French Army
The
French Army (
Armée de Terre) is the land-based component of the
French Armed Forces. It employs 138,000 men and women.
The army is divided into the following
armes:
*
Marine troops, composed of:
** Marine Infantry (
Infanterie de Marine)
** Marine Artillery (
Artillerie de Marine)
** Marine Armour (
Chars de Marine)
*
Foreign Legion (
Légion étrangère)
*
Armoured
cavalry (
arme blindée cavalerie)
*
Artillery;
* Light aviation (ALAT, or
aviation légère de l'armée de terre), such as combat
helicopters;
*
Military engineer (
génie militaire);
* Infantry, including:
**
Chasseurs alpins (mountain troops)
*
Materiel*
Transport (
train)
*
Transmissions*
Commissary* Health service of the Army
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Logo of the French Army |
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French soldiers of the IFOR in Mostar, 1995. A flak jacket is worn with the then-characteristic (and since widely exported) SPECTRA helmet. AMX 30 AuF1 armoured artillery in the background. |
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The new face of the French infantryman: the FELIN integrated combat suit |
CFAT
CFAT (
Commandement de la Force d'Action Terrestre or Command of the Terrestrial Fighting Forces) commands the following 8
brigades interarmes ("interarm brigades"):
1re Brigade Mécanisée â€" 1st Mechanized Brigade in Chalons en Champagne
*501e-503e Régiment de Chars de Combat (501e-503e RCC ) armoured Regiment in
Mourmelon le Grand with 80
Leclerc *1er Régiment de
Tirailleurs (1er RTir) mechanized Infantry Regiment in
Epinal equipped with
AMX-10P*1er Régiment d'Infanterie (1er RI) Infantry Regiment in
Sarrebourg with 82
VAB*40e Régiment d'Artillerie (40e RA) self propelled Artillery Regiment in
Suippes with 32
AMX 30 AuF1, 4 TRF1 self propelled 155 mm self propelled Guns, 4 CAESAR wheeled 155 mm Guns and 16 120 mm
Mortars
*3e Régiment du Génie (3e RG) Engineer Regiment in
Charleville*1re Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (1re CCT) in
Chalons en Champagne with 20
VAB2e Brigade Blindée â€" 2nd Armoured Brigade in Orleans
*Régiment de Marche du Tchad (RMT) mechanized Marine Infantry Regiment in
Noyon equipped with
AMX-10P and
VAB*16e Bataillon de Chasseurs (16e BC) mechanized Infantry Battalion in
Saarburg (
Germany) equipped with
AMX-10P*1er Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (1er RAMa) self propelled Marine Artillery Regiment in
Laon equipped with
AMX 30 AuF1 *13e Régiment du Génie (13e RG) Engineer Regiment in
Le Valdahon*2e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (2e CCT) in
Orleans with 22
VAB*6e/12e Régiment de Chasseurs (6e/12e RC) armoured Regiment with 80 Leclerc, 57 VAB and 31 VBL. {2 Groupes d'escadrons à 40 chars Leclerc (6 escadrons de 13) Gp HQ 1 MBT. Sq HQ 1 MBT 3 Plt [4 MBT]}
3e Brigade Mécanisée â€" 3rd Mechanized Brigade in Limoges
*1er-11e Régiment de Cuirassiers (1e- 11e RC) armoured Regiment in
Carpiagne with 80
Leclerc *92e Régiment d'Infanterie (92e RI) mechanized Infantry Regiment in
Clermont-Ferrand with 65
AMX-10P and 29
VAB*126e Régiment d'Infanterie (126e RI) Infantry Regiment in
Brive-la-Gaillarde equipped with
VAB and
VBL*68e Régiment d'Artillerie (68e RA) self propelled Artillery Regiment in
La Valbonne with 32
AMX 30 AuF1 and 16 120 mm Mortars
*31e Régiment du Génie (31e RG) Engineer Regiment in
Castelsarrasin*3e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (3e CCT) in
Limoges equipped with
VAB6e Brigade Légère Blindée â€" 6th light armoured Brigade in Nimes
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Legionnaires in parade uniform |
*1er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (1er REC)
Foreign Legion Cavalry Regiment in
Orange with 48
AMX 10 RC*1er Régiment de
Spahis Wheeled Armoured Regiment in
Valence with 48
AMX 10 RC*2e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie (2e REI)
Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in
Nimes with 135
VAB*21e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (21e RIMa) Marine Infantry Regiment in
Frejus equipped with
VAB*3e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (3e RAMa) self propelled Marine Artillery Regiment in
Monferrat equipped with
AMX 30 AuF1 and 120 mm Mortars
*1er Régiment Etranger de Génie (1er REG)
Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment in
Laudun*6e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (6e CCT) in
Nimes equipped with
VAB7ème Brigade Blindée â€" 7th Armoured Brigade in Besançon
*1er-2e Régiment de Chasseurs armoured Regiment in
Thierville sur Meuse with 80
Leclerc, 57
VAB and 31
VBL*35e Régiment d'Infanterie (35e RI) mechanized Infantry Regiment in
Belfort equipped with
AMX-10P,
VAB and
VBL*152e Régiment d'Infanterie (152e RI) mechanized Infantry Regiment in
Colmar equipped with
AMX-10P*8e Régiment d'Artillerie (8e RA) self propelled Artillery Regiment in
Commercy equipped with
AMX 30 AuF1 and 120 mm Mortars
*19e Régiment du Génie (19e RG) Engineer Regiment in
Besançon*7e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (7e CCT) in
Besançon9e Brigade Légère Blindée de Marine - 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade in Nantes
*1er Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RIMa) Armoured Marine Infantry Regiment (light cavalry) in
Angouleme with 48
AMX 10 RC, 30
VAB and 71
VBL*Régiment d'Infanterie Chars de Marine (RICM) Armoured Marine Infantry Regiment (light cavalry) in
Poitiers equipped with
AMX 10 RC*2e régiment d'infanterie de marine (2e RIMa) Marine Infantry Regiment in
Champagné equipped with
VAB*3e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RIMa) Marine Infantry Regiment in
Vannes equipped with
VAB*11e Régiment d'Artillerie de Marine (11e RAMa) Marine Artillery Regiment in
St. Aubin du Cormier equipped with TRF1 155 mm Field Canons and 120 mm Mortars
*6e Régiment du Génie (6e RG) Engineer Regiment in
Angers11ème Brigade Parachutiste â€" 11th Parachutist Brigade in Balma
*1er régiment de chasseurs parachutistes (1er RCP) Parachutist Regiment in
Pamiers*2e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP)
Foreign Legion Parachutist Regiment in
Calvi*3e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa) Marine Parachutist Regiment in
Carcassonne*8e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (8e RPIMa) Marine Parachutist Regiment in
Castres*1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes (1er RHP)Wheeled Armoured Antitank Parachutist Regiment in
Tarbes equipped with
ERC 90 Sagaie,
VAB and
VBL*35e Régiment d'Artillerie Parachutiste (35e RAP) Parachutist Artillery Regiment in
Tarbes*17e Régiment du Génie Parachutiste (17e RGP) Parachutist Engineer Regiment in
Montauban*1er Régiment du Train Parachutiste (1er RTP) Parachutist Transport Regiment in
Toulouse27e Brigade d'infanterie de Montagne â€" 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade in Varces
*7e Bataillon de
Chasseurs Alpins (7e BCA) Mountain Infantry Battalion in
Bourg St. Maurice with 70
VAB and 12 véhicules de montagne blindés
VMB*13e Bataillon de
Chasseurs Alpins (11e BCA) Mountain Infantry Battalion in
Barby equipped with
VAB*27e Bataillon de
Chasseurs Alpins (27e BCA) Mountain Infantry Battalion in
Gran Gevrier equipped with
VAB*4e Régiment de Chasseurs Wheeled Armoured Antitank Regiment in
Gap with 36
ERC 90 Sagaie, 20
VAB, 72
VBL and 6
Gazelle helicopters
*93e Régiment d'Artillerie de Montagne (93e RAM) Mountain Artillery Regiment in
Varces with 24 TRF1 155 mm Field Canons and 24 120 mm Mortars
*2e Régiment Etranger de Génie (2e REG)
Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment in
St. Christol4e Brigade Aéromobile â€" 4th Airmobile Brigade in Essey les Nancy
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Gazelle from 1st combat helicopter regiment |
