This is a list of military special forces units, also known as

special operations forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

(SOF), currently active with countries around the world, that are specially organised, trained and equipped to conduct

special operations Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...

. These are distinct from special-purpose infantry units, such as the

Royal Marine Commandos The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marines ...

, found on the

list of commando units This is a list of current commando units. Argentina *601 Commando Company *602 Commando Company * 603 Commando Company Australia * 1st Commando Regiment *2nd Commando Regiment Bahamas Bangladesh * Para-Commando Brigade Belgium * ...

, and also

paratrooper A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during Worl ...

units found on the list of paratrooper forces.

Definitions

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

currently defines "special operations" as:

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

In 2001, as part of efforts to create a framework for consultation and cooperation between NATO and Russia, the ''NATO-RUSSIA Glossary of Contemporary Political and Military Terms'' further defined special operations and special operations forces:

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.

The United States definition of special operations is:

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.

The Canadian definition of special operations forces is:

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

Albanian Armed Forces *

Special Operations Battalion The Special Operations Battalion ( hr, Bojna za specijalna djelovanja), or popularly BSD was founded on 8 September 2000 when the Special Combat Skills Center from Šepurine and the 1st Croatian Guards Brigade ( hr, 1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug, a ...

Algeria

Algerian Land Forces The Algerian Land Forces ( ar, القوات البرية الجزائرية, , Algerian Land Forces) are the land forces of the Algerian People's National Army. The forces' equipment is supplied by Russia and various other countries. The force ...

(CFT) * 104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (104e RMO) * 116th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (116e RMO)

Algerian Navy , image = Algerian Naval badge.svg , image_size = 220px , caption = Algerian Naval badge , dates = 1516–18271963–present , country ...

(AN) * Navy Special Action Regiment (RASM) Algerian Republican Guard (GR) * Special Intervention Regiment (RSI)

Angola

Angolan Armed Forces The Angolan Armed Forces ( pt, Forças Armadas Angolanas) or FAA is the military of Angola. The FAA consist of the Angolan Army (), the Angolan Navy () and the National Air Force of Angola (). Reported total manpower in 2021 was about 107,00 ...

* Special Forces Brigade (BRIFE)

Argentina

Argentine Army The Argentine Army ( es, Ejército Argentino, EA) is the land force branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the senior military service of Argentina. Under the Argentine Constitution, the president of Argentina is the commander- ...

* Special Operations Forces Group **

601 Commando Company The 601 Commando Company ( es, Compañía de Comandos 601) is a special operations unit of the Argentine Army. History Created on 2 April 1982, it was based on the original ''Equipo Especial de Lucha contra la Subversión Halcón 8'' created b ...

** 602 Commando Company Argentine Navy *

Tactical Divers Group The Tactical Divers Group ( es, Agrupación de Buzos Tácticos, APBT) is the premier special operations force of the Argentine Navy. The Buzos Tácticos are based at Base Naval Mar del Plata (BNMP) on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Its men ...

Amphibious Commandos Group The Amphibious Commandos Group ( es, Agrupación de Comandos Anfibios, APCA) is a special operations force of the Argentine Marine Corps. Role Trained to perform quick and objective amphibious reconnaissance, assault raids, and direct acti ...

Armenia

Armenian Army The Armed Forces of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի զինված ուժեր, Hayastani zinvats uzher), sometimes referred to as the Armenian Army ( hy, Հայկական Բանակ, Haykakan Banak), is the national military of Armenia. It consist ...

* One Spetsnaz regiment

Australia

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...

*; Special Operations Command ** Special Forces Group *** 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 The Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER) is a specialised unit of the Australian Army. The regiment forms part of the Special Operations Command. The unit was formed in 2002 as the Incident Response Regiment (IRR), they are deployed to r ...

*** 6th Aviation Regiment **** 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron **** 173rd Aviation Squadron

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

* No. 4 Squadron, B Flight

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

* Clearance Diving BranchThe Clearance Diving Branch does not have a dedicated special operations role as they also include

clearance diving A clearance diver was originally a specialist naval diver who used explosives underwater to remove obstructions to make harbours and shipping channels safe to navigate, but the term "clearance diver" was later used to include other naval und ...

roles.
''Divers serve with 2nd Commando Regiment as part of Tactical Assault Group (East)''

Austria

Austrian Army The Austrian Armed Forces (german: Bundesheer, lit=Federal Army) are the combined military forces of the Republic of Austria. The military consists of 22,050 active-duty personnel and 125,600 reservists. The military budget is 0.74% of nati ...

Jagdkommando The Jagdkommando (German for ''Hunting Commando'') is the Austrian Armed Forces' Special Operations group. Role The duties of this elite unit, like its counterparts such as the United States Army Special Forces, are chiefly counter-terrorism an ...

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Armed Forces The Azerbaijani Armed Forces ( az, Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri) were re-established according to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Armed Forces from 9 October 1991. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) had originally formed ...

Special Forces of Azerbaijan The Special Forces of Azerbaijan ( az, Azərbaycan Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələri) is a military unit of the Republic of Azerbaijan. History It was established in April 1999 under the Ministry of Defense. The formation of the unit was attended b ...

* 641st Naval Special Operations Brigade * 777th Special Forces Regiment

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Army The Bangladesh Army is the land warfare branch and the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities to deliver the Bangladeshi government's security and def ...

* Para-Commando Brigade

Bangladesh Navy The Bangladesh Navy ( bn, বাংলাদেশ নৌবাহিনী, Bangladesh Nou Bahini) is the naval warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, responsible for Bangladesh's of maritime territorial area, and the defence of imp ...

Special Warfare Diving and Salvage The Special Warfare Diving and Salvage ( bn, স্পেশাল ওয়ারফেয়ার ডাইভিং অ্যান্ড স্যালভেজ) or SWADS is an elite special operational unit of the Bangladesh Navy. Memb ...

(SWADS)

Bangladesh Air Force The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, Bangladesh Biman Bahini) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The Air Force is primarily responsible for air defence of ...

* 41 Squadron Airborne

Belarus

Special Operations Forces Command * 5th Spetsnaz Brigade * 38th Guards Mobile Brigade -

Brest Brest may refer to: Places *Brest, Belarus **Brest Region **Brest Airport **Brest Fortress * Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria * Břest, Czech Republic *Brest, France ** Arrondissement of Brest **Brest Bretagne Airport ** Château de Brest *Br ...

* 103rd Guards Mobile Brigade -

Vitebsk Vitebsk or Viciebsk (russian: Витебск, ; be, Ві́цебск, ; , ''Vitebsk'', lt, Vitebskas, pl, Witebsk), is a city in Belarus. The capital of the Vitebsk Region, it has 366,299 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-largest c ...

State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus * Alpha Group (Belarus)

Belgium

Belgian Land Component The Land Component ( nl, Landcomponent, french: Composante terre) is the land branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The King of the Belgians is the commander in chief. The current chief of staff of the Land Component is Major-General Pierre Gérard ...

Special Operations Regiment The 21st Special Service Group (Abbreviation, Abbr.: 21 SSG, ) is a Command (military formation), command for Malaysian Army special forces, the ''Gerak Khas (Malaysian Army unit), Gerak Khas''. The 21 SSG and 10th Parachute Brigade (Malaysia), 10 ...

