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- India’s elite Special Forces are among some of the most formidable military units in the world.
- From reconnaissance and assault missions to counter-terrorism and hostage rescue, Special Forces take on some of the hardest missions and live some of the most secret lives in the military world.
- They are rigorously trained and equipped to handle, support and conduct special operations.
- Here is a list of some of Special Forces the elite Special Forces troops.
1.MARCOS ( Special Forces)
- The Marine Commandos (MARCOS) Special Forces unit was created by the Indian Navy in 1987 to conduct special amphibious operations.
- They are experts in maritime warfare and are also trained to engage in battles on all terrains.
- They specialize in underwater operations in Jammu & Kashmir’s Jhelum river and Wular Lake.
- They are also called the Dadiwala Fauj by the terrorists because of their bearded disguise.
- MARCOS are capable of firing while lying down, running in full speed, or looking into a mirror.
- They are among the few Special Forces all over the world that are capable of being para-dropped into the sea with full combat load.
- Its members have a key role in protecting maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region.
- The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Karna at Vishakhapatnam, the first dedicated base for this elite force.
- MARCOS have successfully participated in operations undertaken by the Indian Navy. Examples- Operation Zabardast (Sri Lanka February 1993), Operation Leech (1998), Operation Tasha (1990-2009), Operation Sagittarius (anti-piracy operations in Malacca Strait) and Operation Rahat, among others.
2. COBRA ( Special Forces)
- Commando Battalion For Resolute Action (COBRA) Special Forces was created in 2008.
- It is an integral part of CRPF and was created to tackle insurgent groups engaging in guerrilla warfare in India.
- They are highly proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare, and are masters of camouflage, precision strikes, parachute jumps and ambushes.
- Since its inception, the COBRA battalion has been involved in various battles with Naxalites and has played a key role in recovering weaponry from the insurgents.
- It is also the best equipped Central Special Forces Armed Police unit.
- Their sniper units are also one of the best among the armed forces of India.
3. GARUD ( Special Forces)
- It is the commando unit of the Indian Air Force and was created in 2004.
- It specializes in Airfield Seizure, Special Reconnaissance, Airborne Operations, Air Assault and Search & Rescue missions.
- They are also trained in fields like anti-hijack, para- trooping, demolition, snow survival, specialized weaponry and advanced driving skills.
- It is also tasked with the protection of critical Air Force bases as well as rapid response to terror attacks on such installations.
- In the aftermath of the Pathankot Terror Attack, Indian Air Force has decided to raise ten additional squadrons of GARUD commandos.
4. GHATAK ( Special Forces)
- Ghatak Platoon, or Ghatak Commandos, is a Special Forces operations platoon present in every infantry battalion in the Indian Army.
- It is the first wave of Indian Army’s counter forces and usually consists of 20 soldiers.
- Its mission is to launch a quick attack on a particular target and annihilate it so that the forward movement of the company or battalion is not slowed down or stopped.
- They usually operate without support from the rest of the battalion and are trained to conduct raids on enemy artillery positions, airfields, supply dumps and tactical headquarters.
- They also collect battlefield intelligence and observe enemy movements by going very close to enemy formations.
- They were extensively used in the 1999 Kargil conflict.
5. BLACK CATS ( Special Forces)
- The National Security Guards (NSG) are popularly called BLACK CATS.
- This special force was formed in 1986.
- They provide security to VIPs, conduct anti-sabotage checks and are responsible for neutralizing terrorists threats to India’s vital installations.
- They have played a pivotal role in some of the important missions like Operation Black Thunder, Operation Ashwamedh, Operation Black Tornado and Operation Cyclone.
- They are neither a part of the Central Armed Police Forces nor do they come under the paramilitary forces of India.
- It has a mix of commandos from both the Special Forces Police and the Army.
- NSG has two units- the Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Ranger Group (SRG).
- Black Cats are trained to tackle terrorism in all its manifestations.
6. SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE (SFF) ( Special Forces)
- It was created in the wake of the Indo-Sino War.
- It specializes in unconventional warfare and covert operations behind enemy lines during events like wars.
- The commandos are trained for extreme conditions, with special attention paid to guerrilla tactics, mountain and jungle warfare, parachute jumps, special reconnaissance, and hostage rescue.
- It is based in Chakrata, Uttarakhand and works in sync with the Research & Analysis (RAW) wing, India’s external intelligence agency.
- The force is also called Establishment 22.
- SFF played a pivotal role in Operation Meghdoot (the Siachen Battle of 1985-86).
- Since then, one of its units has been constantly guarding the Siachen Glacier, considered one of the world’s most inhospitable battle zones.
7. PARA-COMMANDO ( Special Forces)
- This unit was formed in 1966 as a part of the highly trained Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army.
- They go behind enemy lines and inflict maximum damage in the least possible time.
- They learn man-to-man assault practices and terrain-specific warfare.
- They are taught specialized modes of infiltration and ex-filtration, either by air or sea.
- They specialize in special operations, reconnaissance, direct action, high value targets and short-term unconventional warfare.
- They are the only units in the Indian Army allowed to have tattoos on their body.
- Their most notable operations include the 1971 war with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil War and Operation Summer Storm in 2009.
- They are Indian Army’s ‘crack force’ and are veterans in surprise attacks due to their quick reaction capabilities.
8. FORCE ONE( Special Forces)
- It was created in the aftermath of the Mumbai Terror attacks.
- A need was felt to raise a special squad that could combat urban terror.
- As a result, the youngest Indian Special Force unit called Force One was assembled.
- Its motive is to protect Mumbai when under threat.
- It is one of the fastest response team in the world as it can ready an armed unit and leave for a hostage situation in less than 15 minutes.
- From over 3000 applications from both the army and the police, the best 216 were selected and then trained under close guidance from the Israeli Special Forces.
- They undergo regular drills to prepare for possible attack scenarios around sensitive installations, with special emphasis laid on intelligence gathering and tactical formations.
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