The ten most formidable special forces in the world were named in the United States. Elite special forces of different countries

In modern military doctrine, great attention is paid to the use of special forces. Elite squads can effectively perform any task, from open combat clashes to sabotage behind enemy lines. In addition, special forces are often anti-terror forces - they prevent terrorist attacks, large-scale uprisings and riots, and counteract underground groups in the country. This ranking includes best special forces in the world- Top 10.

10. Sayeret Matkal (Israel)

Officially, one of the most powerful special forces in the world, Sayeret Matkal, was founded in 1957 by officer Avraham Arnan. With extreme reluctance, the headquarters sponsored the creation of a detachment whose main task was a "shadow war", including sabotage and quiet data collection. Nevertheless, now the service in Sayeret Matkal is very honorable, despite the most severe course of a young fighter, the surrender of which ends with a 100 km cross in the desert, after which the recruits take the oath and become full members of the unit. Due to the special level of secrecy, the number of special forces and their location are unknown. The fighters of Sayeret Matkal have participated in many operations around the world and have proven their high level of training.

9.SSG (Pakistan)

The SSG is one of the best special forces in the world, which appeared in 1964 on the basis of the 19th battalion of the Baluch regiment. The headquarters is located in Cherat, not far from the city of Atgok. Subsequently, three commando battalions were formed, for a total of 24 companies. Each of them had their own specialization and worked out operations in the desert, mountains, as rangers and countering underwater sabotage. In 1970, the SSG was assigned to start the fight against terrorism. SSG fighters participated in conflicts with India and the Afghan war on the side of the Mujahideen. The unit has about 2100 people, divided into 4 battalions.

8. GIGN (France)

The official history of the elite special forces GIGN begins in 1974, after the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics two years earlier. The main task of the unit is to ensure the safety of the civilian population and the timely neutralization of terrorists infiltrating the country's territory. The total number of GIGN is 380 people. Among the most famous operations, one can single out the release of 229 hostages in 1994. Four terrorists attempted to destroy the Eiffel Tower. It was also GIGN that carried out the elimination of terrorists in the suburbs of Paris on January 9, 2015.

7. EKO-Cobra (Austria)

The top ten special forces units in the world include the Austrian Cobra, whose main task is to counter terrorism. Moreover, the special unit has nothing to do with the federal police, directly reporting to the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The main reason for the creation of the Cobra was the infamous Munich Olympics. Since 1981, the Cobra unit has provided security for the chancellor, as well as controls the Vienna-Schwechat airport and protects all foreign political persons when visiting the country. Sources estimate the size of the unit in different ways - from 330 to 450 people.

6. "Delta" (USA)

Delta belongs to the most elite special forces in the world. The list of tasks of the detachment includes countering terrorism, suppressing popular unrest, as well as performing secret missions that are not limited to rescuing civilians. The number of the detachment is about 1000 people. Most of the recruits come from the US Special Forces, as well as the 7th Army Ranger Regiment. Unlike many other units, members of the Delta are authorized to wear civilian clothes on missions, as well as to have an informal hair style. If the operative needed to put on army equipment, then there will be no identification marks on it. All this is done for greater secrecy of personnel in the event of a potential invasion.

5. JTF-2 (Canada)

The secret special forces unit JTF-2 was created in April 1993, as a result of the reform program of the Canadian armed forces. Due to the level of secrecy, information about the number of employees and location was never officially disclosed. It is assumed that JTF-2 consists of at least 300 operatives, but the government plans to increase their number at least twice. Among the significant operations, it is worth noting the participation of JTF-2 in the battles against Al-Qaeda in 2001-2002. In addition, Canadian special forces actively participated in peacekeeping operations in Haiti, Iraq and Serbia.

4. Alfa (Russia)

The Alpha squad is the world-famous best Russian special unit specializing in the fight against terrorism. The main range of their tasks includes the prevention of terrorist attacks, rescue of hostages, as well as deployment in "hot spots". The Alpha unit was created in 1974 by special order to prevent sabotage and terrorist attacks. The personnel was recruited on a voluntary basis and consisted only of KGB officers. In 1996, the Alpha group entered the Anti-Terrorist Center of the FSB of the Russian Federation. Alpha fighters took an active part in most of the armed conflicts that the USSR and the Russian Federation entered into, such as the Afghan and Chechen wars.