Heverlee Heverlee () is a town in Belgium. It is a borough of the city of Leuven. Heverlee is bordered by Herent, Bertem, Oud Heverlee and several other municipalities that are part of Leuven (including Leuven proper and Kessel-Lo). The town is the loca ...

Botswana

Botswana Ground Force The Botswana Ground Forces is the army of the country of Botswana, and the land component of the Botswana Defence Force. History The Botswana Defence Force was raised in April 1977 by an Act of Parliament called the 'BDF Act NO 13 of 1977. At it ...

** 1st Commando Regiment

Brazil

Brazilian Army * Special Operations Command ** 1st Special Forces Battalion (''1º BFEsp'') ** 1st Commando Battalion (''1º BAC'') **Special Operation Support Battalion Brazilian Air Force * Airborne Rescue Squadron

Brazilian Navy ) , colors= Blue and white , colors_label= Colors , march= "Cisne Branco" ( en, "White Swan") (same name as training ship ''Cisne Branco'' , mascot= , equipment= 1 multipurpose aircraft carrier7 submarines6 frigates2 corvettes4 amphibious warf ...

* Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion (''COMANF'') * Combat Divers Group (''GRUMEC'')

Brunei

Royal Brunei Land Forces The Royal Brunei Land Forces (Malay: Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei, abbreviated TDDB) is the land component of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The RBLF has responsibility for maintaining the territorial defence of Brunei Brunei ( , ), form ...

** Special Forces Regiment (SFR)

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Land Forces The Bulgarian Land Forces ( bg, Сухопътни войски на България, Sukhopŭtni voĭski na Bŭlgariya, lit=Ground Forces of Bulgaria) are the ground warfare branch of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. The Land Forces were established ...

** 68th Special Forces Brigade *

Bulgarian Navy The Bulgarian Navy ( bg, Военноморски сили на Република България, Voennomorski sili na Republika Balgariya, lit=Naval Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria) is the navy of the Republic of Bulgaria and forms part of ...

** 65th Seaborne Special Reconnaissance Detachment

Burundi

* National Defence Force ** 4th Commando Battalion

Cambodia

Royal Cambodian Army The Royal Cambodian Army ( km, កងទ័ពជើងគោក, ) is a part of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It has ground forces which numbered 85,000 divided into eleven divisions of infantry, with integrated armour and artillery supp ...

** Special Forces Command (Cambodia) ** Brigade 70 (B-70)

Canada

Special Operations Forces Command *

Joint Task Force 2 Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2; french: links=no, Deuxième Force opérationnelle interarmées, FOI 2) is an elite special operations force of the Canadian Armed Forces, serving under the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. JTF 2 is known to wo ...

(JTF2) *

Canadian Special Operations Regiment The Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR; french: links=no, Régiment d'opérations spéciales du Canada, ROSC) is a Special Forces unit of the Canadian Armed Forces and forms part of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM ...

(CSOR) * 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) *

Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit The Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU) (french: links=no, Unité interarmées d'intervention du Canada, UIIC) of the Canadian Armed Forces was created "to provide timely and agile broad-based CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and ...

(CJIRU)

Chile

Lautaro Special Operations Brigade The Lautaro Special Operations Brigade (''Brigada de Operaciones Especiales "Lautaro," BOE'') is a Special operations formation of the Chilean Army. It is made up of units of special forces, land, mountain and paratroopers, commandos, tactical dive ...

/detalle/index.asp?id= "Army opens rapid deployment elite brigade"
, ''

El Mercurio ''El Mercurio'' (known online as ''El Mercurio On-Line'', ''EMOL'') is a Chilean newspaper with editions in Valparaíso and Santiago. Its Santiago edition is considered the country's newspaper of record and it is considered the oldest daily in ...

'', December 25, 2006; accessed December 12, 2008.= 3072 Creation of the BOE
,

Chilean Army The Chilean Army ( es, Ejército de Chile) is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 80,000-person army (9,200 of which are conscripts) is organized into six divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade. In recent years, and ...

, December 26, 2006; Accessed December 12, 2008.

China - PRC

People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, ...

People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces The People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces () are the special forces of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), excluding the paramilitary People’s Armed Police (PAP) of The People’s Republic of China. The forces intended combat role ...

IISS Military Balance 2013, 291

Colombia

National Army of Colombia The National Army of Colombia ( es, Ejército Nacional de Colombia) is the land warfare service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia. With over 361,420 active personnel as of 2020, it is the largest and oldest service branch in Colombia, an ...

** Special Forces Division (División de fuerzas especiales (DIVFE)) **

Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas The Urban Counter-Terrorism Special Forces Group - Alpha, otherwise known as AFEUR or AFEAU ( es, Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas) is the army detachment of the elite AFEAU special operations group within the Colombian A ...

Colombian Air Force , "We are the Force" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Colombian Air Force Hymn , mascot = Capitan Paz , anniversaries = 8 November , ...

** Special Air Commando Group (ECOEA)

Congo - DRC

*391st Commando battalion URR

Croatia

Special Operations Command (Croatia)

Cuba

* Black Wasp (Avispas Negras)

Czech Republic

* 601st Special Forces Group

Denmark

Special Operations Command (SOKOM) * Jaeger Corps *

Frogman Corps A frogman is someone who is trained in scuba diving or swimming underwater in a tactical capacity that includes military, and in some European countries, police work. Such personnel are also known by the more formal names of combat diver, comb ...

Danish Home Guard The Danish Home Guard ( da, Hjemmeværnet) (HJV) is the fourth service of the Danish military. It was formerly concerned only with the defence of Danish territory, but since 2008, it has also supported the Danish military efforts in Afghanistan ...

Special Support and Reconnaissance Company The Special Support and Reconnaissance Company ( da, Særlig Støtte- og Rekognosceringskompagni), until 1 January 2007 known as the ''Patrol Company Army Operational Command'' ( da, Patruljekompagniet) is the only remaining Long Range Surveillanc ...

Hjemmeværnet – SSR – Særlig Støtte og Rekognoscering
Hjv.dk. Retrieved on 8 September 2011.

Ecuador

Ecuadorain Army * IWIAS Jungle Commandos

El Salvador

Special Operations Command (CFE)

Egypt

Sa'ka Forces , image = Sa'ka Forces logo.png , caption = , dates = 1956-present , country = , allegiance = , command_structure ...

(Thunderbolt Forces) * Unit 777Ryan, p.22 * Unit 999

Estonia

Estonian Special Operations Force The Estonian Special Operations Force ( et, Erioperatsioonide väejuhatus; ESTSOF) is the Command (military formation), command charged with overseeing the special operations units of the Estonian Defence Forces. Its primary objective is the de ...

(ESTSOF)

Ethiopia

*Agazi Commando Division

Finland

Finnish Army The Finnish Army ( Finnish: ''Maavoimat'', Swedish: ''Armén'') is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish Army is divided into six branches: the infantry (which includes armoured units), field artillery, anti-aircraf ...

