List of French paratrooper units



The airborne units history of France debuted when the French Armed Forces formed during the Interwar period specialized paratroopers units. First issued from the French Air Force, they were rapidly integrated in the French Army and from the British Army then dispersed in the ensemble components of the armed forces.

Land Special Forces Brigade(Brigade des Forces Spéciales Terre, BFST)


The French Army Special Forces Brigade include:


 * 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1e CIA, 1e CP, PPL, 1e CCP, French SAS, 1e BIA, 4e BIA, 2e RCP or 4th French SAS, 1e BC-SAS, 1e BP-SAS, 2e BP-SAS, 1e BPARA-SAS, 1e BCCP, 1e GCCP, 1e BPC, 1e D-B.P-SAS, D-B.CCP, D-B.CCP-SAS, 1e DBCCP, 2e DBCCP, BPC, BEPC, BPOM, BPIMa, then 1e RPMIa part of COS)
 * 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP part of COS)
 * 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (4 RHFS part of COS)

Foreign Paratroopers of France (Etranger Parachutistes de France)


Foreign parachute battalions, regiments, companies and units of the French Foreign Legion include:

Les Bataillons, Régiments et Compagnies Etrangers Parachutistes de La Légion Etrangère

 * Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (Para company of the 3rd R.E.I - dissolved then 1e B.E.P)
 * Foreign Air Supply Company (C.E.R.A - dissolved)
 * 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (1e C.E.P.M.L - dissolved)
 * 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1e B.E.P, III Formations; then, 1e R.E.P - dissolved)
 * 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1e R.E.P - dissolved)
 * 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (3e B.E.P, IV Formations with 1e B.E.P and 2e B.E.P; then, 3e R.E.P - dissolved)
 * 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment (3e R.E.P - dissolved, merged with 2e B.E.P, then 2e R.E.P)
 * 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e B.E.P, V Formations with 3e B.E.P then 2e R.E.P - dissolved)
 * 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, 2e R.E.P, (3 Commando Parachute Group Teams)

Le DINOPS et Les Commandos Etrangers du Génie de La Légion Etrangère
Foreign Parachute, Underwater Demolition and Diving Units of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade (6e BLB) include:




 * 6th Foreign Engineer Regiment, (6e REG renamed 1e REG)
 * DINOPS Teams (Nautical Subaquatic Intervention Operational Detachment, Detachement d'Intervention Nautique Operationnelle Subaquatique)
 * 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment, (1e REG)
 * DINOPS Teams

Foreign Parachute, Underwater Demolition, Diving Units and Commando of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade (27e MIB) include:


 * 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment, (2e REG)
 * DINOPS Teams
 * Mountain Commando Groups (GCM)

Parachute Divisions
Parachute units of the French Army include:


 * 24th Airborne Division (24e DA, dissolved).
 * 25th Airborne Division (initially 25e Infantry Division, 25e DI; then, 25e Airborne Division, 25e DA dissolved)
 * 25th Parachute Division (25e DP, dissolved)
 * 10th Parachute Division (10e DP, dissolved)
 * 11th Light Intervention Division (11e LID then 11th Parachute Division, 11e DP)

Parachute Brigades and Groupments

 * 11th Parachute Brigade (11e BP)
 * Commando Parachute Group (19 GCP Teams)
 * (3 GCP Teams of 10 commandos), 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
 * (2 GCP Teams), 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment
 * 1st Parachute Train Transport Regiment
 * (3 GCP Teams), 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
 * (2 GCP Teams), 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
 * (2 GCP Teams), 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
 * (2 GCP Teams), 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment
 * (2 GCP Teams), 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment
 * Airborne Groups (GA)

Parachute Demi-Brigades

 * SAS Parachute Demi-Brigade (D-B.P-SAS, later 1e RPIMa)
 * Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (D-B.CCP, later 1e RPIMa)
 * 1st Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (1e DBCCP, later 1e RPIMa)
 * 2nd Colonial Parachute Commando Demi-Brigade (2e DBCCP, later 1e RPIMa)
 * Parachute Marching Demi-Brigade (DBMP - dissolved)
 * 11th Parachute Choc Demi-Brigade (11e D-B.PC - dissolved)

Parachute Centers of Formation and Schools

 * Base School of Airborne Troops (BETAP)
 * School of Airborne Troops (ETAP)
 * School Brigade of Colonial Pratroopers
 * National Parachute Instruction Center (NPIC) Orléans (Dissolved)

Parachute Artillery

 * 5th Airborne Artillery Campaign Regiment (5e RACAP - dissolved)
 * 6th Light Parachute Artillery Regiment (6e RALP - dissolved)
 * 20th Light Parachute Artillery Regiment (20e RALP - dissolved; then, 20th Parachute Group Artillery, 20e GAP - dissolved)
 * 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment (35e RAP), (2 Commando Parachute Group Teams)

Parachute Cavalry



 * 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment (1e RHP), (2 Commando Parachute Group Teams)
 * 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment (13e RDP)

