List of military special forces units

Definitions

Military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, trained, and equipped forces, manned with selected personnel, using unconventional tactics, techniques, and modes of employment.

special operations military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, trained and equipped forces using operational techniques and modes of employment not standard to conventional forces. These activities are conducted across the full range of military operations independently or in coordination with operations of conventional forces to achieve political, military, psychological and economic objectives. Politico-military considerations may require clandestine, covert or discreet techniques and the acceptance of a degree of physical and political risk not associated with conventional operations.

special-operations forces strategic formations and units of the armed forces, whose role is to conduct sabotage, reconnaissance, subversive and other special operations on the territory of foreign countries. In wartime they may also be assigned tasks such as intelligence-gathering, the seizure or destruction of key installations, the conduct of psychological operations or the organization of insurgencies in the enemy's rear area. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have separate special-operations forces brigades, battalions and companies which are integrated with the intelligence assets of military districts, fronts, fleets, armies or corps.

Operations requiring unique modes of employment, tactical techniques, equipment and training often conducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and characterized by one or more of the following: time sensitive, clandestine, low visibility, conducted with and/or through indigenous forces, requiring regional expertise, and/or a high degree of risk.

Organizations containing specially trained personnel that are organized, equipped and trained to conduct high-risk, high value, special operations to achieve military, political, economic, or international objectives by using special and unique operational methodologies in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive area to achieve desired tactical operational, and/or strategic effects in times of peace, conflict, or war.

Albania

• Special Operations Regiment

Algeria

• 104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment
• 116th Operational Maneuvers Regiment

• Navy Special Action Regiment

• Special Intervention Regiment

Angola

• Special Forces Brigade (BRIFE)

Argentina

• Special Operations Forces Grouping
• * 601 Commando Company
• * 602 Commando Company

• Tactical Divers Group
• Amphibious Commandos Group

Armenia

• Special Forces Regiment (Armenia) – Spetsnaz unit.

Australia

• Special Operations Command
• * Special Forces Group
• ** [1st Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment|Commando Regiment (Australia)|1st Commando Regiment]
• ** 2nd Commando Regiment - Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (East)
• ** Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) - Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West)
• ** Special Operations Engineer Regiment
• 6th Aviation Regiment
• * 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron
• * 173rd Special Operations Aviation Squadron

• No. 4 Squadron, B Flight

• Clearance Diving Branch

Austria

• Jagdkommando

Azerbaijan

• Special Forces of Azerbaijan
• 641st Naval Special Operations Brigade
• 777th Special Forces Regiment

Bangladesh

• Para Commando Brigade

• Special Warfare Diving and Salvage

• 41 Squadron Airborne

Belarus

• 5th Spetsnaz Brigade
• 38th Guards Mobile Brigade – Brest
• 103rd Guards Mobile Brigade – Vitebsk

Belgium

• Special Operations Regiment in Heverlee

Botswana

• Botswana Ground Force
• * 1st Commando Regiment

Brazil

• Special Operations Command
• * 1st Special Forces Battalion (1º BFEsp)
• * 1st Commando Battalion (1º BAC)
• * Special Operation Support Battalion

• Airborne Rescue Squadron

• Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion (COMANF)
• Combat Divers Groupment (GRUMEC)

Brunei

• Royal Brunei Land Force
• *Special Forces Regiment

Bulgaria

• 68th Special Forces Brigade
• Bulgarian Land Forces
• * 101st Alpine Regiment
• Bulgarian Navy
• * 65th Seaborne Special Reconnaissance Detachment

Burundi

• Burundi National Defence Force
• * 4th Commando Battalion

Cambodia

• Royal Cambodian Army
• * Special Forces Command (Cambodia)
• * Brigade 70 (B-70)

Canada

• Joint Task Force 2
• Canadian Special Operations Regiment
• 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
• Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit

Chile

• Lautaro Special Operations Brigade

China – PRC

• People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
• * People's Liberation Army Ground Force
• **
• **
• * People's Liberation Army Navy
• ** People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps
• ***Special Operations Brigade (PLA Navy Marine Corps)
• * People's Liberation Army Air Force
• ** People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps
• *** Airborne Corps Special Forces Brigade

Colombia

• National Army of Colombia
• * Special Forces Division
• Colombian Aerospace Force
• * Special Air Commando Group
• Colombian Armada
• * Special Operations Division
• Joint units under CCOES
• * Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas
• * ARES