*Special Jaeger Company of the

Utti Jaeger Regiment The Utti Jaeger Regiment ( fi, Utin Jääkärirykmentti, ()) is the Finnish Army training and development centre for special forces and helicopter operations in charge of the Army Special Forces Unit and the Special Forces Qualification Course. F ...

Suomen erikoisjoukot pidetään piilossa julkisuudelta – tällaisia taistelijat ovat
Helsingin Sanomat 2015-03-07. Retrieved 2015-06-09. ()

Finnish Navy The Finnish Navy ( fi, Merivoimat, sv, Marinen) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS", short f ...

*Special Action Detachment of Coastal Brigade

France

Special Operations Command

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...

* Special Forces Command and Signal Company - (Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions des Forces Spéciales) (CCTFS) * 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment * 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment * 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment

French Navy The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...

FORFUSCO FORFUSCO is a syllabic abbreviation for the ''Force maritime des fusiliers marins et commandos'', headquartered in Lorient, is the French Navy organisation responsible for and in command of the Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine. FORCUSCO i ...

Commandos Marine The Commandos Marine are the Special Operation Forces (SOF) of the French Navy. The Commandos Marine are nicknamed ''Bérets Verts'' ( Green Berets). They operate under the Sailor Riflemen and Special Operations Forces Command (FORFUSCO) an ...

French Air and Space Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Ar ...

*Air Parachute Commando n° 10, CPA 10 *Special Operations Division, Transport section (ET 03/61 Poitou)

Directorate-General for External Security The General Directorate for External Security (french: link=no, Direction générale de la Sécurité extérieure, DGSE) is France's foreign intelligence agency, equivalent to the British MI6 and the American CIA, established on 2 April 1982. ...

Action Division The Action Division (french: Service Action), commonly known by its predecessor's title Action Service (french: Service Action) is a division of France's Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) responsible for planning and performing clande ...

Georgia

Defense Forces * GSOF

Germany

German Army *

Rapid Forces Division The ''Division Schnelle Kräfte'' (Rapid Forces Division) formerly ''Division Spezielle Operationen'' (Special Operations Division) is an airborne division of the German Army. Its headquarters staff is based at Stadtallendorf. It was created as 1s ...

** Special Forces Command (KSK) ** Specialized Army Forces with Expanded Capabilities (EGB Forces) German Air Force * Kampfretter

German Navy The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...

* Naval Special Forces Command (KSM)

Ghana

Ghana Armed Forces The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is the unified armed force of Ghana, consisting of the Army (GA), Navy (GN), and Ghana Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces is the president of Ghana, who is also the supreme military commander ...

Ghana Navy The Ghana Navy (GN) is the naval warfare organizational military branch of the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF). The Ghanaian Navy, along with the Ghanaian Army (GA) and Ghanaian Air Force (GHF), make up the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF) which are co ...

** Special Boat Squadron

Greece

Hellenic Army The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is th ...

* 13th Special Operations Command ** 1st Infantry Division *** 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade (LOK) (MAK) ** 32nd Marines Brigade

Hellenic Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = 8 November , equipment = , equipment_label ...

* 31st Search & Rescue Squadron (31MEED) Hellenic Navy *

Underwater Demolition Command ) , OYK ( el, ΟΥΚ) , Oykades ( el, Οϋκάδες) , patron = , motto = , colors = , colors_label = , march = , mascot ...

(DYK) - is organized into sections called Underwater Demolition Teams (OYK)

Hungary

HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion , image = Insignia_Hungary_Army_Battalion_34th.svg , caption = Emblem of the 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion , country = Hungary , type ...

* HDF 25/88th Light Mixed Battalion * HDF 5/24th 'Gergely Bornemissza' Reconnaissance Battalion

India

Armed Forces Special Operations Division The Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) is a tri-service command of the Indian Armed Forces. The division is tasked to carry out special operations. The AFSOD draws personnel from all three special warfare branches of the Armed Fo ...

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

Para (Special Forces) Para (Special Forces), also known as Para SF, are a group of special forces battalions of the Parachute Regiment in the Indian Army. These units specialize in various roles including hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, ...

Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates sig ...

** Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) *

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

Garud Commando Force The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in September 2004 and has a current strength of over 1500 personnel. The unit derives its name from ''Garuda'', a divine bird-like creature in Hindu cultur ...

Indonesia

Special Operations Command * Indonesian Army **

Kopassus The Kopassus ( id, Komando Pasukan Khusus, Special Forces Command) is an Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabot ...

(''Komando Pasukan Khusus'')
Indonesian army special forces command, *** SAT-81/Gultor (''Detasemen Khusus-81 Penanggulangan Teror'')

Counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or el ...

unit of Kopassus ** Tontaipur (''Peleton Intai Tempur'')
Indonesian army special combat reconnaissance platoon from the

Kostrad The Army Strategic Reserves Command ( id, Komando Cadangan Strategis Angkatan Darat; abbreviated ) is a combined-arms formation of the Indonesian Army. Kostrad is a Corps level command which has up to 35,000 troops. It also supervises operati ...

corps *

Indonesian Navy The Indonesian Navy ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut, , Indonesian National Military-Naval Force, TNI-AL) is the naval branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It was founded on 10 September 1945 and has a role to patrol ...

** Kopaska (''Komando Pasukan Katak'')
Indonesian navy

frogman A frogman is someone who is trained in scuba diving or swimming underwater in a tactical capacity that includes military, and in some European countries, police work. Such personnel are also known by the more formal names of combat diver, com ...

and

Underwater demolition Underwater demolition refers to the deliberate destruction or neutralization of man-made or natural underwater obstacles, both for military and civilian purposes. History Charles Pasley In 1839 Charles Pasley, at the time a colonel of the Roya ...

unit **

Denjaka Denjaka (abbreviation from ''Detasemen Jala Mangkara''; Jala Mangkara Detachment) is a counter-terrorism special operations force of the Indonesian Navy. It is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's frogmen unit ( KOP ...

(''Detasemen Jala Mangkara'')
Indonesian joint navy-marine

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or el ...

special force It is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Kopaska and Marine Corps'

Taifib Taifib ( id, Batalyon Intai Amfibi) is an elite recon unit within the Indonesian Marine Corps which is tasked for conducting amphibious reconnaissance and special reconnaissance. It is operationally similar to the Combat Reconnaissance Platoon ...

(''Batalyon Intai Amfibi'')
Indonesian

amphibious reconnaissance Amphibious reconnaissance is ground and naval reconnaissance in the littoral area bordering coastal or ocean areas. Initially, it is used for preliminary reconnaissance in collecting pertinent information about the beachhead in its permeabilit ...

commandos battalion from the

Indonesian Marine Corps '' ("Glorious on the Land and Sea") , colors = , colors_label = Beret color , march = Mars Korps Marinir , mascot = , equipment = ...

** Kesatuan Gurita
The

Indonesian Marine Corps '' ("Glorious on the Land and Sea") , colors = , colors_label = Beret color , march = Mars Korps Marinir , mascot = , equipment = ...

counter-terrorism unit for shipping and oil installations *

Indonesian Air Force The Indonesian Air Force ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU), literally "''Indonesian National Military-Air Force''") sometimes shortened as IDAF / IdAF, is the aerial branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The I ...

