Special forces of the armies of the world. Eight of the most powerful special forces in the world

The successful implementation of any military campaign depends on the availability of information about the enemy’s forces, their weapons and numbers. Since ancient times, before the start of a large-scale offensive, detachments of spies were formed from volunteers and infiltrated into enemy territory to collect data or carry out sabotage. The development of weapons and the enrichment of military experience have improved the methods of conducting reconnaissance and sabotage work and served as an impetus for the creation of various paramilitary formations, each of which performs its own highly specialized task.

Specialized army unit

The fighting involves numerous casualties and destruction of houses and buildings. Victory in wars often comes at a very high price. Based on this and already having decent centuries-old combat experience, the army leadership realized the urgent need to create special professional groups to carry out special tasks. This is how a special unit appeared in the regular armies of different countries - army special forces.

What is it intended for and how does it work?

Army special forces from different countries, with differences in the specifics of training, weapons and camouflage, have one task assigned to them - the quick and silent elimination of the enemy.

For this purpose, the most vital organs of the enemy are affected, which eliminates any possibility of resistance and guarantees instant death.

Army special forces use camouflage techniques in their work, which have certain differences in units of different countries. It all depends on the environment, characteristic of a particular area, weather and seasonal conditions in which you have to operate. Based on this, army special forces are equipped with a special uniform, adapted to the colors of the terrain, and special equipment for firearms - silencers and flame arresters, allowing them to be freely used behind enemy lines, without fear of being betrayed by the sounds of gunfire or flashes of flame.

The detachments carry out reconnaissance work, regardless of environmental conditions and the situation in the enemy camp. The end result is considered to be the information obtained about the enemy’s weapons, his numbers, and the characteristics of the terrain on which further open combat operations will take place.

What information does the special forces obtain?

Reconnaissance carried out by detachments is considered effective if it is able to provide the army leadership with the necessary information:

Information about the enemy.

This is information about the topographical location of those objects that are subject to capture, and an assessment of the degree of their security. The report must contain data on the quantity, quality and location of enemy fire weapons, on the possible proximity of reserve combat units, on the distance from them to captured objects, on the time and methods of approach of enemy reserves in the event of a direct combat clash.

Location data.

The report contains information about the passability of the territory, the presence of natural obstacles (gorges, reservoirs), their nature and the possibility of overcoming them. This also includes data on populated areas, which must be taken into account in order to ensure a discreet approach to the capture objects of interest.

History of creation

In order to identify, neutralize and eliminate terrorist groups, carry out sabotage and counter-terrorist combat missions behind enemy lines, the Russian Federation uses special combat units and units of the special services, armed forces and police.

Russian special forces have their own history.

On July 29, 1974, Directorate “A” was formed in the USSR, which until 1991 belonged to the seventh directorate of the KGB. This unit is still active today. This is a special counter-terrorist unit “A” of the FSB, known to everyone as the “Alpha” special forces, recognized in the world as one of the most effective.

In 2011, the team of Detachment “A” under the FSB of Russia participated in the world championship of special forces, where they received the first two places and were recognized as the best international team.

Special forces: division “A”. Functions

Its main task is to carry out specific military security measures to search and identify terrorist organizations, neutralize and further destroy armed criminals. Alpha special forces are engaged in the release of hostages and negotiations with terrorists. The detachment is intended to seize aircraft and water vessels, ground transport and storm buildings with hostages held there. The services of Detachment “A” are often used during riots in prisons and colonies, since the unit is considered elite and is highly effective. This made it in demand when carrying out military operations in “hot spots” and in other situations that are complicated or out of control.

World analogues

Such a special unit is not the only one in the world. American special forces have shown high effectiveness in the fight against terrorism. Good material support for the groups made it possible to conduct numerous experiments, which allowed them to achieve high results. During an assault on fortified buildings, fighters from such detachments penetrate inside unexpectedly for terrorists - at points that, unlike door and window openings, are not controlled by them. This significantly reduced the mortality rate in American special forces.

Almost all developed countries have similar anti-terrorism units, which differ little from each other. They also perform the function of anti-terrorism in their state and their tactics are similar.

