2nd CBRN Dragoon Regiment

Nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical (CBRN) threats have diversified and amplified throughout and even after the Cold War. Following the signing of the biological weapons prohibition convention in 1972, certain political regimes have nonetheless continued their research to develop them.

Table of Contents:

• The history of the 2nd DR
• The missions

The 2nd Dragon Regiment or 2nd DR is the oldest of the French cavalry regiments still in service. Its formation dates back to 1556, with the existence of a cavalry company within the House of Condé. It was on January 1st, 1791 that this company officially became the 2nd DR.  It is the only standard of the French army to be decorated with the escapees' medal, to have been cited twice in the order of the army during World War I and also has twelve battle names inscribed in its history.

Until 2005, the 2nd DR was a tank regiment within the armored brigade. It was on July 1st, 2005 that it merged with the nuclear, biological and chemical defense group and became the 2nd Dragon Regiment also called: CBRN specialized unit.

The 2nd DR is the only regiment of the Army capable of facing CBRN threats. It can intervene in support of ground forces engaged in an external operation or for the benefit of the national territory in reinforcement of civil security resources.

The 2nd Dragon Regiment intervenes in several types of missions:

- The fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;

- The protection of civilian populations, including on national territory ;

- Participate in security missions in metropolitan France and overseas ;

- Support the armed forces against CBRN threats and risks.

The 2nd Dragon Regiment is located in Maine-et-Loire at the military camp of Fontevraud between Angers, Tours and Poitiers. It is situated in the heart of the Loire Valley, 15 km from Saumur.

In this period of health crisis, it is an essential unit in the fight against the epidemic. A high level of preparation as well as operational experience in 2015 on the TAMARIN mission, with the Ebola virus crisis in Guinea Conakry, allowed the regiment to specialize in order to face this new enemy. It operates the decontamination of materials and infrastructure necessary to maintain the operational capabilities of the Army. 

As part of operation RESILIENCE 2020, the 2nd DR contributed its expertise during the experimentation and certification phases and helped develop the use of helicopters capable of accommodating two patients with coronavirus for medical evacuations (MEDEVAC). These vehicles were equipped with protective bubbles inside the cargo hold to protect the crew and make the aircraft reusable. The 2nd DR also intervened in the decontamination of Parliament premises. Disinfection methods and product use remained unchanged but practices were refined to adapt to offices or residences. 

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