*1er Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat (1er RHC) Combat Helicopter Regiment in
Phalsbourg with 22
Gazelle, 20
Puma and 14
Cougar*3e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat (3e RHC) Combat Helicopter Regiment in
Etain with 37
Gazelle, 16
Puma*5e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat (5e RHC) Combat Helicopter Regiment in
Pau with 52 various
Gazelle and
Puma helicopters
*6e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat (6e RHC) Combat Helicopter Regiment in
Margny les Compiegne equipped with
Puma and various
Gazelle helicopters
*4e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (4e CCT) in
Essey les NancyFrench contribution:
*3e Régiment de Hussards Wheeled Armoured Regiment in
Immendingen (Germany) equipped with
AMX 10 RC and
VBL*110e Régiment d'Infanterie (110e RI) Infantry Regiment in
Donaueschingen equipped with
VAB and
VBLBrigade des forces spéciales â€" Special Forces Brigade in Pau
The Special Forces Brigade is commanded directly by CEMA (Chef d'état-major des Armées- Army General Staff) and consists of the following units:
*13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes (13ème RDP)
Special Forces Recon Regiment in
Dieuze*1er Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RPIMa) Marine Parachutist
Special Forces Regiment in
Bayonne*Détachement ALAT des Opérations Spéciales (DAOS) Special operations detachment of the light Army Aviation in
PauCFLT
CFLT (Commandement de la Force logistique Terrestre or Command of the Terrestrial Logistical Forces) commands the following support brigades of the French Army:
Brigade de Transmissions â€" Signal Brigade in Lunéville
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troops from the 18th signal regiment |
*43e Régiment d'Infanterie (43e RI) Infantry Regiment in
Lille*18e Régiment de Transmissions (18e RT) Signal Regiment
Bretteville-sur-Odon*28e Régiment de Transmissions (28e RT) Signal Regiment
Issoire*40e Régiment de Transmissions (40e RT) Signal Regiment
Thionville*42e Régiment de Transmissions (42e RT) Signal Regiment
Laval*48e Régiment de Transmissions (48e RT) Signal Regiment
Agen - see [
1]
*53e Régiment de Transmissions (53e RT) Signal Regiment
LunévilleBrigade de Renseignement â€" Recon Brigade in Montigny
*2e Régiment de Hussards (2e RH) Surveillance Regiment in
Sourdun equipped with
VBL*44e Régiment de Transmissions (44e RT) Electronic Warfare Regiment in
Mutzig*54e Régiment de Transmissions (54e RT) Electronic Warfare Regiment in
Haguenau*61e Régiment d'artillerie (61e RA) Aerial Surveillance Regiment in
Chaumont equipped with
CL 289 drones
Brigade d'artillerie â€" Artillery Brigade in Haguenau
*1er Régiment d'Artillerie (1er RA) Rocket Artillery Regiment in
Belfort equipped with the Multiple Launch Rocket System
MLRS*12e Régiment d'Artillerie (12e RA) Rocket Artillery Regiment in
Haguenau with 24
MLRS*54e Régiment d'Artillerie (54e RA) Air Defense Regiment in
Hyeres equipped with the
Roland short-range surface-to-air missile system and
Mistral Air Defense missiles
*57e Régiment d'Artillerie (57e RA) Air Defense Regiment in
Bitche equipped with the
Roland system and
Mistral missiles
*402e Régiment d'Artillerie (402e RA) Air Defense Regiment in
Chalons en Champagne equipped with
Hawk surface-to-air missiles and
Mistral missiles
Brigade du Génie - Engineering Brigade in Strasbourg
*1er régiment du Génie (1er RG) Engineer Regiment in
Illkirch Graffenstaden*2e Régiment du Génie (2e RG) Engineer Regiment in
Metz*5e Régiment du Génie (5e RG) Engineer Regiment in
Versailles*2e Régiment de Dragons - Défense Nucléaire Biologique et chimique NBC Defense Regiment in
Draguignan1re Brigade Logistique â€" 1st Logistics Brigade in Montlhéry
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Armoured medical transportation vehicle |
