The Military of France has a very long history, greatly influential in World history, of serving its country. Image File history File links France_coa. ... The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre (Army of the land), is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces and the largest. ... The French Navy, officially called the National Navy (French: Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military. ... The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ... See gendarmerie for similar forces in other countries. ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... Nicolas Sarkozy (IPA: —  ), (born Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sárközy de Nagy-Bocsa on 28 January 1955 in Paris, France is the current President of France, elected on 6 May 2007 after defeating Socialist Party contender Ségolène Royal during the second round of the 2007 election. ... Hervé Morin at a meeting of François Bayrou on April 18, 2007 in Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy Hervé Morin (born August 17, 1961 in Pont-Audemer, Eure) is a French politician and the French Minister of Defense. ... A Général dArmée (Army General) is the highest active military rank of the French Army. ... Number of active troops per country This is a list of countries sorted by the total number of active troops where the military manpower of a country is measured by the total amount of active troops within the command of that country. ... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... Military spending in 2005 Military spending This is a list of countries by military expenditures using the latest information available. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory,[1] the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... Henry IV at the Battle of Ivry, by Peter Paul Rubens. ... La Grande Armée (French for the Great Army or the Grand Army) first entered the annals of history when, in 1805, Napoleon I renamed the army that he had assembled on the French coast of the English Channel for the proposed invasion of Britain and re-deployed it East... The ranks in the French Army : // The title of Maréchal de France is awarded as a distinction, rather than a rank. ... The rank insignia of the French Navy are worn on epaulettes of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels. ... Henry IV at the Battle of Ivry, by Peter Paul Rubens. ...

It encompasses an army, a navy, an air force and a military police force. The President of the Republic is the Commander-in-Chief of the military that has, as some of its primary objectives, the defence of national territory, the protection of French interests abroad, and the maintenance of global stability. The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre (Army of the land), is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces and the largest. ... The French Navy, officially called the National Navy (French: Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military. ... The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ... See gendarmerie for similar forces in other countries. ... This article is about the political and administrative structures of the French government. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

With a reported personnel strength of 779,450 in 2006 (259,050 regular force^[1], 419,000 regular reserve^[2], and 101,400 law enforcement Gendarmerie^[3]), the French Armed Forces constitutes the second largest military in Europe (behind Germany) and the 20th largest in the world by number of troops. The French Armed Forces however have the 3rd highest expenditure of any military in the world, as well as the 3rd largest nuclear force in the world, only behind the United States and Russia^[4]. French Gendarmes, in the traditional kepi, guarding the Paris Hall of Justice See gendarmerie for similar forces in other countries. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Number of active troops per country This is a list of countries sorted by the total number of active troops where the military manpower of a country is measured by the total amount of active troops within the command of that country. ... Military spending in 2005 Military spending This is a list of countries by military expenditures using the latest information available. ... This is a list of countries with nuclear weapons. ... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 kilometers (11 mi) above the hypocenter A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions of fusion or fission. ...

On 31 July 2007, President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered M. Jean-Claude MALLET, a member of the Council of State, to head up a commission charged with a wide-ranging review of French defence which would lead to a new White Paper in early-mid 2008.^[5] Nicolas Sarkozy (IPA: —  ), (born Nicolas Paul Stéphane Sárközy de Nagy-Bocsa on 28 January 1955 in Paris, France is the current President of France, elected on 6 May 2007 after defeating Socialist Party contender Ségolène Royal during the second round of the 2007 election. ...

Organization

The titular head of the French armed forces is the President of the Republic, in his role as Chef des Armées — the President is thus Commander-in-Chief of French forces. However, the Constitution puts civil and military government forces at the disposal of the government (the executive cabinet of ministers, who are not necessarily of the same political side as the president). The Minister of Defence (as of 2007, Hervé Morin) oversees the military's funding, procurement and operations. The Minister of Defence (Ministre de la Défense) is the French government cabinet member charged with running the military of France. ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hervé Morin at a meeting of François Bayrou on April 18, 2007 in Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy Hervé Morin (born August 17, 1961 in Pont-Audemer, Eure) is a French politician and the French Minister of Defense. ...

