The (English: Fusilier Commandos of the Air Force) of the French Air and Space Force are equivalent to the United Kingdom's RAF Regiment, German Air Force Regiment or the United States Air Force Security Forces. They are airmen armed and trained as infantry, who provide ground defense of air bases and secure forward base areas. They also participate in forward air control, combat search and rescue missions, and as air assault ground soldiers.

Algerian War During the Algerian War, the Air Force deployed its own ground regiments, which used the traditional French half-brigades () unit type. They were formed between September 1955 and June 1956, relying heavily on officers and NCOs posted from the Army. These units were subordinated to the three GATACs. The infantry units of the Air Force were transferred to the Army by the end of 1957.

- based in Arba, Algiers sector - based in Saint-Denis du Sig, Oran sector - based in La Chiffa, Algiers sector - based in the Souk Ahras region, Constantine sector, the battalions were dispersed in 71 in a rectangular area of 70 km by 40 km - based in Guelma, Constantine sector - based in Aïn Beïda, Sahara - initially formed in Tunisia, relocated to Algeria on October 10, 1956 - initially formed in Tunisia, relocated to Algeria on October 10, 1956 - based in Alma at the foothills of the Blida Atlas mountains - based in El Biar, Algiers sector

The command elements of the half-brigades ( (UAD)) actually belonged to the 5th Air Force Region's territorial administrative center ( (CATA) 860) in Blida and were attached to the infantry units.

The elite Parachute Commandos were retained at the central level of the 5th Air Force Region.

(GCPA) - the groupment included four combat units and one support unit, all called 'commandos''': (forerunner of today's ) (forerunner of today's ) formed by personnel from the Air Force units in Morocco (forerunner of today's )

Each combat commando had an established strength of 102 men (5 officers, 22 NCOs and 75 ranks), but in the course of the war it could occasionally increase up to 180 men. The building block of the units was the Team () of five or six men. A Commando Group () combined two teams for a total of 10 - 12 men, transportable by a single H-34 or two H-19 helicopters. A Commando Platoon () combined two commando groups (total of four teams): two Command and Fire Teams () and two regular commando teams ().

Commando de l'air 50/541 - was the logistical support unit. The GCPA included a Separate Administrative Unit ( (UAD'')) of 55 men. On May 1, 1957 the UAD absorbed the logistical personnel from Commando de l'air 50/541 and formed the HQ of the formation - . The latter unit was repurposed as a combat commando.

Two experimental commandos of reduced strength were added later:

Due to their active involvement in the Algiers putsch of 1961 at the end of April all four were disbanded effective immediately. To fill up the void on May 1 two new units were formed at the BA 146 Reghaia air base:

These units discarded the commando nomenclature in order to break with the previous units and the reason for their disbandment. The new companies also differed in their established structure with a strength of 5 officers, 33 NCOs and 100 ranks each.

Structure The Fusiliers-Commando units are part of the Intervention and Security Force Brigade ().

Air Commando Training Squadron The Air Commando Training Squadron () is a training unit, founded in 1974, manages four different courses; Air Fusilier course () : basic formation for Other Ranks in Protective Squadrons. Air Parachute Fusilier course () : second-level formation for all ranks. It includes parachute training. Air Parachute Commando course () : third level formation for all ranks. Upon its successful completion, airmen can petition to enter Air Parachute Commando n° 20 and 30. Air Special Forces Commando course () : fourth and final level. Upon its successful completion, airmen can petition to enter Air Parachute Commando n° 10.

Protective Squadrons The protective squadrons () are responsible for the protection of defense-sensitive points of Air and Space Force bases, intervention in the context of overseas operations or special missions, and participation in tasks assigned to Special Operations Command. They are employed in unit protection or intervention. The 34 Protective Squadrons man patrols to deter, detect and intervene to neutralize and delay, by force if necessary, any malicious act against facilities of the Air and Space Force, air bases on the mainland (Dijon, Saint-Dizier, Luxeuil, Nancy, Drachenbronn, Évreux, Villacoublay, Orleans, Avord, Tours, Creil, Brest, Mont-de-Marsan, Cazaux, Cognac, Orange, Istres, Solenzara, Lyon, Paris) and on external sites (Chad, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Djibouti, United Arab Emirates, French Guiana, Reunion, New Caledonia, etc.).

Air Parachute Commandos

The three Air Parachute Commandos () fulfil specific missions requiring advanced training and specialities.

Air Parachute Commando n° 10 The Commando n° 10 is a special forces unit used for airport seizures, high value target (HVT) neutralization, and counter terrorism. The CPA 10 is under the umbrella of the Commandement des opérations spéciales.

Air Parachute Commando n° 20 The main missions of Commando n° 20 is long-range protective patrols in armored cars, protection from potential low-level air attacks in helicopters and forward air control.

Air Parachute Commando n°30 The main missions of Commando n° 30 are combat search and rescue and military dog use.

See also List of French paratrooper units Algerian War French order of battle

References

External links

Les fusiliers commandos. French Defence Ministry page (French)