Special Forces of India
Indian Armed Forces has three SF units:
- Para (SF) of the Army
- MARCOS of the Navy
- Garuds of the IAF
The Indian Army Para SF
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| Para SF in Foggman Suit |
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| Patches of Para SF |
Firstly there is a bit of a confusion when it come's to the Indian Army’s SOF. The Special Forces come under the Parachute Regiment which is divided into two:
1) Regular Airborne units - 5,6,7 Para
2) Special Forces units - 1,2,3,4,9,10,11,21 Para(SF)
As you can see SF units are denoted by the SF suffixed in brackets. 1,9,10 are the oldest units, 21 was raised in 1996 and 11 is the latest addition, being raise in 2011. The SF units have a probation (selection in Indian Army SF is called probation) period of 6 months and the regular airborne ones have a probation of 3 months. The Army SF units have been conducting joint exercises with the Green Berets (possibly the 1st SFG) at CIJWS (Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School). Late in 2011 and exercise with the Polish GROM also took place. Exercises with the 22 SAS also take place. Some 1st SFG members might give a better about the Indian Army SF as they have cross trained in India with them.
Equipments
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| Para SF During Operation With Tavor. |
- Tavors (CTAR, GTAR, X95) with night sights, EOTech sights, AN-PEQ2, Mepro gear.
- M4A1 Carbine With ACOG
- Pistol Auto 9mm 1A Semi-automatic pistol
- Glock 17 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
- Beretta 92 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
- Heckler & Koch MP5 Sub-machine gun
- Micro Uzi 9mm Sub-machine gun
- IWI Galil Assault rifle
- IWI TAR-21 Tavor Assault rifle
- M4A1 Carbine
- MPi KMS-72 East German made side-folded Kalashnikov rifle
- PM Md.90 Assault rifle
- VZ. 58 Pi Assault rifle
- SVD Dragunov Semi-automatic sniper rifle
- IWI Galil Semi-automatic sniper rifle
- Mauser SP66 Bolt-action sniper rifle
- PKM General purpose machine gun
- Uk vz. 59L Light machine gun
- MG 2A1 General purpose machine gun
- AGS-17 Plamya Automatic grenade launcher.
- C-90-CR-RB (M3) Disposal rocket launcher.
- RL MkIII 84mm Recoilles rifle
- B-300 Shipon 82mm Rocket launcher
Transport
- C-130J Super Hercules tactical
- HAL Dhruv utility helicopter
- All Terrain Vehicles
- HAL Cheetak utility helicopter
The Indian Navy MARCOS SF
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| A Marcos Commando With Beretta Pistol |
The Indian Navys SF units is the MARCOS (Marine Commandos).They were formed in 1987 when 2 officers were sent to Coronado to train alongisde the SEALs, so essentially its the SEALs who initially helped train the unit (a big big thanks to the SEALs for that), further training as some say was imparted by the SAS/SBS. In the early years the unit was very secretive reports say that the operators even didn't tell their families that they were with this unit, the cover being that of a combat diver. Not much about their selection process is known but I did ask an credible source and he did say that it is very different from BUDS.
The unit operates in the Wular lake in Kashmir from where once Pakistan supported terrorists would infiltrate into Kashmir. Since their deployment there the terrorists fear them a LOT,they have been nicknamed by the terrorists as "Crocodiles".
They got USMC style combat uniform. Like the SEAL teams they are divided as MARCOS(East) and MARCOS(West).
Equipments
- Pistol Auto 9mm 1A 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
- Beretta 92FS Semi-automatic pistol
- SAF Carbine 2A1 9mm Sub-machine gun
- Heckler & Koch MP5A3/A5 9mm Sub-machine gun
- AK-103 7.62×39mm Assault rifle
- AKMS 7.62×39mm Assault rifle
- IMI TAR-21 5.56mm
- IMI GTAR-21 5.56mm NATO Assault rifle
- APS amphibious rifle 5.66x39mm Underwater assault rifle
- IMI Galil 7.62 Sniper/Galatz 7.62mm NATO Semi-automatic sniper rifle
- Heckler & Koch MSG90 7.62mm NATO Semi-automatic sniper rifle
- Sako Tikka T3 TAC 7.62x51mm bolt-action sniper rifles
- IMI Negev 5.56mm NATO Light machine gun
- MG 2A1 7.62 mm General purpose machine gun
- GP-25 40mm Under-barrel grenade launcher
- Arsenal UBGL 40x46mm Under-barrel grenade launcher
- AGS-17 30x29mm Automatic grenade launcher
- RCL Mk III 84mm Recoilless rifle
- Shipon Anti-tank weapon
- 9K38 Igla MANPADS
Transport
- Indian Navy Sea King Mk.42B on INS Mumbai
- HAL Dhruv utility helicopter
- 6 Westland WS-61 Sea King transport helicopter
- Chetak helicopters
- Cosmos CE-2F X100 two-man submarines
- All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
- Indian Navy Swimmer Delivery Vehicle
IAF GARUD Commando
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| IAF Garud Commando |
The Garud Commando Force is the Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in September 2004. Garud is tasked with the protection of critical Air Force bases and installations; search and rescue during peace and hostilities and disaster relief during calamities. Presently, Garud's are deployed in Congo as part of the UN peace keeping operations. After attempts by terrorists to attack two major air bases in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001, Indian Air Force commanders felt the need for a specialized force to protect these critical elements and to have a dedicated Commando Force trained in Special Forces techniques, Combat Search and Rescue, Reconnaissance, Counter Insurgency (COIN) Operations and Emergency in response to terror-threats to airfields. The initial plans mooted in October 2002 called for a specialized force with 2000 commandos. The group was originally called "Tiger Force", but was later renamed as "Garud Force". Apart from protecting air bases from sabotage and attacks by commando raids, they are also tasked to seal off weapons systems, fighter hangars and other major systems during intrusions and conflicts. Garuds have diverse responsibilities. Besides base protection force to protect airfields and key assets in hostile environments, some advanced Garud units are trained like Army Para Commandos and the Naval MARCOS to undertake missions deep behind enemy lines. Note, that the security of IAF installations like radars, airfields and other establishments in border areas is generally performed by the Air Force Police and the Defence Security Corps (DSC). During peace time, apart from protecting the air bases and other vital infrastructure from terrorist attacks, Garud roles include counter terrorism, anti-hijacking, hostage rescue, aid during natural calamities and military tasks in the interest of the nation. The Garud force is organized into fifteen "Flights", with a total present strength of approximately 1080 airmen. (A flight is roughly the equivalent of a "Company" in an Infantry Battalion, and is commanded by an officer of the rank of Flight Lieutenant.)
Equipment
- Glock 17, 19 and 26 semi-automatic pistol
- IMI TAR-21 Tavor with MORS sight 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle
- IMI GTAR-21 Grenadier Tavor with Arsenal UBGL 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle
- IMI STAR-21 Sharpshooter Tavor with Nimrod telescopic sights 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle
- IMI CTAR-21 Compact Tavor with MORS sight 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle
- INSAS 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle
- AKMS 7.62×39mm assault rifle
- MPi KMS-72 7.62×39mm assault rifle
- PM Md.90 7.62×39mm assault rifle
- IMI Galil 7.62 Sniper/Galatz 7.62×51mm NATO semi-automatic sniper rifle
- INSAS LMG 5.56×45mm NATO light machine gun
- IMI Negev SF 5.56×45mm NATO light machine gun
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