Intelligence Command (France)

The Intelligence Command (French: Commandement du Renseignement) is a two-star command and military intelligence formation of the French Army formed following the end of the Cold War and expanded after the 2016 reorganisations.

Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Brigade
Intelligence Brigade
Intelligence Command
Brigade de Renseignement et de Guerre Électronique
Brigade de Renseignement
Commandement du Renseignement
Command badge
Active1 September 1993–1 July 2016 (as brigade)
1 July 2016–Present (as command)
Country France
Branch French Army
TypeMilitary Intelligence formation
SizeTwo-star command
Part ofLand Forces Command
HeadquartersStrasbourg

History

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Brigade

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In 1993, following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union and subsequent end of the Cold War, the French Army was completely reorganised. In 1993, the new structure began to take shape with the new Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Brigade (French: Brigade de Renseignement et de Guerre Électronique) (BRGE) stood up in Haguenau in Alsace. The brigade oversaw all military intelligence and specialist intelligence units assigned to the Rapid Action Force.[1][2]

In 1998, following the end to conscription, the army was again reorganised, and the brigade reduced in size and redesignated simply as the Intelligence Brigade (French: Brigade de Renseignement).[1]

In 2010, the brigade headquarters were shifted to Metz, however shortly afterwards the headquarters moved back to Haguenau. By 2016 the brigade comprised around 3,600 soldiers and civilians.[1]

As part of the 2016 reorganisation of the French Army, the brigade was placed under the new Land Forces Command (French: Commandement des Forces Terrestres) and expanded to a two-star (division)-sized command.[3]

During its tenure as a brigade-sized formation, the organisation was as follows:

In the French Army, a unit designated as 'group' is a battalion equivalent unit in the combat support formations.

Command

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Structure of the command, as of July 2020.

Following the 2016 reforms, the Intelligence Command was formed on 1 July to oversee the intelligence and reconnaissance troops assigned to Land Forces Command. The command today controls; Multi-sensor intelligence, human intelligence, electromagnetic imagery, and geographic troops.[1][6][7]

Today the command overseas around 4,300 civilians and soldiers including 430 deployed in Opérations Extérieures (overseas deployments), in self-relief and 200 contributing to the permanent strategic watch from the garrison.[1]

Mission

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The command's mission is "the organic authority of the units of research, exploitation and military influence of the land forces. As such he [the brigade] is responsible for the training and operational preparation.".[1]

Organisation

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The current organisation of the command is:[1][7][3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Commandement du renseignement". www.defense.gouv.fr. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  2. ^ "MERCY propriété de l'armée française | Ars Laquenexy". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Armée - Brigade de renseignement. Le commandement à Strasbourg". www.dna.fr (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Du mouvement dans les armées : une dissolution à Douai, des créations à Lille et la renaissance de la 13e DBLE". defense.blogs.lavoixdunord.fr (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Haguenau - Défense. Sur de nombreux fronts". www.dna.fr (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Le centre du renseignement-Terre reçoit son premier fanion". www.defense.gouv.fr. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Strasbourg. [VIDEO] Strasbourg : cérémonie de création du Commandement du renseignement". www.dna.fr (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2021.