The Army Special Forces Brigade, which is co-located in Pau and Bayonne, comprises the 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d’Infanterie de Marine (1 RPIMa) and 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes (13 RDP), which can be tasked with direct action and special reconnaissance missions respectively. Units are supported by the 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment, which operates a variety of rotary-wing aircraft including the Eurocopter EC725 Caracal.

Additionally, the COS retains links to the Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie (GIGN), which supports counterterrorism tasks both at home and abroad.

All Army SOF units are supported by the Special Operations Support Group (GAOS) and the Ares Training Centre in Pau.

The BFSA features the Air Parachute Commando 10 (CPA 10) unit, which is supported with airborne assets from the 3/61 Poitou Transport Squadron and 1/67 Helicopter Unit, the latter of which was certified to support COS missions in December 2017 and onward.

Today, France’s COS comprises multiple combatant commands across the Ministry of Defense’s (MOD’s) three services.

Finally, FORFUSCO is subdivided into multiple Marine Fusilier Companies and Marine Commando units, which can be tasked with the execution of the full spectrum of surface and sub-surface special operations.

Marine Fusilier Companies, which are equipped to undertake direct action, special reconnaissance, and force protection missions, are supported by the Marine Fusilier Training School.

Marine Commando units, which are headquartered in Lorient but spread geographically across France, provide multiple capabilities to the COS. Jaubert and Trepel Commando Units, for example, specialize in counterterrorism and hostage rescue operations while Penfentenyo and Montfort Commando Units specialize in direct action and special reconnaissance. Finally, the Commando Hubert Unit specializes in sub-surface operations.

Commando units are supported by the Kieffer Commando Unit, which is responsible for the operation of unmanned aerial systems for intelligence-gathering missions in the maritime environment.

Evolution of the Force

According to Isnard, the capability of the COS to adapt and overcome challenges across the battlespace will be achieved through a careful blend of personnel, partnerships, and technology.

Discussing requirements expected of the modern and future SOF operator, Isnard described how physical and moral qualities would remain unchanged. However, he identified to Special Operations Outlook how the range of specialist skill sets held across the COS would need to be increased to include specific technological developments such as the widespread implementation of tactical unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as well as new areas of confrontation associated with the actions of cyber warfare.

“This diversification of skills cannot be solved solely by increasing the strength of our organization, but probably by reviewing the priorities between the number of commandos to retain more traditional SOF duties and the numbers to be devoted to these new jobs. The challenge will be to maintain the special forces spirit and its model in terms of responsiveness, adaptability, and low logistic footprint while resolutely turning to the future,” Isnard said.

As an example, he highlighted the role of officers serving across the headquarters, calling for an increase in their ability to work in “ad-hoc coalitions” of SOF and conventional forces in order to integrate and coordinate commitments across a diverse mission set.