Editing Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet (section)

===France===
[[File:French Air Force Alpha Jet E.jpg|right|thumb|French Air Force Alpha Jet E]]
The [[French Air Force]] decided to use the Alpha Jet primarily as a trainer.<ref name="AIjun84 p270"/> On 4 November 1977, the first production Alpha Jet intended for French service conducted its first flight.<ref name="Janes 82 p105">Taylor 1982, p. 105.</ref> The French variant was known as the ''Alpha Jet E'' (the "E" standing for ''École'', [[French language|French]] for "School") or ''Alpha Jet Advanced Trainer/Light Attack'' aircraft. The initial deliveries to France for service trials took place in 1978, lead to the type being introduced to line service in May 1979. The Alpha Jet E quickly replaced the [[Canadair CT-133 Silver Star|Canadair T-33]] and [[Fouga Magister]] in jet trainer role, as well as the [[Dassault Mystère IV]]A in its weapons training capacity.<ref name="Janes 82 p105"/><ref name="AIjun84 p275-6"/><ref name = "flight 1978">[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978%20-%202719.html "Alpha Jet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803090334/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978%20-%202719.html |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 4 November 1978. p. 1649.</ref>

[[File:French Alpha Jet 1988.jpg|thumb|Six French Alpha Jets of the ''[[Patrouille de France]]'' flight display team flying in formation during Air Fete '88 ]]
The ''[[Patrouille de France]]'', air demonstration team of the French Air Force, fly the Alpha Jet.<ref name="Janes 82 p105"/><ref name="AIjun84 p275-6">Braybrook 1984, pp. 275–276.</ref> A total of 176 production Alpha Jet E machines were delivered up to 1985, not the 200 that had been planned. While an excellent aircraft, French air force commanders of combat units had one complaint against the Alpha Jet, that it was a very forgiving aircraft to fly, resulting in a lengthier and steeper learning curve when assigned to fly combat aircraft which were not so forgiving.<ref>Christophe Gasztych, "Savoie's AUTUMN" ''Air Force's Monthly'', March 2013, pp. 40-45.</ref>

During the early 1990s, the French Air Force investigated the ''Alpha Jet 3'' program, which involved installing a fully digital cockpit, modernised communications suite, and a full navigation/attack and sensor training system. It was ultimately abandoned as being too expensive.<ref name = "france life extend"/> In 1998, France's defence ministry examined prospective upgrades focused on the Alpha Jet's cockpit, such as the installation of a new [[Head-up display#Military aircraft specific applications|Head-Up Display]] (HUD) and multifunction displays.<ref name = "france life extend">[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/france-studies-alpha-jet-life-extension-44053/ "France studies Alpha Jet life extension."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803114805/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/france-studies-alpha-jet-life-extension-44053/ |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 21 October 1998.</ref> 

In June 2003, Dassault revealed its plans for an Alpha Jet upgrade to potentially meet the French Air Force's long term training requirements. This upgrade was similar to that which was performed for the Belgian Air Force's Alpha Jet fleet, involving the installation of a [[glass cockpit]], increasing cockpit compatibility with frontline aircraft such as the [[Dassault Rafale]] and [[Dassault Mirage 2000]], as well as a structural overhaul.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/alpha-jet-upgrade-ahead-167271/ "Alpha Jet upgrade ahead."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803120723/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/alpha-jet-upgrade-ahead-167271/ |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 17 June 2003.</ref>

In September 2014, [[Direction générale de l'armement]] (DGA) and French Air Force officials were reportedly investigating the [[Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master]] as a replacement for the Alpha Jet. [[Alenia Aermacchi]] claimed that France was interested in procuring 35 M-346s in this capacity.<ref>Perry, Dominic. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/france-to-evaluate-m-345-as-possible-alpha-jet-repla-403569/ "France to evaluate M-345 as possible Alpha Jet replacement."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803114258/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/france-to-evaluate-m-345-as-possible-alpha-jet-repla-403569/ |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 11 September 2014.</ref> In April 2015, the DGA issued an initial pre-solicitation request for a replacement trainer aircraft. Likely candidates for this requirement reportedly include the M-346 Master, [[Aero L-39 Albatros]], [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II]] and [[Pilatus PC-21]].<ref>Perry, Dominic. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-france-plans-alpha-jet-replacement-413675/ "PARIS: France plans Alpha Jet replacement."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803114038/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-france-plans-alpha-jet-replacement-413675/ |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 16 June 2015.</ref> The PC-21 was introduced in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/france-speeds-pc-21-441324/|title=France speeds PC-21 deliveries|date=2018-09-20|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013305/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/france-speeds-pc-21-deliveries-441324/|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2017/05/unveiled-first-pilatus-pc-21-for-french-air-force.html|title=UNVEILED THE FIRST PILATUS PC-21 FOR FRENCH AIR FORCE|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107015514/http://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2017/05/unveiled-first-pilatus-pc-21-for-french-air-force.html|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

All remaining trainer aircraft had been retired in 2024. Only the [[Patrouille de France]] is still in 2025 operating 16 Alphajets, as 2 were lost early 2025.