The French armed forces are divided into four branches: This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

• Army (Armée de Terre), including:
  • Infantry (Infanterie)
    • Chasseurs Alpins (mountain infantry)
  • Cavalry (Arme Blindée Cavalerie)
  • Artillery (Artillerie)
  • Foreign Legion (infantry, cavalry, engineers)
  • Troupes de marine (infantry, cavalry, artillery)
  • Army Light Aviation (Aviation Légére de l'Armée de Terre - ALAT)
  • Engineers (Génie) including the Paris Fire Brigade
  • Signals (Transmissions)
  • Transport and logistics (Train)
  • Supply (Matériel)
• Navy (Marine Nationale), including:
  • Naval Air
  • naval fusiliers and naval commandos including theMarseille Fire Battalion
• Air Force (Armée de l'Air) including
  • territorial Air Defence
  • air fusiliers
• Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), a military police force which serves for the most part as a rural and general purpose police force.

It also include the following services: The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre (Army of the land), is the land-based component of the French Armed Forces and the largest. ... Chasseurs alpins wear a special wide beret. ... “Legionnaire” redirects here. ... The Troupes de marine (marine troops) is a subset of the French Army dedicated to external operations. ... The French Army Light Aviation (French: Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre) (ALAT) is a the aviation part of the French Army. ... Fire engine of the Brigade Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris parading The Paris Fire Brigade, in French Brigade Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris(BSPP), is the fire service for the city of Paris and the surrounding departments of Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Hauts-de-Seine. ... The French Navy, officially called the National Navy (French: Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military. ... The Aviation Navale (Naval Aviation) of the French Navy includes 162 airplanes (138 of them combat-capable) and 6,800 men, both civilians and military personel. ... The Fusiliers de Marine, or fusiliers marins, are units specialised in the protection and defence of sensitive points of the French Navy on land. ... The Naval Commandos (Commandos Marines) are the special forces of the French Navy. ... City flag Coat of arms Motto: By her great deeds, the city of Massilia shines Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country Region Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Department Bouches-du-Rhône (13) Subdivisions 16 arrondissements (in 8 secteurs) Intercommunality Urban Community of Marseille Provence M... The French Air Force is the air force branch of the French Armed Forces. ... American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging military aircraft in combat from the ground. ... (French for Fusilier Commandos of the Air) These personnel of Frances Armée de lAir are equivalent to the United Kingdoms RAF Regiment or the USAFs Air Commandos. ... See gendarmerie for similar forces in other countries. ...

• Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (Eng: General Weaponry Delegation) is the French defence procurement agency (a mixed military/civilian service) that includes the former Direction des Constructions Navales. It also manages a number of engineering schools: the École Polytechnique, École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées, SUPAERO, the ENSICA and the ENSIETA;
• Health service of the armies (Eng: Service de Santé des Armées) operates a number of military hospitals.
• Fuel Services (Eng: Service des Essences des Armées = Army Fuels Service).

The Délégation Générale pour lArmement (General Delegation for Weaponry), or DGA, is the French government agency which conducts development and evaluation programs for weapon systems for the French military. ... Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) is based in France and is one of Europes leading shipbuilders. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The École nationale supérieure de Techniques Avancées (National higher school of Advanced Techniques), also known as ENSTA, is a French grande école in engineering. ... The French Ecole Nationale Supérieure de lAéronautique et de lEspace, also known as SUPAERO, was the first engineering school in the world ever dedicated to aircraft construction. ... The ENSICA which stands for École nationale supérieure dingénieurs de constructions aéronautiques (meaning National Higher School of Aeronautical Constructions) is a french engineering school founded in 1945 under General De Gaulle presidency. ...

Manpower

Every year on Bastille Day, a large military parade is staged before the President of the Republic.

The total number of military personnel is approximately 359,000, although approximately 100,000 of these are in the Gendarmerie and, thus, used in everyday law enforcement operations within France (elements of the Gendarmerie are, however, present in all French external operations, providing specialised law enforcement troops/military police). Download high resolution version (1944x1458, 406 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1944x1458, 406 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... For the Battlestar Galactica episode, see Bastille Day (Battlestar Galactica). ... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ...