About combat training

Completing tasks requires enormous physical and psychological stress from each special forces soldier. This is due to the fact that the special forces detachment carries out its functional tasks primarily either behind enemy lines, or in terrain completely unsuitable for normal human life.

Staying in an extreme environment, in harsh conditions, without communication with the outside world requires each participant in the special forces to have physical and psychological health, fitness and moral readiness to withstand possible stress.

Many feature films, documentaries and TV series have been made about the airborne special forces, which colorfully show how effectively and efficiently the special squad works. But behind the side visible to the audience, there is another, which consists of daily and tedious briefings and training, high demands placed on the fighters by their leadership.

Special forces training is carried out under the supervision of experienced instructors. The purpose of the training is to transfer knowledge to the wards and develop in them the practical skills necessary to perform combat missions. During the exercises, fighters are taught both standard and highly specialized skills.

What does special forces training include?

1. Standard skills:

hand-to-hand combat;
fire, psychological and general physical training.

2. Highly specialized knowledge and practical skills:

silent movement behind enemy lines, which includes the ability to covertly overcome water and engineering barriers, swamps, and navigate the terrain at night;
performing tasks for observation and collection of information in urban environments and populated areas;
effective camouflage: the special forces uniform is selected for the soldiers depending on the conditions of the terrain in which the work is being carried out - it can be mountains, forests, desert, swampy terrain or a surface covered with snow;
orientation on the ground both with the help of a topographic map and without it, the ability to notice and distinguish traces;
the ability to carry out radio reconnaissance and use other means of technology for this purpose;
survival skills in difficult conditions for the human body;
psychological training and obtaining the knowledge necessary to provide emergency medical assistance.

Tasks and structure of the Russian Navy

The naval special forces of the Russian Federation are engaged in:

mining ships, militarized naval bases and hydraulic structures of the enemy;
search for and further physical destruction of enemy weapons intended for nuclear attack and the points that carry out their operational control;
detection of other enemy objects and accumulations of manpower in the coastal zone;
providing landing operations in the coastal zone;
directing and adjusting air and naval artillery strikes against identified enemy forces.

In peacetime, he is engaged in the fight against terrorism and exchanging experience with other special forces.

The staff of the naval special detachment includes 124 people - 56 of them are fighters, the rest are technical personnel. The fighters in the squad are divided into units and act autonomously. Each of these groups consists of 12 people. They are divided into groups of 6 people: an officer, a midshipman and four sailors.

The Russian naval special forces are represented by three detachments, each of which performs its own task:

The first detachment is intended to destroy enemy targets located on land. The detachment's tactics consist of a discreet underwater approach to targeted enemy targets with further sabotage. The fighters act as divers and act on the spot as saboteurs of the Main Intelligence Directorate.
The second detachment is engaged in reconnaissance work.
The third detachment of naval special forces carries out underwater mining of ships, naval bases, manpower locations and other important enemy targets. The detachment's fighters train especially intensively for the role of combat divers, since they operate primarily not on land, but under water - they conduct sabotage work and carry out attacks.

Internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

In the Russian Federation, these troops belong to and are subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Following the law “On Internal Troops”, the special forces of the Internal Troops perform the following tasks:

1. In peacetime:

ensure public order;
carry out protection of nationally important objects and cargo during transportation;
release hostages;
assist other units in the fight against crime.

2. In wartime and in an emergency situation, in accordance with a certain law “On Internal Troops,” the special forces of the Internal Troops receive additional responsibilities - providing assistance to border security forces in ensuring the territorial defense and security of the country, protecting the state’s borders.

Features of the work of special forces in urban conditions

To carry out combat missions in populated areas, Russian special forces use the following equipment:

overcoming obstacles;
covert inspection of the area;
silent penetration into the building;
fast and effective storming of buildings;
clearing occupied buildings.

1. Overcoming obstacles in urban areas. The work is carried out after a thorough examination of the situation. Before overcoming an obstacle along the way, special forces soldiers inspect the territory for the possible presence of a hidden enemy. Before overcoming the wall, its opposite part is inspected.

2. Inspection of the urban area. Buildings are ideal for this task; observation is recommended from behind their corners. The main thing is to do this carefully, without revealing yourself with weapons or equipment.