3. SHAYETET 13 (Israel)

Opens the top three special forces in the world Shaytet 13. It was formed in 1950 by combining several formations of combat swimmers and exploding boats. To get into Shaitet 13, recruits must withstand colossal physical exertion, as well as have a strong psyche and high intelligence in order to pass the selection tests. The main field of activity of this unit is various sabotage and sabotage of enemy ships, reconnaissance, targeted liquidations and capture.

2. "Seals" (USA)

The SEALs are one of the most famous US special forces. The official date of their creation is 1962, but individual personnel began to be selected during WWII. Training methods were partially copied from combat swimmers. After completing a training course, recruits are capable of performing complex tasks in all conditions, both on land, sky and water. Versatility has become the main goal of this unit. As one of the best units in the US Army, the SEALs are equipped with the latest and highest quality weapons. They participated in most military conflicts where the United States intervened, in addition, the SEALs often became instructors for training special forces of other states.

1. SAS (Britain)

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The real power of the army is not when there are a lot of soldiers in the country (often stupid), but when there is a small number of military men whose training and track records are intimidating. Here are seven for you.

Black Stork, Pakistan

Special purpose group within the country. The bird name was earned thanks to unusual headdresses. Training:

• forced march - 58 km. Travel time - 12 hours;
• jogging in full uniform - 8 km in 50 minutes.

One of the brightest achievements: in October 2009, an office building held by Afghan terrorists from the Taliban group was stormed. Specialists from the "Black Stork" coped with the task: neutralized the "bad" ones, rescued 39 hostages.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Special Forces of the Spanish Navy

The detachment was formed back in 1952. They recruited volunteers, called the “company of climbers-divers“. Over time, they were so trained that the “company” was transformed into a special forces detachment. Today it is not easy to get into it: the selection is the most severe. Therefore, 70-80% of recruits are eliminated annually. And it happens that everything is 100%.

Source: marines.mil

GIGN, France

French Gendarmerie Special Forces, GIGN Intervention Group. There are special trainings for the release of hostages. Since its inception (1973), as of now, 600 people have been rescued.

The most spectacular rescue operation took place in the Al-Haram mosque in Mecca in 1979. According to the Islamic religion, a non-Muslim cannot enter the temple grounds. Therefore, the three French warriors promptly accepted the faith, joined the Saudi Arabian forces, and did their job well. Looking for photos with the faces of GIGN members is a disastrous business: they are forbidden to be published by the laws of France.

Source: tactical-life.com

Sayeret Matkal, Israel

The main task is information gathering, often taking place deep behind enemy lines. One of the successful operations, information about which was obtained:

• 2003, Israeli taxi driver Eliyahu Gurel took three Palestinians to Jerusalem → was abducted → he was found by specialists from Sayeret Matkal in a 10-meter mine in an abandoned factory in the suburbs of Ramallah (Palestinian city) → saved the poor fellow.

Source: policenet.gr

Special Air Service, United Kingdom

British land forces whose motto is:

“Whoever takes risks wins.”

After the end of the war in Iraq, American General Stanley McChrystal confessed:

“If it wasn’t for the British Special Air Service, we wouldn’t have made it.”

A special forces unit is a unique branch of the military or police, designed to fight and destroy terrorist formations, conduct special operations, organize guerrilla warfare, sabotage acts deep behind enemy lines and perform other complex combat missions. The personnel of these troops have high combat, fire, physical and psychological training, whose task is to solve specific combat missions by force in extremely extreme conditions using special tactics and means. Below is a list of the best special forces units in the world. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating of the best special services in the world.

10 Marcos, India

Marcos is an elite Special Forces of the Indian Navy. It was created in February 1987 to conduct special operations such as unconventional warfare, maritime hostage rescue, maritime counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, etc. The Marcos units are capable of conducting operations in all types of terrain, but specializes in marine. Currently, it has about two thousand personnel, although the actual size of the detachment is classified.

9GIS, Italy

In ninth place in the ranking of the best special forces units is GIS, a special forces unit formed on February 6, 1978 to combat the growing threat of terrorism. Now he specializes in operations to combat terrorism and free hostages.