Historically, France relied a great deal on conscription to provide manpower for its military, in addition to a minority of professional career soldiers. Following the Algerian War, the use of non-volunteer draftees in foreign operations was ended; if their unit was called up for duty in war zones, draftees were offered the choice between requesting a transfer to another unit or volunteering for the active mission. In 1996, President Jacques Chirac's government announced the end of conscription and in 2001, conscription formally was ended. Young people must still, however, register for possible conscription (should the situation call for it). A recent change is that women must now register as well. Combatants FLN (1954-62) MNA (1954-62) France (1954-62) FAF (1960-61) OAS (1961-62) Commanders Mostefa Benboulaïd Ferhat Abbas Hocine Aït Ahmed Ahmed Ben Bella Krim Belkacem Larbi Ben MHidi Rabah Bitat Mohamed Boudiaf Messali Hadj Jacques Massu Maurice Challe Said Boualam Pierre Lagaillarde Raoul... “Chirac” redirects here. ...

International stance

French military doctrine is based on the concepts of national independence, nuclear deterrence (see Force de frappe), and military self-sufficiency. France is a charter member of NATO, and has worked actively with its allies to adapt NATO — internally and externally — to the post-Cold War environment. In December 1995, France announced that it would increase its participation in NATO's military wing, including the Military Committee (France withdrew from NATO's military bodies in 1966 whilst remaining full participants in the Organisation's political Councils). France remains a firm supporter of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and other cooperatove efforts. Paris hosted the May 1997 NATO-Russia Summit which sought the signing of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security. The Redoutable, the first French nuclear missile submarine // a Pluton missile mobile launcher The Force de frappe (literally Striking Force; meant for dissuasion, i. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... A summit is: Summit (topography), a point higher than all the ground immediately surrounding it; the highest point of a hill or mountain Route summit, the highest point on a transportation route crossing high ground Summit (meeting), a meeting of heads of state or other leaders Summit may also refer...

Outside of NATO, France has actively and heavily participated in both coalition and unilateral peacekeeping efforts in Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, frequently taking a lead role in these operations. France has undertaken a major restructuring to develop a professional military that will be smaller, more rapidly deployable, and better tailored for operations outside of mainland France. Key elements of the restructuring include: reducing personnel, bases and headquarters, and rationalistion of equipment and the armaments industry. As at 2004, the French active-duty military manning was approximately 270,000 (World Almanac 2004), of which nearly 35,000 were stationed outside of mainland France. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The World Almanac and Book of Facts is a book considered to be a top reference work. ...

Since the end of the Cold War, France has placed a high priority on arms control and non-proliferation. French Nuclear testing in the Pacific, and the Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior strained French relations with its Allies, South Pacific states, and world opinion. France agreed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1992 and supported its indefinite extension in 1995. After conducting a controversial final series of six nuclear tests on Mururoa in the South Pacific, the French signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996. Since then, France has implemented a moratorium on the production, export, and use of anti-personnel landmines and supports negotiations leading toward a universal ban. The French are key players in the adaptation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe to the new strategic environment. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, codenamed Operation Satanic [1], was a special operation by the action branch of the French foreign intelligence services, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE), carried out on July 10, 1985. ... Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Opened for signature July 1, 1968 in New York Entered into force March 5, 1970 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and 40 other signatory states. ... Moruroa (Mururura, Mururoa) (21°50S., 138°55W.) is an atoll in which forms part of the Tuamoto archipelago in French Polynesia in the southern Pacific Ocean. ... “Pacific” redirects here. ... Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Opened for signature September 10, 1996[1] in New York Entered into force Not yet in force Conditions for entry into force The treaty will enter into force 180 days after it is ratified by all of the following 44 (Annex 2) countries: Algeria, Argentina... “Minefield” redirects here. ...