Parachute Engineer



 * 17th Parachute Engineer Battalion (17e BGAP - dissolved)
 * 61st and 71st Parachute Engineer Battalions of the Far East (Extrême-Orient) (61e BG and 71e BG - dissolved)
 * 60th, 61st and 75th Parachute Engineer Companies (60e CGAP, 61e CGAP, 75e CGAP - dissolved)
 * 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment (17e RGAP, then 17e RGP), (2 Commando Parachute Group Teams)

Air Engineers
Air Engineer Battalions and Regiments of the French Army operated by the French Air Force include :


 * 15th Air Engineer Regiment (15e BGA, 15e RGA, 25e BGA, 115e CMGA, C4/18.GA, 35e BGA, CIS.GA, 25e RGA - dissolved)
 * 25th Air Engineer Regiment (15e RGA, 25e BGA, 25e CMGA, 25e RGA)
 * 35th Air Engineer Battalion (15e RGA, 35e BGA - dissolved)
 * 45th Air Engineer Regiment (15e RGA, 45e CTGA, 45e BAGA, 115e CMGA, 45e RGA, 45e BGA, 25e RGA & 15e RGA - dissolved)

Patrol Chasseurs

 * 5th Patrol Chasseur Battalion (5e BCAP - dissolved)
 * 10th Patrol Chasseur Battalion (10e BPCP - dissolved)

General Parachute Infantry

 * 18th Parachute Infantry Regiment (18e RIPC - dissolved)
 * 21 Parachute Infantry Regiment (21e RIAP - dissolved)

Parachute Chasseur, British Army Special Air Service (S.A.S), French Air Force Commandos & 1e RPIMa

 * 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment / 601st & 602nd Air Infantry Groups (601e GIA, 602e GIA, 1e CIA, 1e BCP, then 1e RCP), (3 Commando Parachute Group Teams)
 * 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment / 1st Air Infantry Battalion (1e BIA, 4e BIA, 2e RCP SAS, then 1e RPIMa French; other known as 4th French Special Air Service of the British Army)
 * 3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment / 3rd Air Infantry Battalion (3e BIA, 3e RCP, 2e RCP SAS, then 1e RPIMa French; other known as 3rd French Special Air Service of the British Army)
 * 4th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (4e RCP - dissolved)
 * 5th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (5e RCP - dissolved)
 * 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (9e RCP ex-9th Infantry Regiment; merged with 1e RCP)
 * 14th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (14e RCP - dissolved; ex-14th Infantry Regiment)
 * 18th Parachute Chasseur Regiment (18e RCP - dissolved; ex-18th Infantry Regiment)

Choc Paratroopers

 * 1st Choc Battalion (1e BC - dissolved)
 * 2nd Choc Battalion/ Bataillon Janson-de-Sailly or Bataillon Gayardon (2e BC - dissolved)
 * 3rd Choc Battalion / Commando Group of France (3e BC - dissolved)
 * 4th Choc Battalion / Commando de Cluny (4e BC - dissolved)
 * 5th Choc Battalion / Commando Group of Africa (5e BC - dissolved)
 * 6th Choc Battalion / Commando de Provence (6e BC - dissolved)
 * 1st Parachute Choc Battalion (1e BPC - dissolved)
 * 2nd Parachute Choc Battalion (2e BPC - dissolved)
 * 1st Choc Parachute Infantry Regiment (1e RICAP - dissolved)
 * 11th Choc Parachute Regiment (11e BPC, 11e DBPC and 11e RPC - dissolved)
 * 12th Choc Parachute Battalion (12e BPC - dissolved)
 * Mixed Airborne Commando Groupment (GCMA - dissolved)

Colonial and Marine Infantry Parachute Regiments

 * 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (1e CIA, 1e CP, PPL, 1st CCP, French SAS, 1e BIA, 4e BIA, 2e RCP or 4th French SAS, 1e BC.SAS, 1e BP.SAS, 2e BP.SAS, 1e BPARA.SAS, 1e BCCP, 1e GCCP, 1e BPC, 1e D-B.P.SAS, D-B.CCP, D-B.CCP.SAS, 1e DBCCP, 2e DBCCP, BPC, BEPC, BPOM, BPIMa, then 1e RPMIa)
 * 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e RCP then 2e RPIMa)
 * 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (3e RPC then 3e RPIMa), (2 Commando Parachute Group Teams)
 * 5th Marine Infantry Parachute Battalion (5e BPIMa - dissolved)
 * 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (6e RPC then 6e RPIMa - dissolved)
 * 7e Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (7e RPC then 7e RPIMa - dissolved)
 * 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (8e RPC then 8e RPIMa), (2 Commando Parachute Group Teams)

Battalions and Colonial Groups Parachutes (BCCP, GCCP et BPC)

