There is change in the air for the French Air and Space Force Transport Squadron 3/60 ‘Estérel’. Babak Taghvaee reports on recent developments and future plans


Two of the three Airbus A330 aircraft ordered for €200m by the French government are now operational with the third due to arrive in 2022. The initial pair for the French Air and Space Force’s (AAE) Transport Squadron 3/60 ‘Estérel’ have been in operation since December. The third A330 is a new production aircraft.
The air force’s aim is to convert the three A330s into its multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) ‘Phoenix’ types to complement the fleet of 12 MRTTs that are expected to be in place by 2023.