Istres-Le Tubé Air Base

Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

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Istres-Le Tubé Air Base

Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

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LFMI

ICAO

82 ft

Elevation

TravelerPulse profile

French Air and Space Force's primary flight test base.

Location

Istres, France

Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (ICAO: LFMI) is a major military airfield operated by the French Air and Space Force, located near Istres in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southern France. It serves as one of France's most important military aviation installations, hosting flight testing, training, and operational units. The base is home to the DGA Flight Test center (Direction Générale de l'Armement - Essais en Vol), making it a critical hub for the testing and evaluation of French military aircraft, including the Dassault Rafale. Its long runways and favorable Mediterranean climate make it well suited for flight test operations. Istres has no commercial passenger services and does not hold an IATA code. The facility is strictly military and restricted to authorized personnel and operations.

Notable facts

›Home to the DGA Essais en Vol (DGA Flight Test), France's primary military aircraft testing organization.
›One of the longest runways in France, exceeding 5,000 meters, suitable for testing high-performance aircraft.
›Used as a diversion airfield for the Space Shuttle during early program planning due to its runway length.
›Hosts the French Air and Space Force's Boeing C-135 tanker fleet for aerial refueling operations.
›The Dassault Rafale underwent significant flight testing at this base.

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Encyclopaedia

Istres-Le Tubé Air Base is a large multi-role tasked French Air and Space Force base located near Istres, northwest of Marseille, France. The airport facilities are also known as Istres - Le Tubé.

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