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6ème régiment du matériel |
*121e Régiment du Train (121e RT) Transport Regiment in
Linas-Montlhéry*511e Régiment du Train (511e RT) Transport Regiment in
Auxonne*516e Régiment du Train (516e RT) Transport Regiment in
Toul*1er Régiment du Matériel (1er RMAT) Material Regiment in
Metz*6e Régiment du Matériel (6e RMAT) Material Regiment in
Phalsbourg*8e Régiment du Matériel (8e RMAT) Material Regiment in
Mourmelon*9e Régiment du Matériel (9e RMAT) Material Regiment in
*601e Régiment de Circulation Routière (601e RCR) Transport Support Regiment in
Arras2e Brigade Logistique â€" 2nd Logistics Brigade in Souge
*503e Régiment du Train (503e RT) Transport Regiment in
Martignas*515e Régiment du Train (515e RT) Transport Regiment in
Brie (Charente)*517e Régiment du Train (517e RT) Transport Regiment in
La Martinerie*2e Régiment du Matériel (2e RMAT) Material Regiment in
Bruz*3e Régiment du Matériel (3e RMAT) Material Regiment in
Muret*4e Régiment du Matériel (4e RMAT) Material Regiment in
Nimes*7e Régiment du Matériel Alpin (7e RMAT) Mountain Material Regiment in
Lyon*3e Régiment médical (3e RMED) Field Hospital Regiment in
La ValbonneOther units
Support units of the 5 regional headquarters
*526e Bataillon du Train (526e BT) Transport Battalion supports the region
ÃŽle-de-France headquarter in
Saint-Germain-en-Laye*4e Groupe d'escadrons de Hussards Armoured Group supports the North-East region headquarter in
Metz*22e Bataillon d'Infanterie (22e BI) Infantry Battalion supports the South-East region headquarter in
Lyon*57e Bataillon d'Infanterie (57e BI) Infantry Battalion supports the South-West region headquarter in
Bordeaux*16e Groupe d'Artillerie (16e GA) Artillery Group supports the Nord-West region headquarter in
RennesSupport units of the 4 forward deployable headquarters (EMF)
*7e Bataillon du Train (7e BT) Transport Battalion supports EMF 1 in
Besançon*22e Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine (22e BIMa) Marine Infantry Battalion supports EMF 2 in
Nantes*72e Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine (72e BIMa) Marine Infantry Battalion supports EMF 3 in
Marseille*15e Bataillon du Train (15e BT) Transport Battalion supports EMF4 in
LimogesUnits permanently deployed overseas
*5e Régiment Interarmes d'Outre-Mer (5e RIAOM) Mixed Marine Regiment in
Djibouti equipped with
AMX 10 RC*13e Demi Brigade de Légion Etrangère (13e DBLE)
Foreign Legion regiment in
Djibouti with
ERC 90 Sagaie and
VAB*6e Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine (6e BIMa) Marine Infantry Battalion based in
Gabon equipped with
ERC 90 Sagaie*23e Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine (23e BIMa) Marine Infantry Battalion in
Dakar (
Sénégal) equipped with
ERC 90 Sagaie*43e Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine (43e BIMa) Marine Infantry Battalion based in
Côte d'Ivoire equipped with
ERC 90 Sagaie and
VAB*3e Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie (3e REI)
Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment, tasked with the protection of the
European Guiana Space Centre in
Kourou*9e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (9e RIMa) Marine Infantry Regiment in
Cayenne*41e Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine (41e BIMa) Marine Infantry Battalion based in
Guadeloupe*33e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (33e RIMa) Marine Infantry Regiment based in
Martinique*2e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa) Marine Parachutist Regiment in
Saint-Pierre, Réunion*Détachement de Légion Etrangère de Mayotte (DLEM)
Foreign Legion detachment in
Mayotte with 240 men
*Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique Nouvelle Calédonie (RIMaP-NC) Marine Infantry Regiment in
Nouméa,
New Caledonia with 6
ERC 90 Sagaie*Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifiqueâ€"Polynésie (RIMaP-P) Marine Infantry Regiment in