Kopasgat The Kopasgat ( id, Komando Pasukan Gerak Cepat, Quick Reaction Forces Command) is the air force infantry and special forces corps of the Indonesian Air Force. The corps is also known as the Orange Berets ( in Indonesian) from the colour of the ...

(''Komando Pasukan Gerakan Cepat'')
The air force infantry and special forces corps of the

, ***

Bravo Detachment 90 The Bravo Detachment 90 is a counter-terrorism unit whose personnel are specialists recruited and chosen from the Indonesian Air Force's Kopasgat. It is the youngest special operations unit of the Indonesian Air Force. The unit specialises in t ...

''(Detasemen Bravo 90)''

unit of the

which its personnel comes from selected individuals from

Iran

Islamic Republic of Iran Army , founded = , current_form = (Islamic Republic) , disbanded = , branches = , headquarters = Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, Tehran , website = , commander-in-chief = Maj. Gen. ...

65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade ( fa, تیپ ۶۵ نیروهای ویژه هوابرد), or the ''NOHED'' Brigade (), is an airborne, special forces unit of the Iranian Army established in 1959. The unit's first operation was during the Dhof ...

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC; fa, سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی, Sepāh-e Pāsdārān-e Enghelāb-e Eslāmi, lit=Army of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution also Sepāh or Pasdaran for short) is a branch o ...

Quds Force The Quds Force ( fa, نیروی قدس, niru-ye qods, Jerusalem Force) is one of five branches of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) specializing in unconventional warfare and military intelligence operations. U.S. Army's Iraq War ...

Sepah Navy Special Force Special Unit of NEDSA ( fa, یگان ویژه ندسا), also known as Sepah Navy Special Force (S.N.S.F.) ( fa, نیروی ویژه دریایی سپاه), is a Takavar unit in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stationed in the ...

Iraq

Iraqi Special Operations Forces The Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) ( ar, قوات العمليات الخاصة العراقية) are a special operations force of Iraq. The unit was created in 1950, but was disbanded and recruited from scratch by coalition forces after ...

* Counter Terrorism Command (CTC)

Ireland

Irish Army The Irish Army, known simply as the Army ( ga, an tArm), is the land component of the Defence Forces of Ireland.The Defence Forces are made up of the Permanent Defence Forces – the standing branches – and the Reserve Defence Forces. The A ...

Army Ranger Wing , image = , caption = Shoulder flash and insignia of the Army Ranger Wing , dates = – present , country = , branch = , command_structure = Defence Forces , garrison = DFTC, Curragh Camp, County Kildare , size = Classified , typ ...

(ARW)

Israel

Military Intelligence Directorate *General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269 -

Sayeret Matkal General Staff Reconnaissance Unit (formerly Unit 269 or Unit 262), more commonly known as Sayeret Matkal ( he, סיירת מטכ״ל) is the special reconnaissance unit (''sayeret'') of Israel's General Staff (''matkal''). It is the prime special ...

Israeli Army * 89th "Oz" Brigade **Unit 212 -

Maglan Maglan (Hebrew: מגלן. Also known as Unit 212 or Sayeret Maglan) is an Israeli sayeret (''reconnaissance'') unit, which specializes in operating behind enemy lines and deep in enemy territory using advanced technologies and weaponry. Though ...

**Unit 217 -

Duvdevan Unit 217, frequently called Duvdevan ( he, דובדבן, lit=cherry), is a ''mistaʽaravim'' unit in the Commando Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. It is notable for its undercover operations in urban areas, during which its operators of ...

**Unit 621 - Egoz

Israeli Navy The Israeli Navy ( he, חיל הים הישראלי, ''Ḥeil HaYam HaYisraeli'' (English: The Israeli Sea Corps); ar, البحرية الإسرائيلية) is the naval warfare service arm of the Israel Defense Forces, operating primarily in ...

*13th Flotilla - Shayetet 13 Israeli Air and Space Force *7th Special Air Forces Wing ( He) **Unit 5101 - Shaldag (Special Air-Ground Designating Team) **

Unit 669 Airborne Combat Rescue And Evacuation Unit 669 ( he, יחידת החילוץ והפינוי הקרבי בהיטס 669,''Yechidat HaHilu'tz VeHaPinu'i HaKravi Behetes 669'') is the Israel Defense Forces heliborne Combat Search and Rescue extract ...

- Combat Search and Rescue and Airborne Medical Evacuation Unit **Unit 5700 - Forward Airfield Tactical Unit ( He)

Italy

Italian Army "The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law" , colors = , colors_labels = , march = ''Parata d'Eroi'' ("Heroes's parade") by Francesco Pellegrino, ''4 Maggio'' (May 4) ...

* 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 Italian Navy * Comando Subacquei ed Incursori (COMSUBIN)

Italian Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = (Ordinance March of the Air Force) by Alberto Di Miniello , mascot = , anniversaries = 28 March ...

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

Carabinieri The Carabinieri (, also , ; formally ''Arma dei Carabinieri'', "Arm of Carabineers"; previously ''Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali'', "Royal Carabineers Corps") are the national gendarmerie of Italy who primarily carry out domestic and foreign polic ...

* Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) - in addition to special operations, is responsible for civil policing as a police tactical unit

Japan

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...

* Special Forces GroupThe Japanese Special Forces Group is the current name of the former Japanese Special Operations Group, following a name change.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force , abbreviated , also simply known as the Japanese Navy, is the maritime warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. The JMSDF was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) ...

Special Boarding Unit The is a special forces unit established by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on March 27, 2001, in response to a spy ship incursion that had taken place on the Noto Peninsula in 1999. The unit was created to perform similar roles to those ...

Jordan

Joint Special Operations Command The Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a joint component command of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and is charged with studying special operations requirements and techniques to ensure interoperability and equi ...

*Special Forces Group - "King Abdulah II" ** Special Unit I - Specializing in counter terrorism on the basis of the

71st Special Battalion 71st Special Battalion or 71st Counter Terrorism Battalion or as known today Special Unit II is a Jordanian Special Forces battalion that specializes in combating terrorism. Established in 1973, it is today known as being one of the best trained ...

Kenya

(SOR) * Kenya Special Forces

Kuwait

Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade The Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade of the State of Kuwait, commonly known as the 25th Commando, is one of Kuwait's various principal Commando brigades. The 25th Commando operates at the disposition of the respective commander who reports to the r ...

Korea, North - DPRK

Korean People's Army Special Operation Force The Korean People's Army Special Operation Force (KPASOF; Korean: 조선인민군 특수작전군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍特殊作戰軍; Chosŏn-inmin'gun teugsujagjeongun) consists of specially equipped and trained elite military units trained ...

Korea, South - ROK

Republic of Korea Army The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; ko, 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國陸軍; RR: ''Daehanminguk Yuk-gun''), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the l ...

Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command The Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command (ROK-SWC; ko, 대한민국 육군 특수전사령부 or 특전사; Hanja: 大韓民國陸軍特殊戰司令部), also known as the Republic of Korea Army Special Forces "Black Berets" (R.O.K. ...

