The 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales () or 4e RHFS is the special operations unit of the French Army Light Aviation. It is part of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore of the Special Operations Command. It is based in Pau.
Created in 1997, the 4e RHFS' mission is to transport and provide air support to the other special forces units anywhere in the world.
Organization The regiment is divided into Special Forces Flights (Escadrilles des Operations Speciales): EOS 1 – Puma and Cougar EOS 2 – Gazelle EOS 3 – Caracals EOS 4/GIH – Pumas EOS 6 – Tigre EOS 7 – Support Flight EOS 8 – Helicopter Maintenance Flight
The regiment employs the following helicopters in 2016: 10 Eurcopter AS532 UL/AL Cougar 12 Aérospatiale Gazelle 7 Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma and Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma 6 Eurocopter Tigre HAD ? Eurocopter EC725 Caracal
See also Italian 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment U.S. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - Night Stalkers Australian 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron British Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing Canadian 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
References
External links official French Army page
M134 Minigun - side mounted on Gazelle helicopters.