Special Operations Command (France)

The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales (English: Special Operations Command) or COS is a joint staff charged with overseeing the various special forces of the French Army, Navy and Air and Space Force, bringing them all under a single operational authority. The command is placed under the orders of the Chief of Defence Staff and under the direct authority of the President of the French Republic.[1]

Special Operations Command
Commandement des opérations spéciales (COS)
Founded24 June 1992
Country France
TypeOperational command
RoleSpecial operations
Size3,746 authorized personnel
  • 307 general staff
  • 3,439 operatives
Part ofMinistry of Armed Forces
HeadquartersHexagone Balard, Paris, France
Nickname(s)COS
Commanders
Current
commander
Major General Éric Vidaud

Similar in purpose to the USSOCOM or UKSF, the COS was created on June 24, 1992. The need for such a federation became apparent after France's participation in the First Gulf War.

Organisation

Army

  • Army Special Forces Command
    • 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa)
      • Command and Logistics Company
      • 1 SAS Company - HAHO/HALO paratroopers and divers
      • 2 SAS Company - Extreme environments
      • 3 SAS Company - Vehicle-borne operations
      • 4 SAS Company - Urban warfare
      • Training company
    • 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP)
      • ECP Squadron - Command and logistics
      • 1e Squadron - Training and evaluation unit nicknamed "Intelligence Academy"
      • 2e Squadron - Combat divers
      • 3e Squadron - Extreme environments
      • 4e Squadron - Vehicle-borne operations
      • 5e Squadron - HAHO/HALO paratroopers
      • 6e Squadron - Signals
      • 7e Squadron - Intelligence
    • 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4e RHFS)
      • Squadron 1 - equipped with 10 Cougar and 2 Puma helicopters
      • Squadron 2 - equipped with 12 Gazelle helicopters
      • Squadron 3 - equipped with 10 Caracal helicopters
      • Squadron 4 - equipped with 5 Puma helicopters
      • Squadron 5 - equipped with 2 Puma helicopters
      • Squadron 6 - equipped with 6 Tigre helicopters
    • Special Operations Support Group
    • Special Forces Academy

Force des Fusiliers Marins et Commandos (FORFUSCO)

Air and Space Force

  • Air and Space Force Special Forces Brigade (BFSA)
  • Special Operations Division (DOS)
    • Special Operations Division, Transport section (3/61 Poitou)
    • Special Operations Division, Helicopter section (1/67 Pyrénées) - Integrated into the 4th RHFS.

See also

References

  1. Aleksander Olech, French and Polish fight against terrorism, Poznan 2022, p. 106; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359135918_French_and_Polish_fight_against_terrorism
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