Lautaro Special Operations Brigade
The Lautaro Special Operations Brigade is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special warfare brigade component commands of the Chilean Army. The brigade is part of the Chilean Army. It is made up of units of special forces and special operations forces operators including airborne forces, counterterrorism and hostage rescue, jungle, mountain, military communication, military education and training, military intelligence, military logistic, military polices, snipers, tactical diving, and urban.
Lautaro Special Operations Brigade is involved with clandestine and covert operations activity such as air assault and airborne operations to infiltrate areas behind enemy lines, combat search and rescue, counter-narcotics, counterinsurgency, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, direct action towards important military strategics, executive protection, foreign internal defense, irregular warfare, ISTAR, long-range penetration, manhunting high value targets, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism, psychological warfare, and special reconnaissance. And including black operations to carry out intelligence or military operations that are extremely risky and sensitive to international relations.
The brigade is located in the town of, in the military camp of the same name, in the commune of Colina, north of the city of Santiago de Chile. To enable the activation of the brigade, Infantry Regiment No. 22 "Lautaro" and 4th Armored Group Cuirassiers had to be disbanded. , El Mercurio, December 25, 2006; accessed December 12, 2008.
Among its reported units are the 1st Parachute Battalion "Pelantaru"; the 1st Commandos Company "Iquique;" the 10th Commandos Company; the 13th Commandos Company "Escorpión;" and the Grupo Especial de Montaña. In 2010 the IISS Military Balance said the Chilean Army had one special operations brigade with four battalions.
Units
- Parachute and Special Forces School
- Pelantaru Parachute Battalion
- Commando Group N°5 "Lientur"
- Commando Group N°6 "Leucotón"
- Commando Group N°12 "Galvarino"
- Special Forces Group
- Special Mountain Group
- Intelligence Brigade
- Telecommunications Platoon
- Administrative Logistics Company
- Barracks Unit
- Headquarters