France remains an active participant in: the major programmes to restrict the transfer of technologies that could lead to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Australia Group (for chemical and biological weapons), and the Missile Technology Control Regime. France has also signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention. Australia Group is an informal group of countries established in 1985 (after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984) to help reduce the spread of chemical and biological weapons by monitoring and controlling the spread of technologies required to produce them. ... The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal and voluntary partnership between 34 countries to prevent the proliferation of missile technology. ... Chemical Weapons Convention Opened for signature January 13, 1993 in Paris Entered into force April 29, 1997 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by 50 states and the convening of a Preparatory Commission Parties 181 (as of Oct. ...

See also: France and weapons of mass destruction It has been suggested that Force de frappe be merged into this article or section. ...

Recent Operations

There are currently 36,000 French troops deployed overseas - such operations are known as "OPEX" for Opérations Extérieures ("Overseas Operations"). The Military of France has several deployments throughout the world. ...

Along with the United States and other countries, France provides troops for the Force stationed in Haiti (under by the United Nations), following the 2004 Haiti rebellion. France has sent troops, especially special forces, into Afghanistan to help the United States and NATO forces fight the remains of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. A force of a few thousand French soldiers (under a UN mandate (Opération Licorne)) is stationed in the Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on a peacekeeping mission. These troops were initially sent under the terms of a mutual protection pact between France and the Côte d'Ivoire, but the mission has since evolved into the current UN peacekeeping operation. The French Armed Forces have also played a leading role in the ongoing UN peacekeeping mission along the Lebanon-Israel border as part of the cease-fire agreement that brought the 2006 Lebanon War to an end. Currently, France has 2,000 army personnel deployed along the border, including infantry, armour, artillery and air defense. There are also naval and air personnel deployed offshore. The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... The 2004 Haiti rebellion was a conflict fought for several weeks in Haiti during February 2004 that resulted in the premature end of President Jean-Bertrand Aristides second term, and the installment of an interim government led by Gerard Latortue. ... Special force For other uses, see Special forces (disambiguation) Special Force is a first-person shooter military video game, published by the Islamic organisation Hezbollah[1], created using the Genesis 3D engine. ... The Taliban (Pashto: , also anglicized as Taleban) are a Sunni Muslim Pashtun movement that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1995 until 2001, when their leaders were removed from power by a cooperative military effort between the United States, United Kingdom and the Northern Alliance. ... Map of major attacks attributed to al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda (also al-Qaida or al-Qaida or al-Qaidah) (Arabic: ‎ , translation: Warrior of God) is an international alliance of militant Sunni jihadist organizations. ... Combatants Côte dIvoire Forces Nouvelles Commanders Laurent Gbagbo Guillaume Kigbafori Soro Opération Licorne (Operation Unicorn) is the name of the French military operation in support of the United Nations Operation in Côte dIvoire. ... Combatants Hezbollah Lebanon Amal[2] LCP[3] PFLP-GC[4]  Israel Commanders Hassan Nasrallah Dan Halutz Moshe Kaplinsky[11] Udi Adam Strength 600-1,000 active fighters 3,000-10,000 reservists[5] Up to 10,000 ground troops. ...

Equipment

• The standard assault rifle is the FAMAS.
• GIAT Industries provides heavy armoured vehicles, while Dassault Aviation is the source of military aircraft.

The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... The FAMAS (Fusil dAssaut de la Manufacture dArmes de St-Étienne, Assault Rifle by St-Étienne Arms Factory) is an assault rifle in bullpup configuration designed and manufactured in France by the Saint Étienne arms factory, which is a member of the French government-owned GIAT Industries complex. ... GIAT Industries (formerly known as Groupement des Industries de lArmée de Terre, Armys Industries Group) is a French government-owned weapon manufacturer. ... Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet of the UK defence technology organisation QinetiQ Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Ranks in the French Army
• Ranks in the French Navy
• Ranks in the French Air Force

The ranks in the French Army : // The title of Maréchal de France is awarded as a distinction, rather than a rank. ... The rank insignia of the French Navy are worn on epaulettes of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels. ...

External links

• Official site of the French Ministry of Defence