The Air Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie de l'Air) is the unit of the

French Gendarmerie The National Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie nationale, ) is one of two national law enforcement forces of France, along with the National Police. The Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Mini ...

protecting the

Air base An air base (sometimes referred to as a military air base, military airfield, military airport, air station, naval air station, air force station, or air force base) is an aerodrome used as a military base by a military force for the operation ...

s of the

French Air and Space Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Ar ...

and investigating aviation accidents and incidents when a military aircraft is involved, whether it belongs to the

Air force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...

or to any other military branches. It should not be confused with the larger Air Transport Gendarmerie which provides security for civilian airports and deals with civil aviation accidents. It has a strength of 750 military and is commanded by a

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

or a general. Emblème de la Gendarmerie de l'Air

It is divided into three groupings, North grouping located in the Vélizy – Villacoublay Air Base, South grouping located in the military side of the

Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (french: link=no, Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac) is the international airport of Bordeaux, in south-western France. It is situated in the ''commune'' of Mérignac, west of Bordeaux, within the ''département' ...

and the Security and Safety grouping is located in the

Hexagone Balard Hexagone Balard is the headquarters of the French Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Armed Forces. Inaugurated in 2015, more than 9,300 personnel from the French Army, French Navy, French Air and Space Force and Direction générale de l'armeme ...

for which it provides law enforcement and protective security services. Both North and South groupings are divided into several brigades, each attached to an

. The Air Gendarmerie is also deployed on war zones where

French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Ar ...

units are engaged. For instance, Air

Gendarmes Wrong info! --> A gendarmerie () is a military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to "men-at-arms" (literally, " ...

have been deployed on the military part of the International Airport of Kabul. Air Gendarmes can also served as

Provost (military police) Provosts (usually pronounced "provo" in this context) are military police (MP) whose duties are policing solely within the armed forces of a country, as opposed to gendarmerie duties in the civilian population. However, many countries use their ge ...

specialized in aviation related enquiries.

References

French Gendarmerie Air force police agencies {{France-mil-stub