Croatia

Cuba

• Black Wasp

Cyprus

• Special Forces Command (Cyprus)
• Underwater Demolition Team (Cyprus)

Czech Republic

• Czech Republic Special Operations Forces
• * Ministry of Defence SOF Directorate
• * 601st Special Forces Group

• Special Operations Air Detachment

• *102nd Reconnaissance Battalion

Democratic Republic of the Congo

• 31st Rapid Response Unit Brigade
• 391st Commando Battalion

Denmark

• Jaeger Corps
• Frogman Corps

• Special Support and Reconnaissance Company

Ecuador

• IWIAS Jungle Commandos

El Salvador

• Comando Especial Anti-Terrorista

Egypt

• Unit 777
• Unit 999

Estonia

Ethiopia

• Agazi Commando Division

Finland

• Utti Jaeger Regiment

• Coastal Brigade
• * Naval Reconnaissance Battalion
• ** Special Operations Detachment

France

• 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
• 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment
• 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment
• Special Forces Command and Signal Company

• FORFUSCO
• * Commandos Marine

• Air Parachute Commando No. 10 (CPA 10)
• Special Operations Division, Transport section

• Action Division

Georgia

• GSOF

Germany

• German Navy
• * Naval Special Forces Command
• German Army
• * Special Forces Command
• German Air Force
• * No. 4 Squadron Helicopter Wing 64

Ghana

• Ghana Navy
• * Special Boat Squadron

Greece

• 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade
• 32nd Marines Brigade

• 31st Search & Rescue Squadron

• Underwater Demolition Command – is organized into sections called Underwater Demolition Teams

Guatemala

• Kaibiles

Hungary

• 1st Special Forces Brigade "Arpad Bertalan"
• * 34th Special Forces Battalion "Bercsényi László"
• * 88th Light Mixed Battalion

India

• Indian Army
• * Para (Special Forces)
• Indian Navy
• * MARCOS
• Indian Air Force
• * Garud Commando Force

Indonesia

• Kopassus – Army special force command
• Tontaipur – Army combat reconnaissance platoon

• Kopaska – Naval frogman commando
• Denjaka – Joint navy-marine special forces
• Taifib – Marine amphibious reconnaissance battalion

• Kopasgat – Air force special forces command
• * Bravo Detachment 90 – counterterrorism unit of Kopasgat

Iran

• 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade

• Quds Force
• Saberin Takavor Brigade
• 110th Salman Farsi Special Operations Brigade
• Sepah Navy Special Force

Iraq

• Counter Terrorism Command (CTC)
• * Iraqi Special Operations Forces

Ireland

• Army Ranger Wing

Israel

• General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269 – Sayeret Matkal

• Unit 888 – Multidimensional Unit
• Pereh
• Unit 707 – LOTAR
• LOTAR Eilat
• 89th "Oz" Brigade
• * Unit 212 – Maglan
• * Unit 217 – Duvdevan
• * Unit 621 – Egoz
• Israeli Combat Engineering Corps
• *Yahalom

• 13th Flotilla – Shayetet 13

• 7th Special Air Forces Wing
• * Unit 5101 – Shaldag
• * Unit 669 – Combat Search and Rescue and Airborne Medical Evacuation Unit
• * Unit 5700 - Forward Air Field Tactical Unit

Italy

• Army Special Forces Command (Italy)
• * 9th Parachute Assault Regiment "Col Moschin"
• * 185th Paratroopers Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"
• * 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment
• * 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment

• Comando Subacquei ed Incursori (COMSUBIN)

• 17º Stormo Incursori (ex R.I.A.M., CCT)

Japan

• Special Forces Group

• Special Boarding Unit

Jamaica

• Special Activities Regiment
• Counter Terrorism Operations Group

Jordan

• Special Forces Group – "King Abdulah II"
• * Special Unit I – Specializing in counter terrorism on the basis of the 71st Special Battalion

Kenya

• Special Operations Regiment
• Kenya Navy#Special Operations Squadron

Kuwait

• Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade

Kyrgyzstan

• 25th Special Force Brigade Scorpion

Latvia

• Latvian Special Tasks Unit

Lebanon

• Lebanese Armed Forces
• * Counter-Sabotage Regiment
• Lebanese Army
• * Lebanese Commando Regiment
• Lebanese Navy
• * Marine Commandos
• Lebanese Air Force
• * Airborne Regiment