3. When entering a building, window openings pose a particular danger; you must move under them at a fast pace and bend low. The fighter must be below the level of the window cut. It is recommended to step over window openings in semi-basements.

4. During the assault, the advance of the special forces is carried out along the walls, and also involves passing through them, using faults and cracks. Doorways are overcome by throwing under the cover of fire from a partner. The throw should be made quickly and immediately aimed under cover.

Russian special forces, like special forces of other countries, use smoke screens in addition to fire cover when crossing open terrain. In this case, dashes are made from one shelter to another if there is a small distance between them. Such advancement is carried out by a group with a mandatory interval between fighters of at least ten steps. This distance will prevent possible fire damage.

During an assault, American special forces use means that allow them to destroy walls in a captured building in places that are not controlled by armed criminals. The unexpected appearance of special forces soldiers in a hole formed in the wall has an overwhelming effect on terrorists - the effect of surprise is triggered. A moderate explosion, knocking out bricks and cinder blocks strictly along a certain contour, stuns an enemy unprepared for such an assault.

In Russian special forces, a building is stormed immediately after a grenade is thrown into a window opening. The downside to this type of capture tactic is that the enemy can quickly react and throw it back. In this case, there is a high risk of being hit by fragments of one’s own exploding shell.

5. Clearing the captured building. After the assault, the building is subject to thorough inspection. For this purpose, one fighter takes a firing position outside the doorway and covers the group. Premises that have passed the inspection are marked with a symbol. The special forces clear the area by moving along flights of stairs from top to bottom. This allows you to “push” the enemy to the lower floors, where it is easier to destroy him or push him out into the street and detain him. It is not advisable to clean from the bottom up. This will give the enemy a chance to gain a strong foothold on the upper floors or escape along the roofs of nearby buildings.

Equipment of special forces soldiers

According to the season, special forces uniforms are replaced by winter and summer uniforms. Depending on the purpose, special forces equipment is divided into three types:

Field uniform. Used for combat missions, training and duty. It is also intended to be worn during times of war or emergency. The highest demands are placed on this type of clothing.
Dress uniform. Designed for soldiers during their stay at ceremonial state events: performing a guard of honor, receiving awards. Also used during parades, holidays and weekends.
Casual uniform. Applies in all other cases.

Material for workwear

The main requirements for the material from which unit uniforms are made are the ability to ensure safety, high levels of ergonomics and protection. To camouflage special forces, a special fabric with an appropriate pattern is produced. In each country, a pattern is selected for the fabric from which special equipment is sewn, for a certain characteristic type of terrain.

Russian special forces use the “surpat” color scheme, which takes into account the typical characteristics of the Russian territory.

In addition to clothing, the special forces uniform includes weapons, means of providing protection, navigation, life support, and is accompanied by an individual first aid kit and special elements.

Edged weapons for special forces

In their activities, Russian special forces often encounter situations in which they cannot do without the use of a knife. When descending from the wall of a house or from a helicopter, you can get tangled in ropes and parachute lines; during the seizure of a vehicle, sometimes there is a need to cut jammed seat belts. In such situations, a knife is simply necessary. It is a mistake to assume that all law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation are required to use edged weapons - airborne forces, riot police or marines. Only special forces units have the right to carry and use combat knives during special operations. Mostly these are blades not exceeding 200 mm in length and 60 mm in width.

An army special forces knife in skillful hands makes it easy to inflict terrible wounds on the enemy. In the production of combat knives for special forces, very durable and high-quality steel is used.

Naval special forces often use a knife in their activities, which is also called “Reconnaissance Battalion”. To make such a knife, stainless steel is used. Blade width - 60 mm, length - 300 mm. The knife is equipped with a protective guard, which makes it easier to strike the enemy.

The second most popular type of bladed weapon among the fighters of this special unit is the “Katran” blade. It is versatile because it can be used both as a tool and as a weapon. As a tool, this knife, thanks to the transverse groove at its base, is successfully used for bending and breaking wire. The blade is equipped with a double sharpening - regular and sawtooth - on the side of the butt. Plastic is used to make the handle and sheath. The knife is secured in the sheath by snapping the guard. “Katran” is equipped with an additional retainer in the form of a rubber ring, which prevents the blade from slipping out of the sheath, which is undesirable for a fighter during a special operation.