8SSG, Pakistan

The eighth place in the list of the best special forces units in the world is occupied by the SSG - the Pakistani army special forces, founded in 1956. It is an analogue of the American green berets and the British SAS. Participated in the Afghan war (1979-1989) on the side of the Mujahideen. To date, the detachment is actively involved in anti-terrorist operations in Pakistan. The official number is 2,100 fighters.

7 EKO Cobra, Austria

EKO Cobra is an anti-terrorist unit created in 1978, initially to protect Jewish immigrants from attacks by Palestinian militant groups, and also as a response to the terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 members of the Israeli team became victims of terrorists. As of 2013, the unit has approximately 670 members, including two women.

6 Alfa, Russia

Alpha is a special unit formed on July 29, 1974 in the USSR on the initiative of the KGB (continues to operate in Russia) to conduct counter-terrorist special operations using special tactics and means. Now the main tasks of the detachment are the prevention of terrorist acts, the search, neutralization of terrorists, the release of hostages, etc. In the days of the former Soviet Union, they actively participated in pacifying riots in prisons and correctional camps.

5 GIGN, France

GIGN is an elite anti-terrorist unit of the French gendarmerie, created in 1973 after the events that took place at the Munich Olympics in 1972. The main tasks of the detachment are the fight against terrorism, the suppression of uprisings in prisons, the neutralization of dangerous criminals and the release of hostages. During its existence, the soldiers of the GIGN unit took part in about 1000 operations, freed about 500 hostages, arrested 1000 and killed hundreds of criminals, while losing only two fighters directly during the operations and seven during the exercises. The number of units is 380 people.

4 GSG 9, Germany

GSG 9 is a special unit created in September 1973 in order to suppress terrorist actions in Germany after the terrorist attack that occurred at the Munich Olympics. The main tasks of the unit are the fight against terrorism, the release of hostages, the protection of important people and territories, the conduct of sniper operations, etc. The size of the detachment is 300 people. From the beginning of its existence to 2003, more than 1,500 successful operations were performed.

3 Sayeret Matkal, Israel

Sayeret Matkal or "Unit 269" is a special unit of the Israeli army, formed on the model of the British SAS in 1957 by officer Avraham Arnan. Sayeret Matkal can carry out a wide range of special operations, including reconnaissance and information gathering on the battlefield, combating terrorism, performing special operations behind enemy lines, releasing hostages, etc. Over the past 50 years of its existence, the detachment has taken part in more than than 1,000 operations, including 200 outside of Israel.

2 Navy SEALs, USA

The second place in the list of the best special forces units in the world is occupied by the Navy SEAL or SEALs, a special forces unit of the US Navy, formed in 1962. The main task of the detachment is reconnaissance, sabotage operations and hostage rescue. They took part in all US military operations without exception (the war in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.).

1 SAS, UK

The best special forces in the world is the SAS - a special forces unit of the British armed forces, founded on May 31, 1950. It served as a model for special forces units in many other countries. The main tasks of the detachment are to conduct anti-terrorist operations, free hostages, train special forces soldiers from other countries, etc. The detachment gained fame and recognition around the world in 1980 after the successful storming of the Iranian embassy in London and rescuing the hostages.

Special forces have become an integral attribute of any modern army and police. The most complex and non-standard tasks of freeing hostages, protecting VIPs, destroying especially dangerous terrorists and special operations abroad fall on the shoulders of the special forces. The first prototypes of special forces units appeared during the Second World War, it was the German Brandenburg division. Now there is an absentee competition between countries, who has the best special forces, where the main role here is played not by equipment, but by training people who are ready to perform any task in the most extreme conditions. Meet the ten best special forces in the world.

10. Alpha (Russia)

The Russian special unit Alpha was created in 1973 under the KGB of the USSR. It became known about him after the storming of the presidential palace in Kabul, destroying almost all the people in the building. In 1985, 4 Soviet diplomats were kidnapped in Beirut, one of whom was immediately killed. The release of the hostages was taken up by Alpha, who found the relatives of the organizers of the kidnapping and liquidated them by sending such a peculiar message to the terrorists. Recently, they have been mainly used for anti-terrorist (the school in Beslan and the terrorist act on Dubrovka, better known as Nord-Ost) and special operations within the country, which are almost always accompanied by numerous victims. By the way, this is one of the few special forces operating on the principle of "destroy everyone", and not "save alive at any cost."

