Paris (75). 2010: "GIGN" (SWAT) and helicopter. During their duties, the gendarmes of the "Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale" (equivalent to SWAT) have EC 145, EC 135 or Puma helicopters at their disposal within the "Groupe interarmees d'Helicopteres (GIH)" created in 2005 and based at Villacoublay (Paris area). For the GIGN team, the helicopter is an indispensable tactical transport system.