Today the “Gyurza” knife has been officially accepted for supply to the FSB special forces. Its blade has a one-and-a-half blade on the butt side, which improves the quality of a military weapon and makes it possible to use it to perform related “peaceful” tasks - it is very convenient for them to cut ropes, cables, and use them as a saw.

The history of the use of special forces in reconnaissance and sabotage activities behind enemy lines, in the fight against terrorists and especially dangerous criminals, has proven the urgent need for the use of combat knives. Rich experience in performing special specific tasks is taken into account when selecting bladed weapons for modern army units.

Marcos, India

Marcos is an elite special forces member of the Indian Navy. It was created in February 1987 to conduct special operations such as unconventional warfare, hostage rescue at sea, combating terrorism at sea, reconnaissance, etc. The Marcos unit is capable of conducting operations in all types of terrain, but specializes specifically in marine. Currently it has about two thousand personnel, although the real number of the detachment is classified.

GIS, 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. Nowadays he specializes in counter-terrorism operations and hostage rescue.

SSG, 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 analogous to the American Green Berets and the British SAS. They took part in the Afghan War (1979–1989) on the side of the Mujahideen. Today, the detachment is actively involved in anti-terrorist operations in Pakistan. The official number is 2,100 fighters.

EKO Cobra, Austria

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

Alpha, Russia

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

GIGN, France

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

GSG 9, Germany

GSG 9 is a special unit created in September 1973 with the aim of suppressing terrorist activities 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 persons and territories, conducting sniper operations, etc. The number of the detachment is 300 people. From the beginning of its existence to 2003, more than 1,500 successful operations were carried out.

Sayeret Matkal, Israel

Sayeret Matkal or "Detachment 269" is a special forces unit of the Israeli army, formed on the model of the British SAS in 1957 by officer Abraham Arnan. Sayeret Matkal can conduct a wide range of special operations, including reconnaissance and information gathering on the battlefield, combating terrorism, carrying out special operations behind enemy lines, releasing hostages, etc. Over the last 50 years of its existence, the detachment has taken part in more than than 1000 operations, including 200 outside Israel.

Navy SEAL, USA

Second place in the list of the best special forces units in the world is occupied by the Navy SEAL or “Navy 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.).

SAS, UK

The best special forces in the world is the SAS - a special unit of the British Armed Forces, founded on May 31, 1950. 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 throughout the world in 1980 after the successful storming of the Iranian embassy in London and the rescue of hostages.

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A special forces unit is a unique type of military or police force designed to fight and destroy terrorist groups, conduct special operations, organize guerrilla warfare, acts of sabotage 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 ranking of the best intelligence services in the world.

10 Marcos, India

9 GIS, Italy

8 SSG, Pakistan

7 EKO Cobra, Austria

6 Alpha, Russia

5 GIGN, France

4 GSG 9, Germany

3 Sayeret Matkal, Israel

2 Navy SEAL, USA

1 SAS, UK

The desire to find out who has the right to be called the best in a particular field seems to be inherent in human nature. Hence numerous competitions in completely different disciplines, various ratings and TOPs. But what to do when it comes to those who are already considered the elite. And is it possible to choose the most elite of them with some accuracy?

At the end of June, the American publication Business Insider compiled a rating of the strongest special forces in the world that perform the most difficult and delicate tasks. When compiling it, the authors took into account the reputation of each unit, the most famous operations, the quality of training and the severity of selection. The eight places in the order of ascending to the podium were as follows: Pakistan Army Special Forces Group; special naval forces of Spain; Directorate “A” of the TsSN FSB of Russia; special forces of the French gendarmerie GIGN; special forces of the General Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces “Sayeret Matkal”; British SAS and SBS; US Navy SEALs.

According to the rules of sport

Russian military experts greeted this rating with skepticism. For example, the director of the Center for Strategic Conjuncture, Ivan Konovalov, believes that its drafters simply wanted to kiss the States:

“It is clear that the Business Insider rating is politically biased, while it is absolutely unclear how the Americans compiled it. ... in theory, if you make an objective rating of special forces, then Russian and British should share first place. And even then, the British special forces have lost a lot in recent years, the glory of past years is simply following them.”

