French Army
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The French Army (Armée de Terre) is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces. It employs 138,000 men and women.
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CFAT
CFAT (Commandement de la Force d’Action Terrestre or Command of the Terrestrial Fighting Forces) commands the following 8 brigades interarmes:
- 1re Brigade Mécanisée – 1st Mechanized Brigade in Chalons en Champagne
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- 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 155mm Field Canons, 4 CAESAR wheeled 155mm Canons and 16 120mm 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 VAB
- 2e Brigade Blindée – 2nd Armoured Brigade in Orleans
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- 2e Régiment de Dragons (2e RD) armoured Regiment in Fontevraud with 40 Leclerc and 25 VAB
- 6-12e Régiment de Cuirassiers (6e-12e RC) armoured Regiment in Olivet with 80 Leclerc and 51 VAB
- 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

Firing the Minimi
- 3e Brigade Mécanisée – 3rd Mechanized Brigade in Limoges
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- 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 120mm Mortars
- 31e Régiment du Génie (31e RG) Engineer Regiment in Castelsarrasin
- 3e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (3e CCT) in Limoges equipped with VAB
- 6e Brigade Légère Blindée – 6th light armoured Brigade in Nimes
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- 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 120mm 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 VAB
- 7ème Brigade Blindée – 7th Armoured Brigade in Besançon
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- 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 120mm Mortars
- 19e Régiment du Génie (19e RG) Engineer Regiment in Besançon
- 7e Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions (7e CCT) in Besançon
- 9e Brigade Légère Blindée de Marine - 9th light armoured Marine Brigade in Nantes
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- 1er Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine (1er RIMa) Marine Infantry Regiment in Angouleme with 48 AMX 10 RC, 30 VAB and 71 VBL
- Régiment d'Infanterie Chars de Marine (RICM) Armoured Marine Infantry Regiment 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 155mm Field Canons and 120mm Mortars
- 6e Régiment du Génie (6e RG) Engineer Regiment in Angers
- 11ème Brigade Parachutiste – 11th Parachutist Brigade in Balma
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- 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 (2e 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 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 Toulouse
- 27e Brigade d’infanterie de Montagne – 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade in Varces
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- 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 155mm Field Canons and 24 120mm Mortars
- 2e Régiment Etranger de Génie (2e REG) Foreign Legion Engineer Regiment in St. Christol

Gazelle from 1st combat helicopter regiment
- 4e Brigade Aéromobile – 4th Airmobile Brigade in Essey les Nancy
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- 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 Nancy
- (French contribution)
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- 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 VBL
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Special Forces Brigade
The Special Forces Brigade is commanded directly by CEMA (Chef d’état-major des Armées- Army General Staff) and consists of the following units:
- Brigade des forces spéciales – Special Forces Brigade in Pau
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- 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 Pau
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CFLT
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 – Signal Brigade in Lunéville
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- 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 Lunéville
- Brigade de Renseignement – Recon Brigade in Montigny
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
- Groupe de Défense Nucléaire Biologique et chimique (GDNBC) NBC Defense Group in Draguignan
- 1re Brigade Logistique – 1st Logistics Brigade in Montlhéry
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- 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 Arras
- 2e Brigade Logistique – 2nd Logistics Brigade in Souge
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- 503e Régiment du Train (503e RT) Transport Regiment in Martignas
- 515e Régiment du Train (515e RT) Transport Regiment in Brie
- 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 Valbonne
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Other units
- Support units of the 5 regional headquarters
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- 526e Bataillon du Train (526e BT) Transport Battalion supports the region Île-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 Rennes
- Support units of the 4 forward deployable headquarters (EMF)
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- 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 Limoges
- permanently overseas deployed Units
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- Africa
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- 5e Régiment Interarmes d’Outre-Mer (5e RIAOM) Mixed Army Regiment in Djibouti equipped with AMX 10 RC
- 13e Demi Brigade de Légion Etrangère (13e DBLE) Foreign Legion regiment sized Brigade 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
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- 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
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- in the Caribbean
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- 41e Bataillon d’Infanterie de Marine (41e BIMa) Marine Infantry Battalion based on Guadeloupe
- 33e Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine (33e RIMa) Marine Infantry Regiment based on Martinique
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- Indian Ocean
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- 2e Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine (3e RPIMa) Marine Parachutist Regiment in Saint-Pierre on (Reunion)
- Détachement de Légion Etrangère de Mayotte (DLEM) Foreign Legion detachment on Mayotte with 240 men
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- Pacific Ocean
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- Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique Nouvelle Calédonie (RIMaP-NC) Marine Infantry Regiment in Nouméa on New Caledonia with 6 ERC 90 Sagaie
- Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine du Pacifique–Polynésie (RIMaP-P) Marine Infantry Regiment in Papeete on (Tahiti)
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- Training and Formation units
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- 1er Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique (1er RCA) Armoured Training Regiment in Draguignan
- 4e Régiment Etranger (4e RE) Foreign Legion Training Regiment in Danjou
- 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 Suippes
- Signals and Electronic Warfare units
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- 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 Orleans
- Commissary and Materials units
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- 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 Versailles
- the rest
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- 1er Régiment Etranger (1er RE) Foreign Legion Regiment supports the Foreign Legion General staff in Aubagne
- 1er Régiment Médical (1er RMED) Field Hospital Regiment inSt. 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
- 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
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Equipment
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Weapons
- Sig P220 - 9 mm pistol
- GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1) - 9 mm pistol
- FAMAS - 5.56mm assault rifle
- Minimi - 5.56mm light machine gun replacing the AA-52 ( 7.62 mm) and the Browning M2
- FRF2 - 7.62mm
- PGM Hecate II - heavy sniper rifle
- 81mm mortar
- AT4, ERYX and MILAN - anti-tank missiles (now Milan II)
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Combat 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)
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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
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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)
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