Lithuania

• Special Operations Platoon

Malaysia

• 21st Special Service Group / 21 Grup Gerak Khas

• Naval Special Warfare Forces / Pasukan Khas Laut

• Pasukan Khas TUDM / RMAF Special Force

Maldives

• Maldives National Defence Force
• * Special Force

Malta

• Armed Forces of Malta
• * Special Operations Unit (SOU)

Mexico

• Joint Special Operations Command (FEC)

• Special Forces Corps
• * 1st Special Forces Battalion
• * 2nd Special Forces Battalion
• * 3rd Special Forces Battalion
• * 4th Special Forces Battalion
• * 5th Special Forces Battalion
• * 6th Special Forces Battalion

• Special Forces (FES)

Mongolia

• 084th Special Task Battalion

Montenegro

• Special Forces Company

Namibia

Netherlands

• Korps Commandotroepen (KCT)
• Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces

New Zealand

• 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment

Nigeria

• Nigerian Defence Headquarters
• *DHQSOF
• [Nigerian Army| Nigerian United States Army Special Operations Command|Army Special Operations Command (NASOC)]
• * 72nd Special Forces Battalion
• Nigerian Air Force Special Operations Command (NAFSOC)
• *NAF Regiment Special Forces (Panthers)
• NN Special Operations Command (NNSOC)
• *Special Boat Service
• * Deep Blue Special Intervention Forces

North Korea – DPRK

• Korean People's Army Special Operation Force
• 11th Army Corps

North Macedonia

• Special Operations Regiment

Norway

• Special Operations Command (FSK)
• Navy Special Operation Command (MJK)
• 339 Special Operations Aviation Squadron

• Coastal Ranger Command (KJK)

Oman

• Sultan's Special Force

Pakistan

• Pakistan Army
• * Special Service Group
• * Light Commando Battalion
• Pakistan Navy
• * Special Service Group Navy
• Pakistan Air Force
• * Special Service Wing
• Inter-Services Intelligence
• * Covert Action Division

Papua New Guinea

• Land Element
• * Long Range Reconnaissance Unit

Paraguay

• Special Forces Battalion –

Philippines

• Philippine Air Force
• * 710th Special Operations Wing
• Philippine Army
• * 1st Scout Ranger Regiment
• * Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)
• * Light Reaction Regiment
• Philippine Navy
• * Naval Special Operations Command
• Philippine Marine Corps
• * Force Reconnaissance Group
• Philippine Coast Guard
• * Special Operations Force

Poland

• Operational-Maneuver Response Group (GROM)
• Army Commandos
• JW AGAT
• JW Formoza
• Nil Military Unit
• Special Operations Aviation Unit, commanded by Headquarters Special Troops Command, but part of Polish Air Force

Portugal

• Commando Regiment
• Paratroopers
• * Pathfinders Company
• Special Operations Force

• Portuguese Marine Corps
• * Special Actions Detachment (DAE)
• Sappers Divers Group

Romania

• General Directorate for Defense Intelligence (DGIA)
• * Special Detachment of Protection and Intervention
• Romanian Armed Forces:
• * Romanian Special Operations Forces Command

Rwanda

• Special Forces Brigade

Russia

• Special Purpose Center "Senezh"
• Special Purpose Center "Kubinka-2"
• 344th Army Aviation Combat Center
• Russian Airborne Troops
• *45th Guards Special Purpose Brigade
• Russian Navy
• *Naval Special Reconnaissance – Reconnaissance divers under operational subordination to the Main Intelligence Directorate
• *Counteraction Underwater Diversionary Forces and Facilities

Saudi Arabia

• Special Navy Security Units

• 64th Special Forces Brigade

Serbia

• 72nd Brigade for Special Operations
• 63rd Parachute Brigade

Seychelles

• Tazar Special Forces Unit

Singapore

• Naval Diving Unit
• Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation
• Special Operations Force

Slovakia

• 5th Special Forces Regiment (Slovakia)

Slovenia

• Posebna Enota za Specialno Taktiko (PEST)
• Enota za Specialno Delovanje

Somalia

• Danab Brigade

South Africa

• Special Forces Brigade

South Korea – ROK

• ROK Army Special Warfare Command
• * 1st Special Forces Brigade (Airborne)
• * 3rd Special Forces Brigade
• * 7th Special Forces Brigade
• * 9th Special Forces Brigade
• * 11th Special Forces Brigade
• * 13th Special Mission Brigade
• * 707th Special Mission Group

• ROK Naval Special Warfare Flotilla

• Marine Special Reconnaissance Brigade
• *1st Reconnaissance Battalion
• *2nd Reconnaissance Battalion
• *3rd Reconnaissance Battalion

Spain

• * Spanish Land Army
• ** Mando de Operaciones Especiales
• *** Manages four Special Operations Groups
• * Spanish Navy
• ** Special Naval Warfare Command
• *** Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial – formerly Unidad de Operaciones Especiales, until a 2009 merger with Unidad Especial de Buzos de Combate to form the FGNE.
• * Spanish Air and Space Force
• ** Escuadrón de Zapadores Paracaidistas.