In principle, there is nothing surprising in an attempt to present American special forces in the best light, while simultaneously belittling the experience and skills of other, in particular Russian, fighters. This happens everywhere.

Thus, five years ago, the FSB department, which was ranked “A” in the American rating, participated in the Super SWAT International Round-Up competition, which is held annually in the state of Florida. Among the 72 teams, the majority were represented by American police special forces. Only 12 came from other countries: Russia, Hungary, Brazil, Germany, Sweden, Kuwait.

The geographical constraint of the event is explained, among other things, by the fact that Florida representatives openly condemn even units from other states, to say nothing of foreign guests. The Russian Alpha fighters who took part in the competition recall that they actually tried to fine them undeservedly more than once. And even despite this, the Russian team managed to occupy the top positions based on the results of the exercises, and even came first in the last race.

Competitions held outside the United States turn out to be even more interesting. In 2013, a team of veterans of Russian units (including Directorate “A” of the FSB and the special forces of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) on their own initiative decided to compete with their foreign colleagues for the King of Jordan Cup. Then everything went off without serious complaints about the judging, and, despite the victory of the Chinese special forces, the Russian veterans surprised the audience with their endurance, and showed the best result in the sniper exercise. This is provided that they were opposed by active special forces officers, often half the age of the members of our team.

“I think that if we brought an active unit to these competitions: Alpha, Vympel, Vityaz. - any of these units would be guaranteed first place!” - Alpha Colonel Sergei Vasilenko assessed the result then.

His predictions came true two years later. This time, it was not veterans who came to Jordan, but a national team formed from full-time soldiers of the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Chechen Republic. As a result, the title of champions left behind representatives of other countries, including China, which had been leading the previous two years.

By the way, American special forces at similar events far from their native shores and cool orange juice do not show their best side. At last year's competition in Kazakhstan, the US team withdrew on the first day, not wanting to give all their best “in the heat and in difficult conditions.”

Methodology problem

We must pay tribute, such competitions are not at all indicative on a global scale, since not all special forces take part in them (especially annually), and many exercises may not fully correspond to the tasks that a particular unit is called upon to solve in real combat .

However, the assorted ratings, compiled in the manner of what Business Insider published, are even less objective. And there are several reasons for this.

Firstly, it is impossible to determine who and with whom to compare. In most countries there are police special forces, there are special forces subordinate to the ministries of defense, and there are those who carry out the tasks of the special services. At the same time, the nature of the tasks for which each of these organizations is responsible differs from state to state. In its TOP, the American publication lumps together the FSB special forces that crush terrorists within the country; the military unit "Navy Seals", which carries out reconnaissance and sabotage operations in wartime behind enemy lines; British SAS, working on both army and MI6 intelligence assignments; GIGN, subordinate to the Ministry of Defense and Police.

Secondly, special forces are not a tank. They do not have clear characteristics such as armor thickness, range and accuracy of the shot, or maximum speed, by which one could determine the best model. It is rather the crew of a tank, which, all other things being equal, will win the battle. Here everything depends on the level of training, which can only be determined by pitting one unit against another in a real battle or at least its simulation. However, here again everything comes down to the tasks - the Marine Corps special forces do not fight the enemy Marine Corps special forces in real life, they have other goals.

Third, preference cannot be given based on the number of successful operations. Their number greatly depends on the age of the unit, as well as the characteristics of the foreign policy and internal stability of the state to which it belongs. For example, the Colombian police special forces - "Humglas" - which regularly storm the laboratories of local drug cartels, will in any case turn out to be more experienced than the special forces of the relatively quiet and calm Belgium. Just like the US Marines managed to harden themselves in Afghanistan and Iraq much stronger than the modern combat swimmers of peace-loving Denmark.

Need a twist

In view of the above, any attempt to find the strongest special forces in the world is doomed to an overly subjective result and the need to sacrifice serious nuances during analysis. Therefore, instead of such ratings, we propose to look at a selection of six countries and their special forces, which have a certain zest that distinguishes their fighters from others.

