Since its arrival, this tactical transport aircraft has become a cornerstone of territorial continuity and security in the Polynesian archipelago, carrying out thousands of medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions, personnel and equipment transport operations necessary for the action of the armed forces on a territory as vast as Europe.
Versatile and enduring, the CASA CN-235 can carry up to 45 passengers or 6 tons of cargo, with a range of up to 5,000 km. It can quickly be reconfigured to accommodate stretchers and medical equipment in its hold. CASA crews of the Air and Space Force are trained to land at night on unlit runways, ensuring a permanent intervention capacity where civilian means reach their limits.
This aircraft allows the FAPF to deploy anywhere in the territory and meet the logistical needs of the islands, in addition to civilian resources. Its missions cover a wide range from MEDEVAC to emergency deployment in crisis situations (cyclones, humanitarian emergencies). In 2025, the ET 82 CASAs carried out 34 MEDEVAC missions, totaling 180 flight hours.
The CASAs are essential for the missions carried out by the armed forces, such as the TAAMURA missions, meaning “the link” in Tahitian. These joint inter-service missions demonstrate the ability of the armed forces to provide assistance to the populations and intervene in crisis situations across the territory.
The ET 82 CASAs regularly participate in multinational exercises in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Super Garuda Shield in Indonesia. These deployments show the effectiveness of cooperation between French forces and their partners for regional security.
The French Armed Forces in French Polynesia (FAPF) constitute a dominant maritime inter-service device. Their main mission is to ensure France’s sovereignty in the Asia-Pacific region, confirming its status as a sovereign and coastal nation concerned with regional stability. Approximately 900 military personnel are engaged in safeguarding maritime spaces, policing fishing zones, and combating illicit trafficking. They are also able to respond, at short notice, to security or environmental crises. The FAPF have specific expertise in assisting populations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), which they regularly share with South Pacific countries.