9. GIGN (France)

The French special forces unit GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) was created after the resonant terrorist attack in 1972 in Munich, during the Olympic Games, when several dozen hostages died in the Olympic village. Plus, a year before that, there had been a prison riot in France with numerous victims. GIGN specializes in counter-terrorism operations and hostage rescue. The most famous operations of the French special forces were the rescue of 30 hostage children in Djibouti in 1976, the arrest of war criminals in Bosnia, special operations against Somali pirates and, of course, the rescue of passengers on Air France flight AF8969 in Marseille in 1994. The number of GIGN is about 400 people.

8.SSG (Pakistan)

In 1956, the leadership of the Pakistani army created its own detachment for special operations SSG (Special Services Group), based on the structure of the British SAS and American green berets. Only one in four applicants become SSG fighters who complete a nine-month training course that includes hand-to-hand combat and survival in extreme conditions. SSG is ready to perform any task in the mountains, jungle, desert and under water. During the Cold War, SSG fighters were trained by American instructors and operated in conjunction with US Special Forces. In the 80s, Pakistani special forces fighters acted together with the Mujahideen in Afghanistan against the Soviet army. Then, according to unconfirmed reports, they actively acted in the territories disputed with India. Recently, the SSG has been mainly involved in anti-terrorist operations in Pakistan, so in 2009 they conducted a hostage rescue operation at the police academy and army headquarters.

7. Sayeret Matkal (Israel)

The Israeli special forces Sayeret Matkal was created at the General Staff in 1957, where only people with a good physical shape and a high level of intelligence are selected. Candidates undergo an eighteen-month training course that includes infantry training, paratrooper training, anti-terrorist operations and intelligence training. Since the 60s, Israeli special forces have taken part in several dozen special operations in different parts of the world. The most famous operation carried out by the Sayeret Matkal fighters is Yonatan, also known as Entebbe. In 1976, Palestinian militants hijack a passenger plane that landed near the capital of Uganda, Kampala, taking 83 people with Israeli passports hostage. 100 people participated in the storming of the airport, but a strike group of 29 people, consisting entirely of Sayeret Matkal commandos, destroyed most of the terrorists.

6. Delta Force (USA)

The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (translated into Russian as the 1st Operational Detachment of the Delta Special Purpose), better known as Delta Force, was created in 1977 to conduct anti-terrorist and covert operations, reconnaissance and hostage rescue. The British SAS were taken as a role model, moreover, the man who stood at the origins of the creation of the Delta Force, for a long time worked closely with representatives of the British special forces. Former Green Berets and Rangers are usually taken here, of which only 1 in 10 pass the tests.

5. GSG 9 (Germany)

The German division GSG 9 specializing in anti-terrorist and special operations under the Ministry of the Interior was created in 1973, exactly one year after the Munich tragedy, when 11 Israeli athletes were terrorists during the Olympic Games. I use GSG 9 to free hostages, destroy terrorists, neutralize extortionists, protect important people and conduct sniper operations. Over the entire period of its existence, more than 1500 successful operations have been carried out.

4. JTF2 (Canada)

The Canadian Special Forces JTF2 (Joint Task Force 2) under the Ministry of Defense was created in 1993, the number of which was increased after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The main task of this unit is to conduct anti-terrorist and special operations, as well as engage in the protection of VIPs. JTF2s were deployed to guard heads of state during the 2010 Winter Olympics, rescue hostages in Iraq and hunt down Serb snipers in Bosnia. Also, Canadians, together with the American Navy SEAL, conducted special operations in Afghanistan, and which were so secret that the Prime Minister of Canada did not know for several years that JTF2 were actively fighting in Afghanistan.

