The lesser known nine badass Indian Special Forces

8 years ago

Image Courtesy: Indiatimes

Indian special forces are elite units of Indian Armed Forces which are specifically trained, equipped and trained to handle, support and conduct special operations. Defence forces of the land Indian Naval Forces, Indian Air Force and Indian Army have its own special forces.

1) Para Commandos (Paratroopers)

This elite force from the highly trained Parachute regiment of Indian Army was formed in 1966 and is one of the biggest special forces of India. This parachute unit is also one of the oldest airborne units of Indian army. The major purpose of this unit is quick insertion of armed personnel behind the enemy line and destruction of first line of enemy’s defence.

Para Commandos played a pivotal role in assisting the Indian Army to secure the peak of Tiger hill during the Kargil war in 1999. The Para SF has eight battalions and is headquartered in Bangalore Garrisons.

Another situation when the Paratroopers rose to fame is when they carried a cross-border operation along the Indo-Myanmar border and destroyed two militant camps one each along the Indo-Myanmar border.

The primary duties of this unit are

Special Ops
Counter terrorism
Hostage rescue
Counterinsurgency
Covert operations
Asymmetric Warfare

2) Ghatak Force

As the name indicates, infantry platoons of this elite force is deployed on killer missions or spearhead strikes ahead of a battalion. Brigade commanders of infantry battalions can also direct a platoon of Ghatak force to conduct Special Reconnaissance (SR) ahead of strike to avoid direct combat with the enemy. SR also includes aids on enemy artillery positions, airfields, supply dumps and functioning as tactical headquarters.

Ghatak platoon comprising of 20 men can also direct targeted air and artilerry strikes deep within the enemy lines. The platoon includes marksman, buddy pairs, light machine gunners, medic and radio operator.

3) COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action)

It is a specialized unit of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) which is exclusively trained for guerrilla warfare to counter naxal insurgency. It was setup in 2008 and is one of the best equipped unit of Indian Special forces.

4) FORCE One

Force One was incepted after the deadly 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The primary task of this elite unit is to provide protection to the city of Mumbai. The unit also boasts of the least response time in the world of special forces. According to reports Force One is trained up in less than 15 minutes.

5) Special Frontier Force (SFF)

This elite paramilitary force operate directly under India’s External Agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and reports directly to the prime minister of India via Director General of Security in the Cabinet Secretariat.

This unit was incepted in 1966 in aftermath of India-China war. However, the true purpose of this force is not really known. It is speculated that the primary task of this force is to conduct covert operations behind Chinese borders in the event of another war.

Since it the roles of this unit is classified, even the Army may not know what they are upto.

6) National Security Guards (NSG)

The selection of commandos to this unit of special forces is very tough so much so that drop out rate is 70 to 80 percent. It is called the premier counter terrorist squads which provides cover to VIPs, conducts anti-sabotage checks, and is responsible for neutralising terrorist threats to vital installations.

The 7500 personnel strong NSG is evenly divided between the Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Rangers Group (SRG).

7) The Special Protection Group (SPG)

It is an elite armed forces nodal unit of the government of India which are to protect Prime Minister of India, former prime ministers and immediate relatives of the PM.

SPG was setup after the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The SPG also gives cover to Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi through a special amendment.

8) MARCOS (Marine Commandos)

MARCOS is the elite special forces of Indian Naval Forces. It was raised by the Indian Navy in 1987 for direct action, special reconnaissance, amphibious warfare and counter-terrorism.

The training for MARCOS is probably the most stringent in the world as the commandos would be tested for their mental and physical preparedness.

It is also called as the ‘Dadiwalah Fauj’ or ‘bearded army’ for their disguised undercover presence among civilians. MARCOS are capable of operations in any kind of terrain, but specialise primarily in maritime operations.

9) The Garuds

The Garud Commando Force is the youngest of elite forces and was incepted to Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2004. According to a Flying Officer in Jodhpur base of the IAF, only the highly motivated among the officers will be selected into this elite squad.

Training to produce a fully operational Garud will take at least three years and hence is the longest of all.

Garud is entrusted with the protection of critical air bases in the country. During hostilities, Garuds undertake combat search and rescue, rescue of downed airmen and other forces from behind enemy lines, suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD), radar busting, combat control, missile and munitions guidance and other missions in support of air operations.

Carrying out rescue operations during calamities and other missions in support of air operations are other tasks for this squad.

Unlike the Army and the Navy, the Garud Commandos aren’t volunteers. They are directly recruited to be trained for the special force. Additionally, once they join the Garud Force, the Commandos stay with the unit for the rest of their careers. This ensures that the unit has the best soldiers at its disposal for a long time.

This elite group is equipped with some of the most lethal weapons on the planet These include the Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle, Glock 17 and 19 pistols as side arms, Heckler & Koch MP5 sub machine guns for close quarter battle, the AKM assault rifle, a variant of the AK-47 and the potent M4 carbine built by Colt.