There are many special forces in the States: police SWAT, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, Green Berets, Marine Corps reconnaissance, 75th Ranger Regiment and others. The most elite are considered to be the Navy SEALs and the Army's Operational Detachment Delta. It is there that the best of the Rangers and Green Berets are subsequently selected. Over the past decades, these special forces, among others, have accumulated the most serious experience in military operations on foreign territory due to the United States' desire to spread democracy by starting wars. In addition, it was the American special forces, including Delta Force, SEALs and the Green Berets, that received the widest media coverage thanks to generous funding for the image component of these units and frequent appearances in the cinema and gaming industry.

Great Britain

In England, the undisputed leader is the airborne service of the ground forces - SAS. This is one of the oldest special forces in the world, founded back in 1941 and gaining its first combat experience in World War II. Afterwards there were Malaya, Borneo, Oman, Yemen, counter-terrorism operations in Northern Ireland, participation in conflicts in the South Atlantic, the Persian Gulf and Bosnia. Due to the tasks set over the years by both the British Army and its foreign intelligence service, the SAS acquired diverse and extensive experience in operating in real combat conditions and became the model by which many special forces were subsequently created in other countries.

Israel

At least some information, besides the name, is not available for all Israeli special forces. And among these, the most interesting are the special forces of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces “Sayeret Matkal” and the “Shayetet 13”, a special unit of the Israeli Navy, performing similar tasks at sea. They are engaged in intelligence, security and anti-terrorist operations in the country and abroad. It was Sayeret Matkal that was the main striking force during the operation at Entebbe airport, which is considered the most successful operation to free hostages on enemy territory in the entire history of the fight against terrorism. At the same time, Sayeret Matkal is the only unit of this level in the world that is staffed by conscripts.

Austria

The hostage taking at the Munich Olympics in 1972 forced many countries to work closely on creating anti-terrorist special forces. In Austria, this suffered its first failure just a few days after its creation - even before the group arrived at the hostage-taking site, the criminal shot two civilians, several police officers and committed suicide. Then there was a whole series of failures - at best, it was possible to reach an agreement with the terrorists only by transferring a ransom. It was only in 1978 that a new anti-terrorist group, Cobra, was created, which radically changed the reputation of the Austrian special forces. Despite the fact that during the history of the unit’s existence it did not have too many reasons to show itself in action, its fighters carried out several operations extremely quickly and with commendable results. Including "Cobra" is the only such detachment that managed to prevent the hijacking of an aircraft (by the way, Russian) directly during the flight. This special unit is also famous for the fact that during its existence, although not very long, not a single member died.

Netherlands

The most interesting Dutch special forces are the anti-terrorist units of the Royal Navy Corps (BBE), which includes a special squad of marines and a ground landing combat group. The highlight of WWE is the use of non-lethal capture methods. So, in 1974, a special squad successfully stormed a prison with armed Palestinian terrorists, using exclusively stun grenades and hand-to-hand combat techniques. But they became famous not for this incident, but for the operation carried out three years later - the simultaneous seizure of a school and a train with hostages. The coordinated actions of the Dutch special forces groups and the original moves taken both during the negotiations and during the assault subsequently ended up in the textbooks of most anti-terrorist special forces in the world.

Russia

Despite the diversity of Russian special forces and the difference in their purpose, the most famous in the world are considered to be the special forces of the GRU and the departments “A” and “B” of the TsSN FSB. At the same time, although their fighters have repeatedly proven their skills in using weapons both in sniper competitions and in real operations to capture and destroy field commanders in the North Caucasus, they have, first of all, a reputation as unsurpassed masters of hand-to-hand combat. Alpha veterans recall that they were trained to ensure that the enemy was destroyed or completely neutralized before he even realized what was happening. Moreover, due to the specific nature of the operations, from the outside it often seemed as if one of the friends simply felt unwell. Other Russian special forces are considered equally seriously trained in hand-to-hand combat. Here, for example, is what the English-language military portal armchairgeneral.com writes:

“...In hand-to-hand combat, Russian special forces are the best military unit in the world. Its members spend more time in training than any other special forces in the world, including the Navy Seals, Rangers, Green Berets, Delta, SAS and Israeli Commandos."
rmchairgeneral.com

But the most important thing, of course, is not the “highlights” of this or that division of this or that country. The main thing is that they can successfully fulfill their duties, protecting the peaceful sleep of their fellow citizens. It is worth noting that, it seems, Russian troops have succeeded in this better than all their colleagues - to a certain extent, it would be right to call our country a safe haven in a turbulent world. And let it continue to be so.

