The French Armed Forces are the military forces of France. They consist of four military branches – the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Force and the National Gendarmerie. The National Guard serves as the French Armed Forces' military reserve force. As stipulated by France's constitution, the president of France serves as commander-in-chief of the French military. France has the eighth largest defence budget in the world and the second largest in the European Union (EU). It also has the largest military by size in the EU. A 2015 Credit Suisse report ranked the French Armed Forces as the world's sixth most powerful military.
Free French Legionnaires at the Battle of Bir Hakeim (1942)
A Dassault Rafale refuels from a USAF KC-10 Extender
Hexagone Balard, the headquarters of the French Armed Forces
A Leclerc tank during manoeuvres
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army, is the principal land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, French Air and Space Force, and the National Gendarmerie. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Staff of the French Army (CEMAT), who is subordinate of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA), who commands active service Army units and in turn is responsible to the President of France. CEMAT is also directly responsible to the Ministry of the Armed Forces for administration, preparation, and equipment.
The French Royal Army at the Battle of Denain (1712)
The Gardes françaises at the Battle of Fontenoy (1745)
Entry of Napoleon into Berlin by Charles Meynier. After defeating Prussian forces at Jena, the Grande Armée entered Berlin on 27 October 1806
The Battle of Magenta
