The Air and Space Forces will create its first “space air base” in Toulouse.
The air base was officially established in 1934 on the occasion of the birth of the Air Force. [BA] 101 “General Lionel de Marmier” Toulouse-Françaille will not survive the wave of restructuring planned by the General Review of Public Policies. [RGPP] It was launched in 2008.
Since then, and after a long period of uncertainty about its future, the site has recently been partly owned by Toulouse Métropole, which intends to create “the largest centre in Europe for research, testing and innovation dedicated to hydrogen”. However, the old base has not completely lost its military character, as it has housed the National Centre for Airborne Operations since 2017. [PNOAP] From the 11th Parachute Brigade [BP].
However, ten years after the dissolution of BA 101, and as part of the Space Defense Strategy unveiled during the summer of 2019, it was decided to establish a Space Command. [CdE]Under the auspices of the Air and Space Forces [AAE] In Toulouse.
Taking over the responsibilities of the “Joint Space Command”, this center wasted no time in making its mark within the National Center for Space Studies. [CNES]With a force of 200 soldiers.
Then, in 2022, a “construction lease” was signed for a period of forty years for the construction of a building on a plot of land belonging to the National Center for Space Studies, covering an area of 11,000 square meters to house CDE activities as well as buildings dedicated to the National Center for Space Studies. NATO’s future Center of Excellence [COE] Dedicated to space.
Over the next few months, the CDE will continue its rise in power, and is expected to number up to 500 soldiers. [dont 85 % seront issus de l’AAE]Reporting to the Aerospace Operations Brigade. [BAOS]It will assemble at least nine units at its site in Toulouse.
These include the command and control center for space operations. [C3OS]operational center for military control of space objects [COSMOS]Military Satellite Control Center [CMOS]Space Action Squadron [ECAS, qui mettra en œuvre le système YODA, pour Yeux en Orbite pour un Démonstrateur Agile]Space Intelligence Center [CRIS]Military Space Operations Training Center [CFOSM]Space Operations Support Squadron [ESOS]Army Space Innovation Lab [LISA] Finally, the Space Programs brand team. [EMPS].
Currently, units already transferred to Toulouse are supported by management training. [FA] 101, whose organization, as the AAE explains, allows its commander to “exercise organic leadership locally over CDE units while ensuring the achievement of their operational objectives.”
But the name “FA 101” is not meant to stick. In fact, as of August 1, 2025, when the CDE headquarters opens, “AFB 101 will be open and will become […] First air base directed to space [BAVS] “French”, AAE announces in the latest issue of Air Actualités magazine.
To add: “It is a name that is not without meaning because the first French air base, opened in 1934, was Air Base 101 in Toulouse-Francazale. It remains to be determined what the badge and flag will be and who will have the honour of associating his name with it. We could even say that it is a revolution, in the spatial sense of the word clearly.