In the world of military forces, nothing captures the imagination more than special forces. In addition to the conventional armed forces, most countries have an elite group of troops that meet a higher standard of requirements and training. Some of these groups have received wide publicity, others are not so well known and are shrouded in myth. A commando can silently emerge from the water to quietly neutralize guards, storm a plane to rescue hostages in a hijacked shopping mall, sabotage enemy bridges and roads, and carry out other of the most secret missions in the military world. Which countries have the best special forces in the world? This is a difficult and almost unanswerable question, since any national special forces are created for serious missions, from counter-terrorism and hostage rescue, to reconnaissance and even attack. However, past operations and reputation can be taken into account to assess which forces are in the lead.

Special forces GIGN, France

First on the list is the French Gendarmerie Intervention Group (abbreviated GIGN) from France. GIGN, like most European special forces units, traces its origins to the hostage crisis at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. In France, a year earlier, there had been a prison riot during which hostages were taken and killed. The result of these upheavals led to the creation of a force that today includes approximately 400 fighters. Specializing in hostage rescue and counter-terrorism, GIGN has repeatedly demonstrated itself in action. Past operations have included the rescue of 30 schoolchildren hostages in Djibouti, the capture of war criminals in Bosnia, the fight against Somali pirates and, of course, the dramatic attack and rescue of Air France Flight 8969 in Marseille in 1994.

SSG Group, Pakistan

In 1956, the Pakistan Army created its own special forces, known as the Special Services Group (SSG). The force was modeled on the British SAS and American Special Forces, and its strength remains classified. Selection for the Special Forces is very strict, and only 1 in 4 recruits, after nine months of training, flight school, hand-to-hand combat courses and grueling physical exercises, make it into the ranks of the SSG. The SSG is trained to perform missions in all sorts of environments, including mountains, desert, jungle and even underwater combat. During the early Cold War, SSG forces trained and operated alongside American special forces. Some fighters trained in Afghanistan, fighting with the mujahideen against the Soviets in the 1980s. India claims that SSG forces have frequently attacked its soldiers in the border areas between the two countries. Later, the SSG focused on local counter-terrorism operations, taking part in many successful operations.

Sayeret Matkal, Israel

This Israeli special forces branch focuses on intelligence, anti-terrorism and hostage rescue outside of Israel. Sayeret Matkal was created in 1957 to fill a void in the Israeli Special Forces and is composed of candidates selected for high physical and intellectual characteristics. Candidates undergo eighteen months of training, including basic infantry school, parachute school, counter-terrorism training, and reconnaissance. The force has taken part in many large-scale operations since the 1960s. The most famous of them is Operation Entebbe/Thunderbolt, which made Sayeret Matkal famous throughout the world. The operation began after several Palestinian terrorists took hostages on board an airliner. Many hostages were released, but more than 100 people (mostly Israeli and Jewish hostages) were detained in the airport terminal building. A group of approximately 100 Israeli commandos, including Sayeret Matkal special forces, attacked the position, killing the terrorists and freeing all the hostages.

EKO-Cobra, Austrian special forces

In 1972, as a result of the attack on Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympics, Austria created the Cobra-Einsatzkommando for anti-terrorist operations. The unit was created from 450 men who served in the Austrian Federal Police. EKO-Cobra training is similar to other squads and includes several months of specialized courses in marksmanship, languages, hand-to-hand combat and tactical combat training. All candidates undergo psychological and physical testing. During training, Special Forces soldiers learn explosives, scuba diving and sniping. While EKO-Cobra has not had the same outstanding operations as Sayeret Matkal, they successfully freed hostages at Graz Prison in 1996, and are the only counter-terrorism team to prevent a mid-flight hijacking. In this case, in 1996, four Cobra fighters were on a flight when a hijacker called for the plane to divert. Needless to say, the hijacker chose the worst flight for such a step, and was immediately neutralized by special forces.