** 707th Special Mission Group

Republic of Korea Navy The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN; ko, 대한민국 해군), also known as the ROK Navy or South Korean Navy, is the naval warfare service branch of the South Korean armed forces, responsible for naval and amphibious operations. The ROK Navy i ...

Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Flotilla The Republic of Korea Navy Special Warfare Flotilla (Abbreviation: NAVSPECWARFLOT or WARFLOT; ko, 대한민국 해군 특수전전단, Hanja: 大韓民國海軍特殊戰戰團) is a special operations force of the Republic of Korea Navy. The ...

Republic of Korea Marine Corps The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC; ko, 대한민국 해병대, Daehanminguk Haebyeongdae), also known as the ROK Marine Corps or ROK Marines, is the marine corps of South Korea. The ROKMC is a branch of the Republic of Korea Navy respo ...

* Spartan 3000

Republic of Korea Air Force The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF; ko, 대한민국 공군; RR: ''Daehanminguk Gong-gun''), also known as the ROK Air Force or South Korean Air Force, is the aerial warfare service branch of South Korea, operating under the Ministry of N ...

Air Force Aerial Command Unit (CCT) The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Gravity of Earth, Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating Atmo ...

* 6th Search and Rescue Squadron (SART)

Kyrgyzstan

;

Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic The Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic (; Kyrǵyz Respublikasynyn Kuralduu Küctörü) is the national military of Kyrgyzstan. It was originally formed from the former Soviet forces of the Turkestan Military District stationed in newly independe ...

* 25th Special Force Brigade Scorpion

Latvia

Latvian National Armed Forces The Latvian National Armed Forces ( lv, Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki), or NBS, are the armed forces of Latvia. Latvia's defense concept is based on a mobile professional rapid response force and reserve segment that can be called upon re ...

Latvian Special Tasks Unit The Special Tasks Unit ( lv, Speciālo uzdevumu vienība, SUV) is a special operations unit of the National Armed Forces. It was established in September 1991. The unit is specially organized, trained and equipped for the performance of high-dang ...

(SUV)

Lebanon

Special Operations Command *

Lebanese Armed Forces ) , founded = 1 August 1945 , current_form = 1991 , disbanded = , branches = Lebanese Ground ForcesLebanese Air ForceLebanese Navy , headquarters = Yarze, Lebanon , flying_hours = , website ...

**Counter-Sabotage Regiment (aka Moukafaha) * Lebanese Army **

Lebanese Commando Regiment The Commando Regiment ( ar, فوج المغاوير, translit=Fawj al-Maghaweer) is an elite light infantry and is considered the first special forces regiment in the Lebanese Armed Forces. The regiment, which was founded in 1966, is also a membe ...

(aka "Ranger Regiment") * Lebanese Navy ** Marine Commandos *

Lebanese Air Force The Lebanese Air Force (LAF) ( ar, القوات الجوية اللبنانية, Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya) is the aerial warfare branch of the Lebanese Armed Forces. The seal of the air force is a Roundel with two wings and a Lebanese ...

**Airborne Regiment

Lithuania

Lithuanian Special Operations Force , image = Insignia of the Lithuanian Special Operations Force.svg , image_size = 180px , caption = SOF insignia , dates = 1997–present , country ...

Malaysia

Malaysian Army The Malaysian Army ( ms, Tentera Darat Malaysia; Jawi: تنترا دارت مليسيا) is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ () as do t ...

Grup Gerak Khas The 21st Special Service Group (Abbr.: 21 SSG, ) is a command for Malaysian Army special forces, the '' Gerak Khas''. The 21 SSG and 10th Parachute Brigade are elite fighting formations of the Malaysian Army. Both units are independent units unde ...

(GGK) Royal Malaysian Navy *

PASKAL The Pasukan Khas Laut (''Naval Special Warfare Forces,'' Jawi: ), commonly abbreviated to PASKAL, is the principal special operations force of the Royal Malaysian Navy. PASKAL's task is to conduct small-unit maritime military operations that ...

Royal Malaysian Air Force The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF, ms, Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia; TUDM; Jawi: ) was formed on 2 June 1958 as the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (; ). However, its roots can be traced back to the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force format ...

PASKAU The (, Jawi: ڤاسوكن خاص تنترا اودارا) – it is better known as PASKAU – is the special operations force of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF; ). Its main functions are to carry out high-value target protection, ground ...

Maldives

* Special Force

Malta

Armed Forces of Malta The Armed Forces of Malta ( mt, Forzi Armati ta' Malta) is the name given to the combined armed services of Malta. The AFM is a brigade sized organisation consisting of a headquarters and three separate battalions, with minimal air and naval ...

** Special Operations Unit (SOU)

Mexico

Mexican Army The Mexican Army ( es, Ejército Mexicano) is the combined land and air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National ...

* Special Forces Corps ** Special Reaction Force

Mexican Navy The Mexican Navy is one of the two independent armed forces of Mexico. The actual naval forces are called the ''Armada de México''. The ''Secretaría de Marina'' (''SEMAR'') (English: Naval Secretariat) includes both the ''Armada'' itself and ...

* Amphibious Special Forces Group

Mongolia

* 084th Special Task Battalion

Montenegro

* Special Forces Company

Namibia

Namibian Special Forces The Namibian Special Forces is a special operations command of the Namibian Defence Force responsible for special forces and special operations capable units. The command consists of Army commandos, Army Airborne paratroopers and the Marine C ...

Netherlands

Netherlands Special Operations Command The Netherlands Special Operations Command (NLD SOCOM) is a joint command of the Netherlands Armed Forces which is responsible for the planning, command and control, execution and evaluation of all operations conducted by the Dutch special operati ...

(NLD SOCOM) * Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) *

Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces The Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF, also simply referred to as MARSOF) is the special forces unit of the Marine Corps of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It is one of the three principal units tasked with special operations ...

(NLMARSOF)

New Zealand

Special Operations Component Command *

New Zealand Special Air Service The 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment, abbreviated as 1 NZSAS Regt, was formed on 7 July 1955 and is the Special forces unit of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). It traces its origins ...

Nigeria

Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) * 72nd Special Forces Battalion

Nigerian Navy The Nigerian Navy (NN) is a branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is among the largest navies on the African continent, consisting of several thousand personnel, including those of the Coast Guard. History The Nigerian Navy owes its origin t ...

*Special Boat Service

North Macedonia

Army of the Republic of Macedonia An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

("Wolves")

Norway

Norwegian Special Operation Forces (NORSOF) * Armed Forces' Special Command * Navy Special Operation Command

Oman

Sultan's Special Forces The Sultan's Special Force (SSF) — Arabic: قوات السلطان الخاصة, transliterated: ''Qawat al-Sultaniya al-Khasah'' is a separate force branch within the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) and although equipped to carry out land defe ...

Pakistan

* Pakistan Army **

Special Service Group , colors = Maroon, sky blue , colors_label = Colours , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment = , ...

(SSG) * Pakistan Navy **

Special Service Group Navy The Pakistan Navy Special Service Group abbreviated SSGN or simply Navy seals, is the special operations force tasked with the conducting the small-unit based military operations in all environmental formats of the sea, air, and land by adopti ...

