As noted earlier ( Part I ), the Special forces of the French Armed Forces (hereinafter also referred to as the French Special Forces) annually evaluate new equipment to adapt it to new operational concepts.
French Special Forces naval operations
The increase in the budget of the French Armed Forces allowed the modernization of equipment for underwater operations. A PSM3G combat swimmer delivery vehicle is currently in service. It can be used from nuclear submarines of the Suffren project.
The equipment is housed in a composite fairing, which makes it possible to maintain the hydrodynamics and stealth of the submarine. The product can also be transported by air by C-130 Hercules aircraft, which guarantees its use in remote operational areas with minimal stops at the port or directly at sea. In addition, a third training module has been ordered, as well as two dry Deck shelters (DDS).
ECUME rigid hull boat during French special forces exercises
For naval operations, the Navy's Special Forces units also use ZH-930 ECUME rigid-hull inflatable boats (9.35 m long) equipped with Safran's NAZDAC autonomous navigation system and carrying 12 commandos, and the Etraco vessel (7.33 m long) carrying 14 operators. The SpN Army forces use the Squale RIB9.4 WJ, built at the UFAST shipyards. The Styx high-speed river vessel is used for inland waters.
High-speed vessel Etraco
Ground vehicles
According to the views of French military experts, the SpN forces should maintain their advantage over conventional forces and specialized units, which have increasingly advanced resources. The latter in the French Armed Forces include parachute and mountain commando groups (GCP and GCM) and the amphibious operations support group of the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade of the Marines of the Ground Forces (9eBIMa).
In this regard, in addition to the already mentioned air vehicles, ground mobility facilities are being developed. The Land Rover and Mercedes G-class vehicles in service are gradually being decommissioned, and a new generation of vehicles is in the process of being introduced.
Currently, after delays and technical problems, the French Armed Forces are being supplied under the programs (PLFS/VLFS) Poids Lourd des Forces Spéciales (PLFS, or "heavy vehicle for special forces") and Véhicule Léger Forces Spéciales (VLFS, or "light vehicle for special forces"). The final distribution will consist of 151 PLFS vehicles and 206 VLFS vehicles. These figures have been adjusted due to the purchase of additional vehicles outside the original program.
Off-road vehicle VOS-APP on Toyota 6x6 chassis
As of March 2025, the Special Operations Command has purchased 45 French-made VOS-APP 6×6 vehicles from Technamm based on the Toyota Land Cruiser AZJ 79, as well as about 20 Masstech Commando vehicles for the BFSA. In addition, Technamm will also supply about 10 armored VOS-meds developed on the basis of Masstech T6 (VOS-APP) for medical evacuation.
The French special forces will soon also receive Serval armored vehicles, modified by the Technical Department of the French Army (STAT), in two versions based on the infantry and command-staff versions of the Serval. The modifications include the addition of the AN/PRC-152 and RF-9820 handheld radios, as well as the AN/PRC-117 portable network radio. The KSHM version will be equipped with a satellite communications terminal (SOTM) and a Delta Suite C2 system.
Serval armored car
The 1st Marine Parachute Regiment uses the Polaris MRZR as a light all-terrain vehicle, and some plan to include the Alkaran mobile mortar system. The units also use ATVs such as the Polaris Sportsman MV850 and MV700. The first units were delivered at the end of 2022.
Along with this, 60 Fardier light vehicles and 34 trailers are planned to be used to support medical evacuation, logistics missions and the transportation of 120 mm mortars. These vehicles have a maximum speed of 60 km/h and can be transported by plane/helicopter, as well as airborne.
Fardir light vehicle with 120 mm mortar
Despite the standardization of vehicles, there are still small fleets purchased according to their specific requirements. The SpN Ground Forces also evaluated the Haulotte ultralight tactical platform (HUTP), manufactured by the French company Haulotte. Equipped with a 160 hp diesel engine and a five-speed automatic transmission, it can carry a payload of 1.2 tons, reach a maximum speed of 150 km/h and have a range of at least 1,000 km. In addition, electric motorcycles and mountain bikes have been tested by French SF companies for several years, for example, the LMX 161 electric motorcycle.
Means of conducting intelligence
Night vision binoculars are the standard equipment for GPS operators. A widely used model is the Thales Bonie HP NVG. The requirements of the Special Operations Command were brought to the attention of Thales developers in 2014, which led to deployment to units in July 2015 and mass production in 2018. Some task forces use four-tube L3 GPNVG glasses, while Thales Sophie and Safran JIM LR binoculars are used for long-range surveillance.
Along with the above, the Special Operations Command uses small drones to provide timely surveillance, such as the Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet and AeroVironment Puma 3 AE. 61st Artillery Regiment (61e RA) The French ground forces can also provide night surveillance using drones.
As for the barrage ammunition (BB), the French commandos are using the AeroVironment Switchblade 300 model, ordered in 2023, and are expecting French products that are currently in development.: BB based on Delair's UX11 and developed by Fly-R and MBDA companies, the R2-120 Raijin container-type BB.
According to French sources, the era of the asymmetric war against terrorist groups in the Sahel is over, at least temporarily, and the French SpN forces have achieved very significant results in this mission. However, like never before, special operations require caution and firepower. Now, as stated, the French special forces are preparing for a more complex potential scenario in Ukraine. Exercises such as Gorgon and the recent Perseus (January 2025) are adapting to this new situation and focusing on the previously marginalized aspect of security and protection of information systems.
Based on the materials of the European Security & Defense magazine
