Bastille Day parade 2026: full aircraft and helicopter flypast lineup

Each year, France’s National Day military parade begins with a large aerial display over Paris, showcasing aircraft from the French Air and Space Force, the French Navy and allied air arms. 

For its 2026 edition, the July 14 parade is being organized around the theme of the “strategic awakening of Europe,” with Ukraine and European partners placed prominently in the ceremony. The Patrouille de France is set to open the flypast, accompanied by two Mirage 2000 flown by Franco-Ukrainian crews. 

Taking place on the Champs-Élysées, the 2026 parade is expected to include 6,686 participants, 299 vehicles, and 193 horses, according to figures attributed to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. 

The 2026 aerial parade is expected to be much larger than the previous year’s. In 2025, the Bastille Day parade showcased 65 fixed-wing aircraft and 29 helicopters. In contrast, the official program for 2026 lists 98 fixed-wing aircraft, including eight from foreign countries, and 32 helicopters. 

Among the highlights this year: 

The Patrouille de France opening sequence, framed by two Mirage 2000 aircraft linked to the training of Ukrainian pilots. 
A full Forces aériennes stratégiques formation with an A330 MRTT and seven FAS Rafale B. 
A major French Navy carrier-based aviation tableau featuring 13 Rafale M aircraft and an E-2C Hawkeye, as the Marine nationale marks its 400th anniversary. 
A heavy airlift and support sequence involving A400M and C-130J aircraft, including German and British participation. 
Curious about which aircraft will fly over Paris for the “14th of July” parade? We’ve compiled the full fixed-wing flypast lineup as shown by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. 

What aircraft will fly over Paris on July 14, 2026? 

Fixed-wing aircraft 

Opening flypast: Patrouille de France 

Patrouille de France during Bastille Day 2023 (Credit: Lucien Deguitre / Courtesy picture)

9 Alphajet (Patrouille de France, “big Nine” formation) 
2 Mirage 2000B (Ukrainian Air Force) 
The two Mirage 2000B aircraft, the two-seat training variant operated by the French Air and Space Force, are understood to be French jets flown by French instructors, with Ukrainian student pilots seated in the rear cockpit. One of the two Mirage 2000B aircraft is expected to carry a special livery in Ukrainian colors.

“Entrée en premier: intervention” (First in: intervention) 

The largest formation of the day, built around the 30th Fighter Wing, the Forces aériennes stratégiques (FAS), and European partners, this section represents France’s ability to conduct a full air campaign from the opening hours of a conflict.  

5 Rafale (30e escadre de chasse) 
3 Rafale (Forces aériennes stratégiques) 
2 Rafale (Centre d’expertise aérienne militaire) 
1 Rafale (Escadron de transformation Rafale) 
2 Rafale (5e escadre de chasse) 
4 allied aircraft (Germany, Greece, Sweden and UK) 
10 Mirage 2000D 
2 Mirage 2000-5 
3 A330 MRTT Phénix 
“Posture permanente de sûreté” (Permanent air security posture) 

Mirage and Rafale fighters with an AWACS (Credit: Lucien Deguitre / Courtesy picture)

France’s permanent air policing mission, combining airborne command-and-control with quick-reaction alert fighters.  

1 E-3F AWACS 
2 Mirage 2000-5 
2 Rafale 
“Forces aériennes stratégiques” (Strategic Air Forces) 

France’s airborne nuclear deterrent, with the A330 MRTT Phénix playing the tanker role previously filled by the now-retired KC-135. The FAS Rafale B aircraft are capable of carrying the ASMPA-R nuclear cruise missile and are at the core of Macron’s forward deterrence concept.  

1 A330 MRTT Phénix 
7 Rafale B (Forces aériennes stratégiques) 
“Marine nationale” (French Navy) 

The carrier air group, flying from the Charles de Gaulle. The 13 Rafale Marine are certified to carry the ASMPA-R nuclear cruise missile, making the Force aéronavale nucléaire (FANu) an operational element of France’s airborne deterrent.  

13 Rafale Marine 
1 E-2C Hawkeye 
“Renseignement surveillance” (Intelligence and surveillance) 

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, including the ALSR (Système léger de surveillance et de reconnaissance, known as Vador) alongside maritime patrol and signals intelligence platforms. 

1 Rafale (30e escadre, RECO NG reconnaissance pod) 
2 Mirage 2000D (ASTAC electronic intelligence pod) 
1 Falcon 50 
2 ALSR (Vador) 
2 Atlantique 2 
“Appui aux opérations” (Operational support) 

Strategic and tactical airlift, with the largest multinational formation of the day. Germany contributes both A400Ms and C-130Js, while the United Kingdom brings A400Ms under the Coalition des Volontaires framework. 

6 A400M Atlas (France) 
2 A400M Atlas (United Kingdom) 
2 A400M Atlas (Germany) 
2 C-130J (France) 
2 C-130J (Germany) 
4 CN235 (France) 
“Forces spéciales” (Special forces) 

The closing section of the fixed-wing parade, representing French special operations aviation with its characteristic mix of platforms. 

1 A400M Atlas 
2 H225M Caracal 
1 C-130 Hercules 
1 De Havilland Canada Twin Otter 
Helicopters  

Protection du territoire national 

A Puma flies alongside the Caracal that is replacing it, as the former French workhorse edges toward its 2027 retirement date. 

3 AS555 Fennec 
1 SA330 Puma 
1 H225M Caracal 
Assaut et appui de feu 

AS565 Panther (Marine nationale) 
Reconnaissance et attaque 

HAD Tigre (1er régiment d’hélicoptères de combat) 
Interministerial and innovation 

A first for the parade: DGA Essais en vol participates with an H160, the newest medium helicopter in the French ecosystem, illustrating its ongoing evaluation and military certification work. 

H160 (DGA Essais en vol) 
Helicopters of the Gendarmerie nationale 
H145 (Sécurité civile) 
EC135 (Douane française) 
Ground parade additions: drones and air-land integration 

The 2026 parade is expected to include a new air-land demonstration, designed to show interaction between ground troops and air support. The Ministry has described the sequence as covering real-time intelligence gathering, fire support and air strikes, ground combat, logistics, and battlefield medical support.  

The ground parade will also include unmanned systems, with the French Navy’s 36F flotilla expected to present the S-100 unmanned helicopter, while a drone-related unit from the 1er Régiment d’infanterie de marine is expected to take part in the motorized parade.  

Want to compare this year’s lineup with the previous edition? You can also revisit AeroTime’s full 2025 Bastille Day flypast program, including the complete list of aircraft and helicopters that flew over Paris last year.  

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Bastille Day parade 2025: Full flypast lineup of 100 aircraft and helicopters

Program subject to change. Lineup as published by the French Ministry of Armed Forces ahead of July 14, 2026. The post Bastille Day parade 2026: full aircraft and helicopter flypast lineup appeared first on AeroTime.

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