escadron

Escadron is a military unit term used in several francophone armed forces, equivalent to the English “squadron.” Its exact role and size vary by service and country, but it typically denotes a subunit within a larger formation. Historically, the term has naval origins and continues to appear in historical accounts of fleets as a division of ships; in land and air forces, it designates a comparable organizational level.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from escadre, a group of ships, and entered wider military usage to refer to a functional group within an armed force. In French usage, escadron remains common in cavalry and armored units, and in the air force to designate a unit of aircraft.

Organization and size: In the army, an escadron is a unit within a regiment (cavalry or armored) consisting of several troops; it is typically commanded by a chef d'escadron, a rank analogous to major. In air forces, an escadron corresponds to a squadron: several aircraft and their aircrews, supported by maintenance and support staff; it is usually commanded by a senior officer.

Examples: In the French Air Force, squadrons are designated as Escadron de chasse or Escadron de transport, with numeric designations such as Escadron de chasse 2/30 Normandie-Niemen. The term is also used in other francophone militaries to denote squadron-sized units across services.