Special Operations Command |
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Founded | 24 June 1992 |
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Country | France |
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Type | Operational command |
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Role | Special operations |
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Size | 3,746 authorized personnel
- 307 general staff
- 3,439 operatives
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Part of | Ministry of Armed Forces |
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Headquarters | Hexagone Balard, Paris, France |
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Nickname(s) | COS |
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Current commander | Major General Michel Delpit |
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Military unit
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]
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 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 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.