(SSGN) *

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

Special Service Wing The Pakistan Air Force Special Service Wing is a special operations forces who specialised in all aspects of air-to-ground communication, including air traffic control, fire support (including fixed and rotary wing close air support), and comman ...

(SSW) *

Civil Armed Forces The Civil Armed Forces (CAF) are a group of nine paramilitary, uniformed organisations, separate and distinct from the regular "military" Pakistan Armed Forces. They are responsible for maintaining internal security, helping law enforcement ag ...

(paramilitary) ** 142 Special Operations Wing (SOW)

Paraguay

Paraguayan Armed Force *Special Forces Battalion - (Batallón Conjunto de Fuerzas Especiales)

Peru

Peruvian Armed Forces The Peruvian Armed Forces ( es, Fuerzas Armadas del Perú) are the military services of Peru, comprising independent Army, Navy and Air Force components. Their primary mission is to safeguard the country's independence, sovereignty and territoria ...

Peruvian Army The Peruvian Army ( es, Ejército del Perú, abbreviated EP) is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with safeguarding the independence, sovereignty and integrity of national territory on land through military force. Additional missi ...

**Special Forces Brigades * Peruvian Navy ** Peruvian Marines ***Batallón de Comandos (BACOM) de la Infantería de Marina - Naval Infantry Commando Battalion ***Fuerza Delta

Philippines

Special Operations Command (Philippines) The Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command (AFPSOCOM) is the unified special operations command of the AFP. It is responsible for planning, conducting, and supporting special operations. Although the current command was establ ...

* Philippine Air Force **

710th Special Operations Wing The 710th Special Operations Wing is the rapid deployment force of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), which is divided into ten-man airborne attack teams as most of its members are airborne qualified. The wing also controls the 772nd Explosives Or ...

(SPOW) *

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) (Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...

1st Scout Ranger Regiment The Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment,https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2011/11/26/751758/scout-rangers-legend-continues is a Philippine Army unit specializing in anti-guerrilla jungle warfare, raids, ambushes, c ...

(SRR) Philippine Journals Online
Philjol.info. Retrieved on 8 September 2011. **

Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) The Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) is a Special Operations Forces unit of the Philippine Army. The unit is based on and continually trains with its American counterpart, the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets). The basic combat organizat ...

(SFR-A) **

Light Reaction Regiment The Light Reaction Regiment is the premier counter-terrorist unit of the Philippine Army. It was formerly known as the Light Reaction Battalion and Light Reaction Company. Due to its specialization in counter-terrorism operations and its formati ...

(LRR) * Philippine Navy **

Naval Special Operations Command The Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) is a separate command of the Philippine Navy trained in special operations, sabotage, psychological and unconventional warfare and is heavily influenced by the United States Navy SEALs. NAVSOCOM is h ...

(NAVSOCOM) *

Philippine Marine Corps The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) ( fil, Hukbong Kawal Pandagat ng Pilipinas) is the marine corps of the Philippines, a naval infantry force under the command of the Philippine Navy. The PMC conducts amphibious, expeditionary, and special op ...

Marine Special Operations Group The Marine Special Operations Group (also known as the Force Reconnaissance Group), formerly known as the Force Recon Battalion, is the Philippine Marine Corps' elite special forces unit for unconventional warfare and special operations. It spe ...

(MARSOG) *

Philippine Coast Guard The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ( fil, Tanod Baybayin ng Pilipinas) is recognized as the third armed uniformed service of the country attached to the Philippines' Department of Transportation, tasked primarily with enforcing laws within P ...

Special Operations Force Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

(SOF)

Poland

Special forces of Poland The Special Troops Command (Pol.: ''Wojska Specjalne'') is the special forces command of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland (SZ RP). The command was formed in 2007 and is the fourth military branch of the SZ RP. Composition The Special ...

(Dowództwo Komponentu Wojsk Specjalnych, DKWS) *

JW GROM JW GROM (full name: ''Jednostka Wojskowa GROM im. Cichociemnych Spadochroniarzy Armii Krajowej'', English: ''Military Unit GROM named in honour of the Silent Unseen of the Home Army'') is a Polish special forces unit and forms part of the Spe ...

(Jednostka Wojskowa GROM) *

JW Komandosów The Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów, commonly called ''JWK'' and formerly known as ''1 Pułk Specjalny Komandosów'' (''1 PSK''), is one of six special forces units currently operating within Poland's ''Centrum Operacji Specjalnych - Dowództwo Ko ...

(Jednostka Wojskowa KOMANDOSÓW, JWK) *

JW Formoza , (Military Unit Formoza) (2007-2011 ) (Naval Special Operations Unit), previous names: (Polish Navy Special Operations Sections), (Special Frogmen Groups). History JWF is now part of Wojska Specjalne (1975-2008 - part of the Polish Navy) ...

(Jednostka Wojskowa FORMOZA) *

JW AGAT Jednostka Wojskowa AGAT is a specialized light infantry unit of the Polish Armed Forces. A relatively new unit, its name is shortened for “anti-gestapo” in honor of a WWII Polish Home Army Combat Diversion unit. As an advanced infantry unit ...

(Jednostka Wojskowa AGAT) * JW NIL (Jednostka Wojskowa NIL) * 7th Special Operations Squadron (7. Eskadra Działań Specjalnych, EDS)

Portugal

Portuguese Army * Commando Regiment *

Paratroopers A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during Worl ...

** Pathfinders Company *

Portuguese Navy The Portuguese Navy ( pt, Marinha Portuguesa, also known as ''Marinha de Guerra Portuguesa'' or as ''Armada Portuguesa'') is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Port ...

Portuguese Marine Corps The Portuguese Marine Corps ( pt, Corpo de Fuzileiros, meaning literally "Corps of Fusiliers") constitutes the Elite Commando Raid Force and Special Operations branch of the Portuguese Navy . It has roles similar to the ones of the USMC Reconnais ...

** Special Actions Detachment (DAE) *

Sappers Divers Group The Divers Group (AGRUMERG, pt, Agrupamento de Mergulhadores) is the Portuguese Navy's diving unit. It was created in 2004 through the grouping of the several already existing diving subunits, to exercise administrative, logistical and operation ...

Portuguese Air Force * Portuguese Air Police **Core of Tactical Operations of Protection (NOTP - ''Núcleo de Operações Táticas de Proteção'')

Romania

Ministry of Defense {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in state ...

* Direcţia Generală de Informaţii a Apărării ** Special Detachment of Protection and Intervention *

Romanian Land Forces The Romanian Land Forces ( ro, Forțele Terestre Române) is the army of Romania, and the main component of the Romanian Armed Forces. In recent years, full professionalisation and a major equipment overhaul have transformed the nature of the Lan ...

: ** 6th Special Operations Brigade "Mihai Viteazu"

Rwanda

Rwanda Defence Force french: Forces rwandaises de défense sw, Nguvu ya Ulinzi ya Watu wa Rwanda , image = Rwanda Defense Force emblem.png , alt = , caption = , image2 = , alt2 = , caption2 ...

*Special Forces Brigade

Russia

Special Operations Forces Command * Special Purpose Center "Senezh" * Special Purpose Center "Kubinka-2" * 344th Army Aviation Combat Center

Main Intelligence Directorate Main Intelligence Directorate may refer to: * Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine), the military intelligence service of Ukraine * GRU The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, rus, Гла́� ...