Sri Lanka

• Special Forces Regiment
• * 1st Special Forces Regiment
• * 2nd Special Forces Regiment
• * 3rd Special Forces Regiment
• * 4th Special Forces Regiment
• Commando Regiment

• Special Boat Squadron

• Special Airborne Force

Sweden

• Special Operations Task Group

• Life Regiment Hussars
• * 31st Ranger Battalion
• * 32nd Intelligence Battalion
• ** 323rd Parachute Ranger Squadron
• Norrland Dragoon Regiment
• *41st Ranger Battalion
• *42nd Ranger Battalion

• Blekinge Wing
• * Air Force Rangers

• Amphibious Corps
• * 1st Marine Regiment
• ** 202nd Coastal Ranger Company

Switzerland

• Army Reconnaissance Detachment (ARD 10)
• Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17 (FSK-17)

Taiwan – ROC

• 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion
• Airborne Special Service Company

• Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit

• Republic of China Military Police Special Services Company

• Special Task Unit

Tanzania

• Marine Special Forces

Thailand

• Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command
• * 1st Special Forces Division
• ** 3rd Special Forces Regiment, King's Guard
• *** Ranger Battalion, King's Guard, 3rd Special Forces Regiment, King's Guard
• *** Special Operations Battalion, King's Guard, 3rd Special Forces Regiment

• Naval Special Warfare Command
• RTMC Reconnaissance Battalion

• RTAF Security Force Command
• * Special Operations Regiment

Timor-Leste

• Unidade Falintil

Trinidad and Tobago

• Special Naval Unit

Tunisia

• Special Forces Group (GFS)
• * Military Intervention Group

• Special Air Regiment

• 51st Marine Commando Regiment
• 52nd Marine Commando Regiment

Turkey

• General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces
• * Special Forces Command (OKK)
• Turkish Naval Forces
• * Underwater Defence Group (SAS)
• * Underwater Offence Group (SAT)
• Turkish Air Force
• * Combat Search and Rescue
• * Air Force Search and Rescue

• TRNC Special Task Force Command

Uganda

• Ugandan Special Forces Command

Ukraine

• Special Operations Center "East"
• Special Operations Center "West"
• 140th Special Purpose Center
• Ranger Corps of KSSO
• * 4th Spetsnaz Regiment (Ranger)
• * 5th Spetsnaz Regiment
• * 6th Spetsnaz Regiment (Ranger)
• * 7th Spetsnaz Regiment
• Information Warfare & Psychological Operations
• * 16th Center of Information and Psychological Warfare
• * 72nd Center of Information and Psychological Warfare
• * 74th Center of Information and Psychological Warfare
• * 83rd Center of Information and Psychological Warfare

• 73rd Naval Special Purpose Center
• 801st Combat Divers Center

• Special Operations Center "Omega"
• Special UAV operations Unit "Typhoon"

• Direct Action Unit "Kraken"
• 10th Spetsnaz Battalion "Shaman"
• Special Purpose USV Unit "Group 13"
• Defense Intelligence Aviation
• * Special Purpose UAV Unit "Wings"
• 10th Spetsnaz Detachment
• * Spetsnaz Unit "Kabul 9"
• Spetsnaz Battalion "Artan"
• * Revanche Tactical Group
• Special Unit "Tymur" HUR MO
• * Spetsnaz Battalion "Aratta"
• * Spetsnaz Battalion "Sonechko"
• * Spetsnaz Battalion "Stuhna"
• * Spetsnaz Battalion "NOBODY"
• * Spetsnaz Battalion "Bratstvo"
• * Spetsnaz Unit "Chimera"
• * Spetsnaz Unit "Paragon Company"
• * Spetsnaz Unit "Black Winter Group"
• * 2nd Spetsnaz Detachment