3. EKO Cobra (Austria)

The Austrian anti-terrorist unit EKO Cobra was established in 1978 under the Ministry of the Interior. In Austria, the idea of ​​creating special forces under the police arose in 1972 after the terrorist attack in Munich in 1972 during the Olympics, when 11 Israeli athletes were killed. EKO Cobra is mainly engaged in anti-terrorist operations. All fighters of the unit take mandatory courses in shooting, hand-to-hand combat, combat tactics, explosives and scuba diving. EKO Cobra is the only special forces unit in the world that neutralized terrorists in a flying plane before it landed on the airfield. This happened in 1996, when the criminals demanded to change the course of a civilian aircraft, on which there were four employees of EKO Cobra and were neutralized within a few minutes.

2.Navy SEAL (USA)

The US Navy SEAL, also known as the SEALs, formed in 1962, has become a true legend after audacious operations over the past few years in Iraq and Afghanistan. Particularly resonant was Operation Neptune Spear in 2011, during which he was killed by terrorist number one, Osama bin Laden, in a villa in Pakistan. All recruits of the unit undergo a training course during the year, where the majority is eliminated already at the first stage during general physical training, where the emphasis is on push-ups, squats, running and swimming. After that, passing highly specialized training like explosives, reconnaissance, and so on.

1. SAS (UK)

The best special forces unit in the world is the British SAS (Special Air Service, SAS), created back in 1941, which has become a role model when creating similar units in other countries. Initially, the units were created for actions in the rear of the Italian and German troops in North Africa, eventually transforming into an anti-terrorist detachment for operations both inside and outside the country. All SAS candidates, and these are mostly skydivers, must make a 40-mile forced march with full gear in 20 hours, then swim 2 miles in 1.5 hours and run 4 miles in 30 minutes, and this is only the first part of the test. Further into the jungle, where they must demonstrate their survival skills and finally endure a 36-hour interrogation, where they are trying to break the will of the recruits. In addition to combined arms training, SAS fighters take various courses under the guidance of instructors from MI5 (security service) and MI6 (foreign intelligence service). The SAS made a name for itself in 1980 with a successful assault on the Iranian embassy in London and freed the hostages.

Country: Brazil
Number: 400 people. 95% of recruits are weeded out at the training stage.

Habitat

Favelas, densely populated slums in the hills around Rio, founded 300 years ago by freed slaves. The favelas are divided into 950 districts, each of which has its own laws established by local authorities. A stranger, and even more so a white one, can easily be shot or cut here, unless, of course, he came to buy drugs. Streets one and a half meters wide exclude travel by car. A lot of windows, doors and some holes on all sides do not make it clear where the shots came from. The police do not dare to show themselves in the favelas, only special forces come here. Any conflict with the local population turns into a close urban battle with the use of firearms, which, by the way, can easily be bought from under the counter from the same policemen.

Weapon

Automatic Colt Commando. 800 rounds per minute. Light weight and short barrel are ideal for mobile urban combat. BOPE fighters are trained to shoot with both right and left hands, so that it is more convenient to maneuver in the slums.

Base

A rebuilt and fortified old casino on a hill high above the city. It rises in the very center of the favelas.

Workout

Running up hills and stairs with 30 kg of armor on the body and 5 kg of weapons. Close combat. Doom-shooting at a special range, simulating the slums.

Vehicle

Some streets of the favelas are still wide enough for a caveirao, a completely black armored special forces vehicle, affectionately nicknamed the "big skull", to drive along them. The only weak point of these armored cars is the wheels. Brazilian commandos joke that they can change tires faster than Formula 1 mechanics. Amnesty International has recently come out against the use of caveirao. The fact is that the special forces often practice "mobile cleansing" - the shooting of suspicious passers-by in the favelas right from the windows of the truck. Human rights activists consider this poaching.

Country: Colombia
Number: 500 people.

Habitat

Jungle. Eternal twilight under a thick hat of foliage. You can stand a meter from the enemy and not notice him. Reptiles, one hundred percent humidity and lack of roads are not even discussed: the locals have been used to this since childhood. In the impenetrable thickets in the center of the country are coca plantations, producing 700 tons of cocaine per year. As a result, the powder will settle in the nostrils of the inhabitants of the United States and Europe, powdering the noses of half of Latin America along the way. Since the mid-80s, the Americans and the British have been trying to block the great river at the very source and have allocated a lot of money and specialists from their own special forces to train "hunglas" - fighters with Colombian field laboratories, where they boil the purest 95% cocaine. The assault on these institutions is not only an exchange of 5 mm bullets, but also the prospect of losing a leg or two. Few people know that Colombia firmly holds the first place in the world in the number of anti-personnel mine incidents. Drug lords love to throw a "hunglas" surprise.