Delta Force, USA

The full name of this group is the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment "Delta". In addition to counterterrorism operations, Delta can also take part in hostage rescue, attack, reconnaissance and less covert direct influence operations. The group was formed in 1977 as a result of a growing number of terrorist operations. It was created mainly from soldiers who served in the American special forces, Green Berets, or Rangers. Potential candidates must be male, 21 years of age or older, have high test scores, and be well prepared physically and mentally. A series of grueling physical and mental tests eliminate the weakest ones right away. Based on the test results, less than 1 out of 10 applicants are admitted to intensive 6-month training courses. Delta Force operations are shrouded in secrecy, but you can be sure that they are at the forefront of any US operation.

Special Forces JTF2, Canada

Created in 1993 and expanded to several hundred troops following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Canada's JTF2 is an elite counter-terrorism and special operations force. Composed of members of the Canadian Armed Forces, JTF2 carries out a wide range of operations. They have repeatedly escorted VIPs and provided security at events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics. More secretly, they worked in many of the world's hot spots, rescuing hostages in Iraq, or tracking down Serbian snipers in Bosnia. Their presence in Afghanistan is largely classified, but it is known that some forces were still involved in individual operations. Their activities were so secret that even the Canadian Prime Minister was unaware that JTF2 was deployed to Afghanistan during the early years.

Spetsnaz Alpha, Russia

An elite Russian special forces unit, Alpha Group was founded in the mid-1970s and became famous during the invasion of Afghanistan, during which Alpha fighters stormed the Presidential Palace in Kabul, killing everyone in the building. In 1985, a team was sent to Beirut to try to rescue four Soviet diplomats. According to rumors, when the diplomats were killed, alpha fighters tracked down the relatives of the invaders and returned them to their families, almost piece by piece, to send a message to potential terrorists. Domestically, Alpha was involved in most major anti-terrorist operations, such as the siege of the Nord-Ost theater in 2002 and the Beslan school siege in 2004. Both events demonstrated the rather brutal nature of Russian special forces, as hundreds of hostages died during the operation.

Shayetet 13, Israel

Another Israeli special forces group, Shayetet 13 is affiliated with the Israeli Navy. Created in 1948, the force has taken part in all major Israeli military operations, from hostage rescue and counter-terrorism to intelligence gathering and surveillance. The training course takes 20 months and subjects candidates to the most intense psychological and physical tests before specialized training begins. Special forces soldiers learn all types of combat, parachuting, scuba diving and much more. Shayetet 13 is also responsible for seizing weapons heading to the Gaza Strip. Their most famous operation took place after the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, when special forces tracked down and eliminated those responsible for the attack on Israeli athletes.

Navy Seals, USA

The Navy SEALs are an American special forces group created in 1962. This group has achieved literally mythical status over the years of its existence. Thanks in part to Operation Neptune Spear, a mission in which commandos went to Abbottabad in May 2011 and killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda. This is an elite level of physical and mental strength where only the best of the best are selected. Training takes a year, and most applicants cannot even pass the physical qualification test, which includes swimming, push-ups, squats and running. But if you pass these very strict standards, then go to general training. After completing the training, you move on to become a Navy SEAL, and only after that the door to specialized training opens to you. All this ensures that special forces soldiers are physically and mentally strong and capable of carrying out the most difficult operations anywhere in the world.

SAS Special Forces, UK

What kind of special forces team could be superior to the legendary Navy SEALs? This is the SAS special forces - the British Special Service, created in 1941 to work behind German and Italian troops and support the Resistance movement against the occupying forces. The physical requirements for candidates are very strict and require great endurance. The test culminates in a 40-mile march with full gear, which must be completed in 20 hours. Candidates must be able to swim two miles in one and a half hours and run four miles in 30 minutes. After that, they are thrown into the jungle to learn survival and gain navigation skills, after which they undergo survival practice. The final test is a 36-hour interrogation session in an attempt to break the candidate's will. And only after this the candidate will be admitted to further training. SAS Special Forces members undertake security courses with MI5 and MI6, training in intelligence and counter-espionage operations. British special forces are like a mixture of the Navy SEALs and James Bond rolled into one.