(GRU) *

Unit 29155 Unit 29155 is a Russian (GRU) unit tasked with foreign assassinations and other activities aimed at destabilizing European countries. The unit is thought to have operated in secret since at least 2008, though its existence only became publicly kno ...

- based at the 161st Special Purpose Specialist Training Center * Unit 54777 - alternately called the 72nd Special Service Center *

Unit 26165 Fancy Bear (also known as APT28 (by Mandiant), Pawn Storm, Sofacy Group (by Kaspersky Lab, Kaspersky), Sednit, Tsar Team (by FireEye) and STRONTIUM (by Microsoft)) is a Russian Cyber spying, cyber espionage group. Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike ...

- Fancy Bear, STRONTIUM *

Unit 74455 Sandworm also known as Unit 74455, is allegedly a Russian Cyberwarfare, cybermilitary unit of the GRU (G.U.), GRU, the organization in charge of Russian military intelligence. Other names, given by cybersecurity researchers, include Telebots, Vo ...

- also known as the Sandworm Team or the Main Center for Technologies * Special Forces of the GRU **

Russian Ground Forces The Russian Ground Forces (russian: Сухопутные войска �ВSukhoputnyye voyska V}), also known as the Russian Army (, ), are the land forces of the Russian Armed Forces. The primary responsibilities of the Russian Ground Forces ...

*** 2nd Special Purpose Brigade in Promezhitsa, Pskov Oblast *** 3rd Special Purpose Brigade in

Tolyatti Tolyatti ( rus, Толья́тти, p=tɐlʲˈjætʲ(ː)ɪ), also known as Togliatti, formerly known as Stavropol (1737–1964), is a city in Samara Oblast, Russia. It is the largest city in Russia which does not serve as the administrative center ...

*** 10th Special Purpose Brigade in Mol'kino, Krasnodar Territory *** 14th Special Purpose Brigade in

Ussuriysk Ussuriysk (russian: Уссури́йск) is a city in Primorsky Krai, Russia, located in the fertile valley of the Razdolnaya River, north of Vladivostok, the administrative center of the krai, and about from both the China–Russia border and ...

*** 16th Special Purpose Brigade in

Tambov Tambov (, ; rus, Тамбов, p=tɐmˈbof) is a city and the administrative center of Tambov Oblast, central Russia, at the confluence of the Tsna and Studenets Rivers, about south-southeast of Moscow. Population: 280,161 ( 2010 Census); 29 ...

*** 22nd Special Purpose Brigade in Stepnoi, Rostov Oblast *** 24th Special Purpose Brigade in Irkutsk **Russian Airborne Troops ***45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment, 45th Guards Special Purpose Brigade **Russian Navy ***Russian commando frogmen#Naval Special Reconnaissance (OMRP), Naval Special Reconnaissance (OMRP) – Reconnaissance divers under operational subordination to the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) ***Russian commando frogmen#Counteraction Underwater Diversionary Forces and Facilities (PDSS), Counteraction Underwater Diversionary Forces and Facilities (PDSS) There are PDSS units in all major Naval Bases. National Guard of Russia * ODON, Dzerzhinsky Division (''O.D.O.N.'') ** 604th Special Purpose Center *National Guard Naval Service Corps

Saudi Arabia

Royal Saudi Navy * Special Navy Security Units (SNSU) Saudi Arabian Army *64th Special Forces Brigade

Serbia

Serbian Armed Forces *72nd Brigade for Special Operations *63rd Parachute Brigade *Cobras (Serbia), MP Detachment for Special Operations "Cobras"

Singapore

Special Operations Task Force *Naval Diving Unit (Singapore), Naval Diving Unit *Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation *Special Operations Force (Singapore), Special Operations Force

Slovakia

Slovak Armed Forces *5th Special Forces Regiment (Slovakia)

Slovenia

*Specialized Unit for Special Tactics, Posebna Enota za Specialno Taktiko (PEST) "FIST"

Somalia

*Danab Brigade

South Africa

South African National Defence Force *South African Special Forces Brigade, Special Forces Brigade

Spain

* ''Mando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales'' (MCOE, Joint Special Operations Command) **Spanish Army, Spanish Land Army ***''Special Operations Command (Spain), Mando de Operaciones Especiales'' (MOE, Special Operations Command) **** Manages four Special Operations Groups (Spain), Special Operations Groups (''Grupo de Operaciones Especiales'', GOE), totalling about 1200 green berets. **Spanish Navy *** Special Naval Warfare Command ****''Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial'' (FGNE, Special Naval Warfare Force), which until 2009 was known as ''Unidad de Operaciones Especiales'' (UOE, Special Operations Unit), when it was merged with the ''Unidad Especial de Buzos de Combate'' (UEBC, Special Combat Diver Unit) to form the FGNE. **Spanish Air and Space Force ***''Escuadrón de Zapadores Paracaidistas'' (EZAPAC, Paratrooper Sappers Squadron).

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Army, Army * Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment, Special Forces Regiment * Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment, Commando Regiment Sri Lanka Navy, Navy * Special Boat Squadron (Sri Lanka), Special Boat Squadron Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Force * Regiment Special Force * Special Airborne Force

Sweden

Swedish Armed Forces *Särskilda operationsgruppen, Special Operations Task Group (SOG) Swedish Army *Life Regiment Hussars (K 3) **31st Ranger Battalion **32nd Intelligence Battalion ***Fallskärmsjägarna, 323rd Parachute Ranger Squadron (Fallskärmsjägarna) *Norrland Dragoon Regiment (K 4) **Army Ranger Battalion (Sweden), 193rd Ranger Battalion (Arméns jägarbataljon - AJB) Swedish Air Force *Blekinge Wing (F 17) **Swedish Air Force Rangers, Air Force Rangers (Flygbasjägarna) Swedish Navy *Swedish Amphibious Corps, Amphibious Corps **1st Marine Regiment (Sweden), 1st Marine Regiment (Amf 1) ***Kustjägarna, 202nd Coastal Ranger Company (Kustjägarna)

Switzerland

Special Forces Command (Switzerland), Special Forces Command (KSK) * Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10, Army Reconnaissance Detachment (ARD 10) * Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17, Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17 (FSK-17)

Syria

Special Forces Command *14th Special Forces Division *15th Special Forces Division *Tiger Forces, 25th Special Forces Division

Taiwan - ROC

Republic of China Army *101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion *Airborne Special Service Company Republic of China Military Police *Republic of China Military Police Special Services Company Republic of China Marine Corps *Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit Coast Guard Administration *Special Task Unit

Thailand

Royal Thai Army *Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command (Royal Thai Army Special force) ** 3rd Special Forces Regiment, King's Guard (Airborne) *** Task Force 90 (Thailand), Special Operation Battalion, King's Guard *** Royal Thai Army Ranger, King's Guard (Thailand), Ranger Battalion, King's Guard ** Long-range reconnaissance patrol, Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company (LRRP) Royal Thai Navy *Underwater Demolition Assault Unit, Naval Special Warfare Command (Royal Thai Navy SEALs) *RTMC Reconnaissance Battalion Royal Thai Air Force *Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment **Special Operations Regiment (Thailand), Special Operations Regiment (Air Force Commando)