 * 1st Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (1e BCCP, 1e GCCP, 1e BPC, then 1e RPMIa)
 * 2nd Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (2e BCCP, 2e GCCP, 2e BPC, then 2e RPMIa)
 * 3rd Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (3e BCCP, 3e BPC, then 3e RPMIa)
 * 4th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (4e BCCP - dissolved)
 * 5th Colonial Parachute Infantry Battalion (5e BPIC - dissolved)
 * 5th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (5e BCCP then 5e BPC - dissolved)
 * 6th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (6e BCCP, 6e GCCP then 6e BPC)
 * 7th Colonial Parachute Commando Battalion (7e BCCP, 7e GCCP then 7e BPC - dissolved)
 * 8th Colonial Parachute Battalion (8e BPC, then 8e RPMIa)
 * 10th Colonial Parachute Battalion (10e BPC)
 * Colonial Group Parachute Commando of Madagascar (GCCP Madagascar - dissolved)
 * Colonial Group Parachute Commando of AEF (GCCP AEF - dissolved)
 * Marine Infantry Parachute Company (CPIMA and 6th CPIMa - dissolved)

Parachute Companies and Regiments

 * Air Support Companies (CRA)
 * Air Delivery Regiment (RLA - dissolved)
 * 1st Train Parachute Regiment (1e RTP)

Airborne Bases

 * Northern Airborne Base (BAPN - dissolved)
 * Southern Airborne Base (BAPS - dissolved)
 * North African Airborne Base (BAP/AFN - dissolved)
 * Airborne Operational Mobile Base (BOMAP)

Parachute Command and Support

 * 14th Parachute Command and Support Regiment (14e RPCS - dissolved)
 * 7th Parachute Command and Support Regiment (7e RPCS - dissolved)

Vietnamese, Laotien and Cambodian Parachute Units

 * 1st Viatnamese Parachute Battalion (1e BPVN - dissolved)
 * 3rd Viatnamese Parachute Battalion (3e BPVN - dissolved)
 * 5th Viatnamese Parachute Battalion (5e BPVN - dissolved)
 * 6th Viatnamese Parachute Battalion (6e BPVN - dissolved)
 * 7th Viatnamese Parachute Battalion (7e BPVN - dissolved)
 * 1st Khmers Parachute Battalion (created on December 1, 1952 in Cambodia)
 * 1st Laotien Parachute Battalion (created on October 1, 1951 in Vientiane, Laos)

Algerian Parachute Units

 * 19th Algerian Parachute Battalion
 * 14th Algerian Parachute Tirailleur Brigade

French Air Force Commandos (Commando de l' Air)


Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air of the Parachute Air Commandos include:
 * 601st Airborne Infantry Group (601e GIA, 1e CIA, 1e BCP, then 1e RCP)
 * 602nd Airborne Infantry Group (602e GIA, 1e CIA, 1e BCP, then 1e RCP)
 * 1st Air Infantry Battalion (1e BIA, 4e BIA, 2e RCP SAS, then 1e RPIMa French; other known as 4th French Special Air Service of the British Army)
 * 3rd Air Infantry Battalion (3e BIA, 3e RCP, 2e RCP SAS, then 1e RPIMa French; other known as 3rd French Special Air Service of the British Army)
 * 4th Air Infantry Battalion (4e BIA, 2e RCP SAS, then 1e RPIMa French; other known as 4th French Special Air Service of the British Army)
 * Marching Air Infantry Company (CIAM, 1e RCP)
 * 1st Air Infantry Company (1e CIA, 1e BCP, then 1e RCP)
 * 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment (1e RCP of the French Air Force transferred to the French Army)
 * Air Brigade of Intervention and Security Forces
 * Protection Squadrons
 * Parachute Air Commando n° 10, CPA 10 (601e GIA & 602e GIA, 1e CIA, 1e RCP, CPA 10 part of COS)
 * Parachute Air Commando n° 20, CPA 20
 * Parachute Air Commando n° 30, CPA 30

Air Engineers

 * 25th Air Engineer Regiment (25e RGA of the French Army operated by the French Air Force)

French Navy Marine Commando (Commando Marine de La Royale)


Marine Fusiliers and Commandos Naval Force include the following Commandos Marine:


 * Naval Aeronautical Parachute Commando (dissolved)
 * (SAS B - dissolved)
 * (submarine action and counter-terrosism part of COS)
 * Marine Fusiliers Commandos Groups (Groufumaco - dissolved)
 * Commando François (dissolved)
 * (reconnaissance part of COS)
 * (assault and counter-terrorism part of COS)
 * (support and destruction at distance part of COS)
 * (assault and counter-terrorism part of COS)
 * School of Marines Fusilliers
 * Marine Fusillier and Commando Base (Basefusco)
 * (command and operational support, precision technologies part of COS)

Paratroopers of the National Gendarmerie(Parachutiste de La Gendarmerie Nationale)
Paratroopers of the National Gendarmerie include:


 * National Gendarmerie Parachute Intervention Squadron (EPIGN) regrouped part of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, the GIGN.

Paratroopers of the National Police include:


 * Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion, the RAID.


 * Air Gendarmerie