Weapon

The good old Colt Commando in the M4 version - the shortest of all with a folding telescopic butt. Just right to carry it through the jungle. On the other side, the special forces are met exactly the same. This is generally the most popular weapon in Latin America.

Base

There are four divisions in the country. Their bases are at least an hour away from big cities, next to their native jungle.

Workout

Forced marches through thickets in full gear (weight of armor and weapons - about 20 kg). Shooting at targets hidden among foliage and vines.

Vehicle

American Black Hawk helicopters. The most luxurious gift from the northern uncle. With the help of this reliable and compact machine, you can look out from above for coca plantations and throw "hunglas" at any point in their mountainous, impassable country. You can also shoot from above if the battle on the ground takes a particularly unpleasant turn. The most amazing people in the Colombian special forces are the helicopter pilots. It seems that they can easily land on the roof of a shabby village hut, smiling and virtuoso quarreling with someone they know on the air. Before our eyes, one sat down on a steep hillside, and the blades turned out to be twenty centimeters from the protruding stone.

Country: Poland
Number: 237 people. The best police officers who are tested for three years get here.

Habitat

Densely populated city blocks, built according to Soviet GOSTs. It is in small apartments on the outskirts of Warsaw and other cities that those whom the ZOA hunts live and hide weapons, prostitutes, heroin and so on. All of this flocks here before being distributed all over Europe: Poland, with its seven borders and EU membership, is an ideal staging post. Special operations take place almost every week. Sometimes they are quite extreme, as, for example, in the small town of Magdalenka. Two Russian arms dealers then dug in in a private house, so that forty commandos could not storm them for 12 hours. Under the door, the “Russian mafia” laid a mine, grenades were dropped on the heads of attack aircraft, and fire was continuously fired from the windows. As a result, the criminals were taken dead, losing two fighters. However, initially the Polish special forces were created with an eye on even larger game. After 9/11, the small but proud Eastern European country decided that it, too, was threatened by terrorists. So far, fortunately, these ambitions have not materialized.

Weapon

Submachine gun MP5. German quality, caliber 9 mm, weighs only 2.5 kg, it is possible to use a silencer and a combat flashlight - what you need for quiet urban sweeps. The main disadvantage is the price. Still, you have to pay for the opportunity to snatch out of the holster the same as the British SAS. By the way, the holster of the Polish special forces, which, in addition to weapons, also contains a walkie-talkie and smoke bombs, is fastened high on the chest. On the side of the thigh is an additional holster with a Glock GmbH pistol. The outfit also includes a RoboCop Kevlar helmet, knee pads and body armor - all in non-marking black.

Workout

Operations in high-rise buildings require virtuosity in close combat, rappelling from rooftops, and the art of breaking windows with your feet. The Polish special forces constantly master all this in specially built "death houses". Since most of the operations, according to the old KGB tradition, are carried out between three in the morning and six in the morning, they also train in pitch darkness, using night vision devices.

Country: Mexico
Number: 87 people.

Habitat

Mexico City, the world's largest metropolitan area. Here South America meets North America and does its most unpresentable business. In a crowd of 25 million people, it's pretty easy. Nevertheless, the local police do not give up and tirelessly search for criminals in order to engage in a shootout with them - almost every day one of the law enforcement officers dies in the line of duty. Special forces also work in the Stakhanov regime - two or even three trips a week. However, not all of them end in a storm. In many areas, the cocaine cartels hold the power and put special people at the entrance to the intricate streets, so they know about the visit of GOPES in advance, and they prefer to leave. Some, however, take the fight. They have enough weapons and arrogance to meet the attack aircraft with a flurry of fire (up to rocket launchers!), And then what is happening resembles a real war. Thanks to the investments of the northern neighbor, a lot of money and very serious people are circulating here. If someone decided to scare someone with the help of special forces, then you need to work it out for real.