French Armed Forces

The French Armed Forces (Armée Française) encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" ("chief of the military forces"). The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who can order a nuclear strike.

Status

 * Active Duty Personnel: 385,000 - 134,000 (Army); 65,000 (Air Force); 56,000 (Navy); 130,000 (National Gendarmerie)
 * Reserve Personnel: 120,000 - 54,000 (Army); 28,000 (Air Force); 38,000 (Navy)
 * Budget: $74,675,445,000 USD (2.6% of GDP)