1er REC: Irish Cavalrymen Visit Cavalry Legionnaires at Carpiagne

In October 2026, members of the Irish Defence Forces’ Cavalry Corps visited the Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) at Camp Carpiagne, its base near Marseille. Discussions centered on the modernization of the French cavalry and the introduction of the EBRC Jaguar, a six-wheeled armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle. The program included technical briefings, an exchange of experience, and a practical part in the field.

The visit is of particular interest in light of Ireland’s planned military modernization. In February 2026, the Irish government named France its preferred partner for renewing its armored vehicle fleet. The planned cooperation between the two governments covers vehicles from the French Army’s SCORPION program, which is replacing older combat vehicles with a new generation of networked platforms, including the Jaguar. It is no coincidence that the Irish delegation chose the 1er REC: it was the first French cavalry regiment to be fully equipped with this new armored vehicle.

French and Irish cavalry also share a technical history. From 1964, the Irish Cavalry Corps operated the French-built Panhard AML armored car, retiring it in May 2013, after almost 50 years of service. The Irish AMLs served on UN peacekeeping missions in Cyprus, Lebanon, and Liberia. The 1er REC was equipped with the same vehicle from 1971 until the early 1990s.

The Irish Cavalry Corps currently consists of three squadrons (company-sized units), reflecting the smaller size of the Irish Defence Forces. The 1er REC has five combat and reconnaissance squadrons, along with support and reserve elements.

Irish Cavalrymen at Carpiagne, 2026:

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