirmed

France: Naval (54)

VCSMPatrol Boat · France(1 more non-op)confirmedLCVPLanding Craft · United States10confirmed

VSMPPatrol Boat · France9confirmed

LéopardTraining Ship · France8confirmedÉridanMine Countermeasures Vessel · France8confirmed

Arbalète (EDA-S)Landing Craft · France6confirmed

FlorealFrigate · France6confirmedBurak (ex-FRA d’Estienne d’Orves)Corvette · France(classified as frigate in MB)confirmedCTMLanding Craft · France5confirmedLa FayetteFrigate · France5confirmedEDA-RLanding Craft · France4confirmedFREMM Multipurpose Frigate (Bergamini class)Frigate · France4confirmed

GéraniumPatrol Boat · France4confirmed

Le Triomphant-class SSBNSubmarine · France4 SSBNs, uninterrupted patrol since 1972confirmed

VulcainAuxiliary Ship · France4confirmed

d’Entrecasteaux (BSAOM)Patrol Craft · France4confirmed

AntarèsPatrol Boat · France3confirmed

FlamantPatrol Vessel · France3confirmedLa ConfiancePatrol Craft · France3confirmed

Maroni (VCSM NG)Patrol Boat · France3confirmed

Suffren-class Submarine (Barracuda)Submarine · France3 commissioned, 3 more plannedconfirmedAquitaine (FREMM FREDA)Frigate · France2confirmedAuguste Benebig (POM)Patrol Craft · France2confirmed

Bir Hakeim (VFM)Patrol Boat · France2confirmed

ForbinDestroyer · France2confirmed

GlycineTraining Ship · France2confirmed

La Belle PouleTraining Ship · France2confirmedRubisSubmarine · France2confirmedSuffren-class Submarine (Barracuda)Submarine · France2confirmedA9-MAutonomous Underwater Vehicle · France1confirmed

Alize (BSP)Auxiliary Ship · France1confirmed

Amiral Ronarc'h-class frigateFrigate1confirmed

ArmoisePatrol Boat · France1confirmed

BurakCorvette · France1confirmedCharles de Gaulle Aircraft CarrierAircraft Carrier · France1confirmedDuranceReplenishment Oiler · France1confirmed

FulmarPatrol Boat · France1confirmed

Jacques Chevallier (BRF)Replenishment Oiler · France1confirmed

La Grand HermineSail Training Ship · France1confirmed

LapérouseSurvey Ship · France1confirmed

Le MalinPatrol Craft · France1confirmed

MutinSail Training Ship · France1confirmed

Ophrys (VSP)Patrol Boat · France1confirmed

Pourquoi pas?Survey Ship · France1confirmed

Telenn MorAuxiliary Ship · France1confirmed

Abeille BretagneOcean Tug—confirmedFrench schooner Belle PouleAuxiliary Ship—confirmedFrench schooner ÉtoileAuxiliary Ship—confirmedFrench ship Beautemps-Beaupré (2002)Auxiliary Ship—confirmedFrench ship Dupuy de Lôme (A759)Auxiliary Ship—confirmedFrench ship Monge (A601)Auxiliary Ship—confirmedL'Astrolabe (2016 icebreaker)Survey Ship—confirmedPatrouilleur Outre-merOffshore Patrol Vessel—confirmedRPC12Ocean Tug—confirmed

France: Missile (31)

VAB with AkeronMissile System · France113confirmedVAB MilanMissile System · France64confirmedASMP-A Nuclear Standoff MissileMissile System · France~54 ASMP-A missiles for Rafale fleetestimatedSAMP/TMissile System · France(SAM Long-range)confirmedCrotale NGMissile System · France(SAM Short-range)confirmedM51 SLBMMissile System · France(nuclear SLBM)confirmedVL MICAMissile System · France(estimated SAM Short-range)confirmedAster 15 SAMMissile System · Multi-national4confirmedAster 30 SAMMissile System · Multi-national4confirmedF17 mod 2 HWTMissile System · France4confirmedSM39 Exocet AShMMissile System · France4confirmedMM40 Exocet Block 3 AShMMissile System · France2confirmedMistral SAMAir Defence System · France2confirmedAASM Hammer 250Missile System · France(some INS/GPS-guided)confirmedASROC A/S mslMissile System · United States1confirmedAkeronMissile System · France(some MANPATS)confirmedApacheMissile System · France(some ASM)confirmedArtémis (F-21) HWTMissile System · France1confirmedEryxMissile System · France(some MANPATS)confirmedFGM-148 JavelinMissile System · United States(some MANPATS)confirmedGBU-10/-12/-16 Paveway IIMissile System · United States(some Laser-guided)confirmedGBU-49 Enhanced Paveway IIMissile System · United States(some Laser & INS/GPS-guided)confirmedMU90 LWTMissile System · France1confirmedMdCN (SCALP Naval) LACMMissile System · France1confirmedMeteorMissile System · United Kingdom(some AAM ARH)confirmedMica IRMissile System · France(some AAM IIR)confirmedMica RFMissile System · France(some AAM ARH)confirmedMilanMissile System · France(some MANPATS)confirmedMistralMissile System · France(some SAM Point-defence)confirmedR-550 Magic 2Missile System · France(some AAM IR)confirmedSCALP-EGMissile System · France(some LACM Conventional)confirmed

France: Nuclear (4)

ASMP-A Nuclear Standoff MissileMissile System · France~54 ASMP-A missiles for Rafale fleetestimatedM51 SLBMMissile System · France(nuclear SLBM)confirmedLe Triomphant-class SSBNSubmarine · France4 SSBNs, uninterrupted patrol since 1972confirmedASN4G Hypersonic Nuclear MissileMissile System · Francedevelopment, IOC ~2035confirmed

France: In development (1)

ASN4G Hypersonic Nuclear MissileMissile System · Francedevelopment, IOC ~2035confirmed

Each row is labeled Confirmed, Estimated or Alleged. A dash means no count is published.

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