The 4
e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales ( en, 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment) or 4
e RHFS is a special operations unit of the
French Army Light Aviation. It is part of the
French Army Special Forces Command
The Army Special Forces Command (french: Commandement des forces spéciales Terre, COM FST) regroups the various special operations forces units of the French Army and is the command charged with overseeing them. It is based in Pau, Pyrénées ...
, therefore of the
Special Operations Command. It is based in
Pau.
Created in 1997, the 4
e RHFS' mission is to transport and provide air support to the other special forces units anywhere in the world.
Organization
The regiment is divided into Special Forces Flights (Escadrilles des Operations Speciales):
* EOS 1 – Puma and Cougar
* EOS 2 – Gazelle
* EOS 3 – Caracals
* EOS 4/GIH – Pumas
* EOS 6 – Tigre
* EOS 7 – Support Flight
* EOS 8 – Helicopter Maintenance Flight
The regiment employs the following helicopters in 2016:
* 10
Eurcopter AS532 UL/AL Cougar
* 12
Aérospatiale Gazelle
* 7
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma and
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
* 6
Eurocopter Tigre HAD
* ?
Eurocopter EC725 Caracal
The Eurocopter EC725 Caracal, now called Airbus Helicopters H225M, is a long-range tactical transport military helicopter developed from the Eurocopter AS532 Cougar for military use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 28 seated ...
See also
*
Italian 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment
*
U.S. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - ''Night Stalkers''
*
Australian 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron
*
British Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
*
Canadian 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
References
External links
official French Army page
Special forces of France
1997 establishments in France
Military units and formations established in 1997
Helicopter units and formations
Regiments of French Army Light Aviation
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