French Army - Definition and Overview

The French Army (Armée de Terre, "Ground Army") is one component in the Military of France.

Divisions

The army is divided into the following armes:

• Marine troops, composed of:
  • Marine Infantry (Infanterie de Marine)
  • Marine Artillery (Artillerie de Marine)
  • Marine armor (chars de Marine)
• Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère)
• Armored cavalry (arme blindée cavalerie)
• Artillery;
• Light aviation (ALAT, or aviation légère de l'armée de terre), such as combat helicopters;
• Engineers (génie militaire);
• Infantry, including:
  • Chasseurs alpins (mountain troops)
• Materiel
• Transportation (train)
• Transmissions
• Commissary
• Health service of the Army

Weapons

• FAMAS - 5.56mm assault rifle
• Minimi - 5.56mm light machine gun replacing the AA-52 ( 7,62 mm) and the Browning M2 (.50 cal) machine guns
• FRF-2 - sniper rifle
• PGM - heavy sniper rifle
• AT4, ERYX and MILAN - anti-tank missiles

Combat vehicles

• Leclerc - Main Battle Tanks (240)
• AMX 30 - Main Battle Tanks (780) might be replaced by AMX-40
• AMX-10 - armoured vehicle (1050)
• ERC-90 Sagaie - armoured vehicle (192)
• Panhard AML-60/90 - light armoured car (155)
• VBL - armoured vehicle (899)
• VAB - armoured personnel carrier(3820)

Artillery

• AU-F1 GCT - 155 mm (272)
• MRLS - multiple rocket launcher (41)
• HM-2 155 mm towed howitzer (103)
• BF-50 155 mm towed howitzer (113)
• F3 self-propelled howitzer (55)
• RTF1 120 mm Mortar (361)
• M-51 120 mm Mortar

Non-combat vehicles

Helicopters

• Tigre - attack (80)
• NH-90 - tactical transport(11)
• Fennec light utility replacing the Alouette Astazou, Alouette II and Alouette III
• Super Puma and Cougar replacing the Puma
• Gazelle (267)

See also

• Military of France
• Category:French Military equipment
• Photographs of French military equipment