GIGN - translation to English

ELITE POLICE TACTICAL UNIT OF THE FRENCH NATIONAL GENDARMERIE

Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale; GSIGN; Gendarmerie National Intervention Group; G.I.G.N.; National Gendarmes Intervention Group; Gign; Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale; Groupe d'intervention de la gendarmerie nationale; National Gendarmerie Intervention Group; Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale

GIGN's primary missions

GIGN insignias

Weapons

Vehicles

GIGN

special crack force of the gendarmerie

Wikipedia

GIGN

The GIGN (French: Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale pronunciation ; transl. "National Gendarmerie Intervention Group") is the elite police tactical unit of the National Gendarmerie of France. 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, 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: around 400 operators based in Satory, near Versailles in the Paris area and approximately 600 operators in fourteen regional GIGN branches called AGIGNs (Antennes du GIGN), located in metropolitan France or in the 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 Air France Flight 8969, which had been hijacked by the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria at Marseille Provence Airport; all four hijackers were killed in the assault.

GIGN's primary missions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIGN

Examples of use of GIGN

1. Au matin, un commando du GIGN arraisonne le navire, et le ram';ne avec les «mutins» ŕ la gendarmerie maritime de Toulon.

2. Le ministre de l‘Intérieur, Nicolas Sarkozy, a félicité les équipes du GIGN (Groupement d‘intervention de la gendarmerie nationale) pour "leur intervention rapide et efficace". "Le GIGN a su, dans cette période délicate, prendre sans aucune violence la maîtrise du bateau de la SNCM qui avait été détourné illégalement", dit–il dans un communiqué. En début de matinée, cinq hélicopt';res Puma ont survolé le Pascal–Paoli qui croisait au large de Bastia.

3. Recherche de renseignements, sauvetage de ressortissants d‘une zone de crise, protection de personnes et d‘infrastructures: «Les compétences du DRA 10 sont similaires ŕ celles des SAS britanniques ou du GIGN», rel';ve un expert français.

4. Et l‘assaut donné par les troupes du GIGN sur le Pascal–Paoli, habituellement réservé aux interventions antiterroristes, a probablement été conçu comme une bonne occasion de ne pas laisser au grand rival, Nicolas Sarkozy, le monopole des actions d‘éclat.

5. Par ailleurs, les soldats du Détachement de reconnaissance de l‘armée 10 – ceux évoqués pour ętre envoyés dans le golfe d‘Aden – ne sont pas pręts pour ce genre de mission! – Mais il s‘agit d‘une troupe d‘élite que certains comparent au GIGN français.