United Kingdom

• Royal Navy
• * Special Boat Service
• ** Special Boat Service
• British Army
• * Special Air Service
• ** 22 Special Air Service Regiment
• ** Special Air Service
• *** 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve)
• *** 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)
• * Special Reconnaissance Regiment
• * 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment
• * Special Forces Support Group
• Royal Air Force/British Army
• * Special Forces Flight of 47 Squadron
• * Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing
• ** 7 Squadron
• ** 658 Squadron

United States

• Joint Special Operations Command
• * United States Army
• ** 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta
• ** Intelligence Support Activity
• ** Aviation Technology Office
• * United States Navy
• ** Naval Special Warfare Development Group
• * United States Air Force
• ** 24th Special Tactics Squadron
• ** 66th Air Operations Squadron
• ** 427th Special Operations Squadron
• ** 1st Joint Special Operations Aviation Component
• Army Special Operations Command
• * 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) – 1st SFC (A)
• * Special Forces Groups
• ** 1st Special Forces Group
• ** 3rd Special Forces Group
• ** 5th Special Forces Group
• ** 7th Special Forces Group
• ** 10th Special Forces Group
• ** 19th Special Forces Group
• ** 20th Special Forces Group
• * Psychological Operations Groups
• ** 4th Psychological Operations Group
• ** 8th Psychological Operations Group
• * 95th Civil Affairs Brigade
• * 528th Sustainment Brigade
• ** 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion
• ** 389th Military Intelligence Battalion
• * 75th Ranger Regiment
• ** Regimental Reconnaissance Company
• * Army Special Operations Aviation Command
• ** 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) "Night Stalkers"
• ** Army Special Operations Command Flight Company
• Naval Special Warfare Command
• * Naval Special Warfare Group 1
• ** SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5 & 7
• * Naval Special Warfare Group 2
• ** SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8 & 10
• * Naval Special Warfare Group 4
• ** Special Boat Teams 12, 20 & 22
• * Naval Special Warfare Group 8
• ** SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams 1 & 2
• ** Special Reconnaissance Teams 1 & 2
• ** Training Detachment 3
• ** Logistical Support 3
• ** Mission Support Center
• * Naval Special Warfare Group 11
• ** SEAL Teams 17 & 18
• Air Force Special Operations Command
• * 1st Special Operations Wing
• * 24th Special Operations Wing
• * 27th Special Operations Wing
• * 137th Special Operations Wing
• * 193rd Special Operations Wing
• * 919th Special Operations Wing
• * 352nd Special Operations Group
• * 353rd Special Operations Group
• Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command
• * Marine Raider Regiment
• * Marine Special Operations Support Group

Venezuela

• 99th Army Special Operations Brigade

• Special Operations Air Group 10
• Special Operations Air Group 15
• Special Operations Air Group 17

Vietnam

• Vietnam People's Ground Force
• * Special Forces Arms
• ** Special Forces Command at Thanh Trì District, Hanoi
• ** 1st Special Operations Brigade at Hanoi
• ** 113rd Land Commando Brigade at Vĩnh Phúc Province
• ** 198th Land Commando Brigade at Đắk Lắk Province
• ** 429th Land Commando Brigade at Bình Dương Province
• ** 5th Maritime Commando Brigade at Ninh Thuận Province
• * High Command of Capital Hanoi
• ** 18th Commando Battalion at Hanoi
• * 1st Corp
• ** 1 Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Ninh Bình
• * 2nd Corps
• ** 1 Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Bắc Giang
• * 3rd Corps
• ** 20th Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Pleiku, Gia Lai
• * 4th Corps
• ** 1 Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Bình Dương
• * 1st Military Region
• ** 20th Commando Battalion at Thái Nguyên
• * 2nd Military Region
• ** 19th Commando Battalion at Phú Thọ
• * 3nd Military Region
• ** 41st Commando Battalion at Hải Phòng
• * 4th Military Region
• ** 31st Commando Battalion at Hà Tĩnh
• * 5th Military Region
• ** 409th Commando Battalion at Đà Nẵng
• * 7th Military Region
• ** 60th Commando Battalion at Bình Dương
• * 9th Military Region
• ** 2012nd Commando Battalion at Vĩnh Long
• Vietnam People's Navy
• * Naval Special Operations Force
• ** 126th Naval Special Operations Brigade at Hải Phòng city
• General Department II
• * K3 Special Forces Brigade at Hà Nội
• * 74 Special Forces Brigade at Đà Nẵng
• * 94 Special Forces Brigade at Bình Dương

Zimbabwe