GIGN

The GIGN ( ; ) is the elite tactical unit of the French National Gendarmerie. Among its missions are counterterrorism, hostage rescue, surveillance of national threats, protection of government officials, critical site protection (such as French embassies in war-torn countries), and targeting organized crime. Established in 1973¹ and becoming operational in 1974, the GIGN was initially created as a relatively small tactical unit specialized in sensitive hostage situations, but has since grown into a larger force with expanded responsibilities and capabilities. It is now composed of nearly 1,000 operators. The main unit comprises around 400 operators based in Satory, near Versailles in the Paris Region. Approximately 600 additional operators make up fourteen regional GIGN branches called AGIGNs ( ), seven of which are also located in metropolitan France and the remaining seven in French overseas territories. The unit shares jurisdiction of French sovereign territory with the special response units of the National Police, and its training centre is located in Beynes. Although most of its operations take place in France, the GIGN (as a component of the French Armed Forces) can operate anywhere in the world. Many of its missions are secret, and GIGN operators are not allowed to be publicly photographed.…

The GIGN ( ; ) is the elite tactical unit of the French National Gendarmerie. Among its missions are counterterrorism, hostage rescue, surveillance of national threats, protection of government officials, critical site protection (such as French embassies in war-torn countries), and targeting organized crime. Established in 1973 and becoming operational in 1974, the GIGN was initially created as a relatively small tactical unit specialized in sensitive hostage situations, but has since grown into a larger force with expanded responsibilities and capabilities. It is now composed of nearly 1,000 operators. The main unit comprises around 400 operators based in Satory, near Versailles in the Paris Region. Approximately 600 additional operators make up fourteen regional GIGN branches called AGIGNs ( ), seven of which are also located in metropolitan France and the remaining seven in French overseas territories. The unit shares jurisdiction of French sovereign territory with the special response units of the National Police, and its training centre is located in Beynes. Although most of its operations take place in France, the GIGN (as a component of the French Armed Forces) can operate anywhere in the world. Many of its missions are secret, and GIGN operators are not allowed to be publicly photographed. Since its formation, the GIGN has been involved in over 1,800 missions and has also rescued more than 600 hostages, making it one of the most experienced counter-terrorism units in the world. In December 1994, the GIGN rose to worldwide prominence after its operatives successfully stormed and rescued the passengers of Air France Flight 8969, which had been hijacked by the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria, at Marseille Provence Airport. ==History== , GIGN and RAID (2021). GIGN was formed in , near Paris, in 1973, shortly after the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics and other less-known incidents in France exposed a need for dedicated counterterrorist units. Initially named ECRI ( ), it became operational in March 1974, under the command of then-lieutenant , and executed its first mission ten days later. Another unit, named GIGN, was created simultaneously within the Mobile Gendarmerie parachute squadron in in southwest France, but the two units were merged under 's command in 1976, and adopted the GIGN designation. GIGNs initial complement was 15, later increased to 32 in 1976, 78 by 1986, and 120 by 2005. GIGN moved to in 1982. In 1984, it became a part of a larger organisation called GSIGN ( ), together with EPIGN ( ), GSPR ( ), the Presidential Security group and GISA ( ), a specialized training center. On 1 September 2007, a major reorganization took place. GSIGN was disbanded and replaced by a new unit also named GIGN. The former GSIGN components (the original GIGN, EPIGN, GSPR and GISA) became "forces" of the new GIGN which now reached a total complement of 380 operators. The change from GSIGN to the new GIGN, an organization reporting directly to the Director-general of the Gendarmerie, was not a simple name swap. It was done in order to reinforce command and control functions; provide better integration through common selection, common training and stronger support; and improve the unit's capability to handle complex situations such as mass hostage-takings similar to the Beslan school siege. In 2009, the Gendarmerie, while remaining part of the French Armed Forces, was attached to the Ministry of the Interior, which already supervised the National Police. The respective areas of responsibility of each force did not change however, as the Police already had primary responsibility for major cities and large urban areas, while the Gendarmerie was in charge of smaller towns and rural areas (in addition to its specific military missions). Under the new command structure, GIGN gendarmes can still be engaged in operations outside of France due to their military status. In January 2015, GIGN was engaged for the very first time simultaneously with RAID, the National Police tactical unit, during the January 2015 Île-de-France attacks. On 1 August 2021, the 14 regional GIGN branches were fully integrated in the group's organization as part of a new Force Antennes. Prior to this reorganization, these regional branches, established in 2004¹, had been administratively attached to the seven domestic "Zonal Gendarmerie Regions" for seven of them and to the Overseas Gendarmerie Command ( ) for the remaining seven but they were independent units that only came under GIGN operational control when a crisis occurred. Sometimes referred to as "GIGN 3.0", the new organization also emphasizes the group's role in training and in operational support. A new common insignia was adopted as a result of the 2021 reorganization. Shaped as a shield, it worn on the left sleeve by every GIGN gendarme. A circular badge is worn on the right sleeve: the traditional round GIGN patch for Satory-based operators and a different patch for members of the AGIGNs. The AGIGN patch replaces the parachute with a thunderbolt, as AGIGNs are not parachute units. Since its creation, the group has taken part in over 1,800 operations, rescued over 600 hostages and arrested over 1,500 suspects, losing four members killed in action and ten in training. Three of the four fatalities in action were sustained when dealing with armed deranged persons. The fourth one occurred during an operation against illegal gold-mining in French Guiana in March 2023. ==Structure== GIGN is currently organized in four "forces", a "détachement", an Engineering and Support division, a National Training Center for Specialized Intervention and a Human Resources bureau, under two headquarters (administrative and operational): ==Operations== by GIGN, on 28 September 2005. The ship had been occupied by the Corsican trade union STC. GIGN reports directly to the Director General of the Gendarmerie Nationale (DGGN), i.e., the chief of staff of the Gendarmerie, who in turn reports directly to the Ministry of the Interior. The DGGN or his Deputy for Operations can take charge in a major crisis; however, most of the day-to-day missions are conducted in support of local units of the Departmental Gendarmerie. GIGN is also a member of the European ATLAS Network, an informal association consisting of the special police units of the 27 states of the European Union. ==Weapons and equipment== GIGN uses a wide range of firearms and equipment, including: ==GIGN leaders== Chef d'escadron Christian Prouteau: 1973–1982 Capitaine Paul Barril: 1982–1983 (Interim) Capitaine Philippe Masselin: 1983–1985 Chef d'escadron Philippe Legorjus: 1985–1989 Chef d'escadron Lionel Chesneau: 1989–1992 Chef d'escadron Denis Favier: 1992–1997 Chef d'escadron Eric Gerard: 1997–2002 Lieutenant Colonel Frédéric Gallois: 2002-2007 Général de Brigade Denis Favier: 2007–2011 Général de Brigade Thierry Orosco: 2011–2014 Général de Brigade Hubert Bonneau: 2014–2017 Général de Brigade Laurent Phélip: 2017–2020 Général de Division Ghislain Réty: August 2020 - October 2025 General de brigade Benoît Villeminoz since November 2025 ==Notes and references== ===Notes=== ===References=== ==External links== GIGN page on the Gendarmerie Nationale's Official webpage GIGN, 40 ans d'assauts (French documentary)

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