List of military special forces units


This is a list of active military units, known as special forces or special operations forces, that are specially organised, trained and equipped to conduct special operations.
These are distinct from special-purpose infantry units such as the Royal Marine Commandos.

Definitions

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, NATO agreed to the Russian definitions of 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.

Afghanistan

Algerian Navy
Algerian Air Force
Algerian Republican Guard
Argentine Navy
Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group
Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Navy
Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Navy
Bangladesh Air Force
Special Operations Forces Command
State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus
Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
Comando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales
National Army of Colombia
Colombian Navy
Colombian Air Force

Czech Republic


Danish Home Guard
Two other Danish units have some claim to special forces status. The Danish Home Guard's Special Support and Reconnaissance Company is capable of behind-the-lines stay-behind reconnaissance, similar to the Cold War role of the British 21 and 23 SAS Regiments. The Royal Danish Navy also maintains a unique ski patrol unit that conducts dog patrols of Greenland throughout the year. This unit, the Sirius Patrol, maintains a combat capability.

Egypt

Thunderbolt Forces
Finnish Navy:
Directorate-General for External Security
German Air Force
German Navy
Hellenic Air Force
Hellenic Navy
Indian Navy
Indian Air Force
Indonesian army special forces command,
Counter-terrorism unit of Kopassus.
Indonesian army special combat reconnaissance platoon from the Kostrad corps.
Indonesian Navy
Indonesian navy frogman and Underwater demolition unit.
Indonesian joint navy-marine counter-terrorism special force. It is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Kopaska and Marine Corps' Taifib.
Indonesian Amphibious reconnaissance commandos battalion from the Indonesian Marine Corps.
Indonesian Air Force
The Air force infantry and special forces corps of the Indonesian Air Force,
Counter-terrorism unit of the Indonesian Air Force which its personnel comes from selected individuals from Paskhas.

Iran

[Islamic Republic of Iran Army]

Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Bureau
The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Bureau reports to the Prime Minister directly. The Iraqi CTB oversees the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Command, a formation that includes all Iraqi Special Operations Forces. As of 30 June 2009, there had been legislation in progress for a year to make the Iraqi CTB a separate ministry.

Ireland

Israeli Army
Israeli Navy
Israeli Air Force
Italian Navy
Italian Air Force
Carabinieri
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Korean People's Army
Republic of Korea Navy
Republic of Korea Air Force
Latvian National Armed Forces
Lebanese Special Operations Command

Lithuania

Malaysia

Royal Malaysian Air Force
Royal Malaysian Navy
Maldives National Defence Force

Montenegro

Netherlands

Netherlands Navy
Armed Forces Special Forces
Nigerian Navy
Pakistan Army
Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Air Force
Portuguese Navy
Portuguese Air Force
Main Intelligence Directorate
National Guard of Russia
Royal Saudi Navy
National Intelligence and Security Agency
Defence Staff
Spanish Army
Spanish Navy
Sri Lanka Army
Sri Lanka Navy
Sri Lanka Air Force
Swedish Army
Swedish Air Force
Swedish Navy
Kommando Spezialkräfte KSK
Professional units
Militia units
Special Forces Command
Republic of China Army
Republic of China Marine Corps
Republic of China Military Police
Royal Thai Navy
Royal Thai Marine Corps
Royal Thai Air Force
Tunisian Air Force
Tunisian Navy

Combined Arms
Turkish Armed Forces
Turkish Naval Forces
Turkish Air Force
Units:
The Special Operations Forces are one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with headquarters in Kyiv.
Royal Air Force/British Army
Royal Navy
Army Special Operations Command
Naval Special Warfare Command
Air Force Special Operations Command
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command
Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces
Under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army
While the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group is a relatively overt unit, references to the JSOC units below are rare. Possibly the only authoritative source is Ambinder, Marc, and D. B. Grady The Command: Deep Inside the President's Secret Army, John Wiley & Sons, 2012.