Papeete, (
Tahiti)
Training and Formation units
*1er Régiment de
Chasseurs d'Afrique (1er RCA) Armoured Training Regiment in
Draguignan*4e Régiment Etranger (4e RE)
Foreign Legion Training Regiment in
Castelnaudary*17e Groupe d'Artillerie (17e GA) Air Defense Artillery Training Battalion in
Landes*132e bataillon cynophile de l'armée de terre (132e BCAT) Dog Training Battalion in
SuippesSignals and Electronic Warfare units
*8e Régiment de Transmissions (8e RT) Signal Regiment responsible for the communication needs of the ministry of Defence and the general staff in
Paris*41e Régiment de Transmissions (41e RT) satellite communications Regiment in
Senlis*43e Bataillon de Transmissions (43e BT) Signal Battalion responsible for the Army IT needs; based in
Orleans*785e Composante Guerre Electronique (785e CGE) Electronic Warfare Centre in
OrleansCommissary and Materials units
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installations of the 5th logistical group of the commissary |
*5e bataillon du matériel (5e BMAT) Material Battalion in
Draguignan*1er Groupe Logistique du Commissariat (1er GLCAT) Support Centre in
Bretigny sur Orge*2e Groupe Logistique du Commissariat (2e GLCAT) Support Centre in
Rennes*3e Groupe Logistique du Commissariat (3e GLCAT) Support Centre in
Marseille*4e Groupe Logistique du Commissariat (4e GLCAT) Support Centre in
Toulouse*5e Groupe Logistique du Commissariat (5e GLCAT) Support Centre in
Nancy*11e Base de Soutien du Matériel (11e BSMAT) Materials base in
Montauban*12e Base de Soutien du Matériel (12e BSMAT) Materials base in
Salbris*13e Base de Soutien du Matériel (13e BSMAT) Materials base in
Clermont-Ferrand*15e Base de Soutien du Matériel (15e BSMAT) Materials base in
Phalsbourg*17e Base de Soutien du Matériel (17e BSMAT) Materials base in
VersaillesMiscellaneous
*1er Régiment Etranger (1er RE)
Foreign Legion Regiment supports the Foreign Legion General staff in
Aubagne*1er Régiment Médical (1er RMED) Field Hospital Regiment in
St. Germain*25e Régiment du Génie de l'Air (25e RGA) Air Engineer Regiment in
Istres tasked with construction and maintenance of forward airbases
*519e Régiment du Train (519e RT) Transport Regiment in
La Rochelle tasked with Amphibious operations support, 1 squadron is equipped with
LARC 15*28e Groupe Géographique (28e GG) cartography Battalion in
Joigny*
Brigade de Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (BSPP)
fire brigade for the city of
Paris and surrounding suburbs, part of the Engineer Corps
Weapons
*
SIG P220 -
9 mm - pistol
*
GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1) -
9 mm - pistol
*
FAMAS -
5.56 mm assault rifle*
Minimi - 5.56 mm light machine gun replacing the
AA-52 ( 7.62 mm) and the
Browning M2 *
FRF2 -
7.62 mm - sniper rifle
*
PGM Hecate II - heavy sniper rifle
*
81 mm mortar*
AT4,
ERYX and
MILAN - anti-tank missiles (now Milan II)
*
SPECTRA helmetCombat vehicles
*
Leclerc - Main Battle Tanks (406)
*
AMX 10 RC - Light Tank
*
ERC-90 Sagaie - reconnaissance combat vehicle (192)
*
AMX-10P - tracked armoured personnel carrier (1050)
*
VAB - armoured personnel carrier (3820)
*
Panhard AML245 series-60/90 - light armoured car (155)
*
VBL - light armoured vehicle (899)
Artillery
*
AMX 30 AuF1 - 155 mm (272)
*
MRLS - multiple rocket launcher (41)
*HM-2 155 mm towed
howitzer (103)
*BF-50 155 mm towed howitzer (113)
*F3 self-propelled howitzer (55)
*RTF1 120 mm Mortar (361)
*M-51 120 mm Mortar
Helicopters
*
Tigre - attack (80)
*
NH-90 - tactical transport(11)
*Fennec light utility replacing the
Alouette Astazou, Alouette II and
Alouette III*
Super Puma and
Cougar replacing the
Puma*
Gazelle (267)
*
Military of France*
Ranks in the French Army*
Official website in French
*
Uniform insignia of Armée de Terre*
Insignia of French units stationed in West Berlin during the Cold War
