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) | |
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| Founded | 24 June 1992 |
| Country |  France |
| Type | Operational command |
| Role | Special operations |
| Size | 3,746 authorized personnel
|
| Part of | Ministry of Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Hexagone 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)
- Special Operations Support Group
- Special Forces Academy
- 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1er RPIMa)
Navy
Force des Fusiliers Marins et Commandos (FORFUSCO)
- Commandos Marine
- Commando Hubert - Combat divers, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue
- Commando Jaubert - Direct action, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue
- Commando Trépel - Direct action, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue
- Commando de Penfentenyo - Reconnaissance
- Commando de Montfort - Reconnaissance
- Commando Kieffer - Electronic warfare
- Commando Ponchardier - Operational Support
Air and Space Force
- Air and Space Force Special Forces Brigade (BFSA)
- Air Parachute Commando No. 10 - Direct Action & Counter-terrorism
- Air Parachute Commando n° 30 (CPA 30) - Combat Search and Rescue
- 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
- List of special forces units
- List of French paratrooper units
- United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) - US equivalent command
- United Kingdom Special Forces - British equivalent command
References
- Aleksander Olech, French and Polish fight against terrorism, Poznan 2022, p. 106; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359135918_French_and_Polish_fight_against_terrorism
External links
- Specwarnet.com
- Le.cos.free.fr (in French)
- Netmarine.net (in French)
- Dogs of the French Special Forces, published by Le Monde
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