The Third Infantry Regiment

The 3rd REI has been protecting the Space base permanently since 1973. Its ground and anti-aircraft weapons make it a highly dissuasive force for confronting all possible risks.

Its missions during launch periods

The principal mission of the Foreign Legion’s 3rd Infantry Regiment (REI) is to protect the Space base.

It accomplishes this in two ways :

by ground defence, covering an area of 800 km² including an unprotected zone within which the regiment ensures that no persons are present during a launch period. Thirty-six hours before lift-off, all its resources are mobilised to secure the base. The 3rd REI sends out patrols in P4 Jeeps and tracked vehicles and deploys observation posts in random positions. It also accompanies the gendarmerie and carries out reconnaissance missions in zones where access is difficult: forest, mangrove, marshes etc.
by anti-aircraft defence, with missile units and anti-aircraft guns deployed around the Centre. In case of need an emergency unit can also call on a Puma helicopter for a rapid redeployment of the Defence arrangements.

Its missions outside launch periods

Outside launch periods, the regiment helps to ensure security and plays a dissuasion role for the Centre. Every week the regiment performs different random manoeuvres which also serve as training operations for the teams. However the Legion can also be of service to the CSG in other circumstances. On the rare occasions when a launch has had to be aborted it has been called on to search for debris at sea or in the savannah.