Tunisia

Tunisian Army * Special Forces Group (GFS) ** Military Intervention Group (GIM) Tunisian Air Force * Special Air Regiment (RCA) Tunisian Navy * 51st Regiment Marine Corps (RMC) * 52nd Regiment Marine Commandos (RMC)

Turkey

Turkish Armed Forces * General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces **Special Forces (Turkish Armed Forces), Special Forces Command (OKK) (aka Maroon Berets) * Turkish Naval Forces **Underwater Defence (Turkish Armed Forces), Underwater Defence Group (SAS) **Underwater Offence (Turkish Armed Forces), Underwater Offence Group (SAT) * Turkish Air Force **Combat Search and Rescue (Turkish Armed Forces), Combat Search and Rescue (MAK) **Air Force Search and Rescue (AKIP) ;Northern Cyprus * TRNC Special Task Force Command (ÖGKK)

Ukraine

Special Operations Forces (Ukraine), Special Operations Forces - headquarters in Kyiv * 3rd Special Purpose Regiment (Kropyvnytskyi) * 8th Special Purpose Regiment (Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, Khmelnytskyi) * 140th Special Purpose Center (Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, Khmelnytskyi) * Information Warfare & Psychological Operations Ukrainian Navy units * 73rd Naval Special Purpose Center (73 MTSSN) (Ochakiv) * 801st Anti-Diversionary Detachment (801 OZB) (Ochakiv) National Guard of Ukraine *1st Special Purpose Brigade (Kalinivka Airfield, Vinnytsia Oblast)

United Kingdom

United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) * Royal Navy ** Special Boat Service (SBS) (SBS) ** Special Boat Service (Reserve) *British Army ** Special Air Service (SAS) *** 22 SAS, 22 Special Air Service RegimentOverstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan, www.telegraph.co.uk
Retrieved 21 February 2014 ** Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS(R)) *** Artists Rifles, 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve) *** 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve) ** Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)Special Reconnaissance Regiment, publications.parliament.uk
Retrieved 21 February 2014 ** 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, 18 Signal Regiment (Royal Corps of Signals) ** Special Forces Support Group *Royal Air Force/British Army ** Special Forces Flight of No. 47 Squadron RAF, 47 Squadron (Royal Air Force) ** Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing *** No. 7 Squadron RAF, 7 Squadron (Royal Air Force) *** No. 658 Squadron AAC, 658 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)

United States

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) * Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) ** United States Army *** 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D or "Delta Force") *** Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) *** Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC) (part of the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment) *** Flight Concepts Division, Flight Concepts Division (FCD) ** United States Navy *** United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU or "SEAL Team Six") ** United States Air Force *** 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24th STS) *** 66th Air Operations Squadron (66th AOS) *** 427th Special Operations Squadron (427th SOS) *** Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group (AVTEG) * United States Army Special Operations Command, Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) ** 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) - 1st SFC (A) *** United States Army Special Forces, Special Forces Groups ("Green Berets") ****1st Special Forces Group ****3rd Special Forces Group ****5th Special Forces Group ****7th Special Forces Group ****10th Special Forces Group ****19th Special Forces Group (National Guard) ****20th Special Forces Group (National Guard) *** Psychological Operations Groups **** 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) **** 8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) *** 95th Civil Affairs Brigade *** 528th Sustainment Brigade (United States), 528th Sustainment Brigade **** 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne) **** 389th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne) ** 75th Ranger Regiment (United States), 75th Ranger Regiment ** United States Army Special Operations Aviation Command, Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC) *** 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) "Night Stalkers" *** Army Special Operations Command Flight Company * Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) ** Naval Special Warfare Group 1 ***United States Navy SEALs, SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5 & 7 ** Naval Special Warfare Group 2 ***SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8 & 10 **Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen#Naval Special Warfare Group 4, 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 (United States Navy Reserve, Reserves) * Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) **1st Special Operations Wing **24th Special Operations Wing **27th Special Operations Wing **137th Special Operations Wing (ANG) **193d Special Operations Wing, 193rd Special Operations Wing (ANG) **919th Special Operations Wing (AFRC) **352nd Special Operations Group **353rd Special Operations Group * United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) ** Marine Raider Regiment ** Marine Special Operations Support Group

Venezuela

Venezuelan Army *99th Army Special Operations Brigade Venezuelan Air Force * Special Operations Air Group 10 * Special Operations Air Group 15 * Special Operations Air Group 17

Vietnam

General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army *Vietnam People's Ground Force ** People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces, Special Operation Force Arms ***Special Forces Command at Thanh Trì district, Thanh Trì District, Hanoi ***:vi:Lữ đoàn Đặc công 1, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, 1st Special Forces Brigade (M1 Brigade) at Hanoi ***:vi:Lữ đoàn Đặc công 113, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, 113rd Land Commando Brigade at Vĩnh Phúc Province ***:vi:Lữ đoàn Đặc công 198, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, 198th Land Commando Brigade at Đắk Lắk Province ***:vi:Lữ đoàn Đặc công 429, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, 429th Land Commando Brigade at Bình Dương Province ***:vi:Lữ đoàn Đặc công 5, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, 5th Water Commando Brigade at Ninh Thuận province, Ninh Thuận Province **High Command of Capital Hanoi ***18th Commando Battalion at Hanoi **1st Corps (Vietnam), 1st Corp ***1 Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Ninh Bình province, Ninh Bình **2nd Corps (Vietnam), 2nd Corps ***1 Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Bắc Giang province, Bắc Giang **3rd Corps (Vietnam), 3rd Corps ***20th Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Pleiku, Gia Lai province, Gia Lai **4th Corps (Vietnam), 4th Corps ***1 Commando Battalion under Corps' staff at Bình Dương province, Bình Dương **1st Military Region (Vietnam People's Army), 1st Military Region ***20th Commando Battalion at Thái Nguyên province, Thái Nguyên **2nd Military Region (Vietnam People's Army), 2nd Military Region ***19th Commando Battalion at Phú Thọ province, Phú Thọ **3rd Military Region (Vietnam People's Army), 3nd Military Region ***41st Commando Battalion at Haiphong, Hải Phòng **4th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army), 4th Military Region ***31st Commando Battalion at Hà Tĩnh province, Hà Tĩnh **5th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army), 5th Military Region ***409th Commando Battalion at Da Nang, Đà Nẵng **7th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army), 7th Military Region ***60th Commando Battalion at Bình Dương province, Bình Dương **9th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army), 9th Military Region ***2012nd Commando Battalion at Vĩnh Long province, Vĩnh Long *Vietnam People's Navy **Naval Special Operation Force, Naval Commando Force ***126th Naval Commando Brigade at Haiphong, Hải Phòng city

Zimbabwe

Special Forces of Zimbabwe *One special forces brigade headquarters *One special forces regiment *One commando battalion

Notes

Miscellaneous Notes

References

External links

US Special Operation Forces – 2009 SOCOM Factbook

China Special Operation Units

{{DEFAULTSORT:Special forces units, List of Special forces units and formations Special forces by country, Special forces, * Lists of military units and formations