Question: How many units does the Special Forces currently have?

List of military special forces units





This is a list of active military units, known as special forces or special operations forces (SOF), 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.
Definition
NATO currently defines "special operation" as;
special operations military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, trained, and equipped forces, manned with selected personnel, using unconventional tactics, techniques, and modes of employment.[1][2]
In 2001, NATO agreed to definitions with Russia defining special operations and special operations forces:-[3]
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.[4]
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.[4]
The United States definition of special operations is:-
special operations 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.[5]
The Canadian definition of special operations forces is:-
special operation forces 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.[6][7]
Afghanistan
Afghan National Army Special Operations Command[8]
Afghan National Army Commando Corps[9]
Afghan National Army Special Forces[10]
Ktah Khas Battalion[11] (AKA: Afghan Partner Unit, APU)[12]
Albania
Albanian Armed Forces
Special Operations Battalion  (Albanian: Batalioni i Operacioneve Speciale)[13]
Algeria
Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité
Special Intervention Group
Angola
Angolan Armed Forces
Special Forces Brigade (BRIFE)[14]
Argentina
Argentine Army[15]
Special Operations Forces Group
601 Commando Company
602 Commando Company
Argentine Navy
Tactical Divers Group
Amphibious Commandos Group[16]
Armenia
Armenian Army
One Spetsnaz regiment[17][18][19]
Australia


Special Operations Command-(Army)[20]
1st Commando Regiment[21]
2nd Commando Regiment[22]
 Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (East)[23]
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)[24]
 Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West)[23]
Royal Australian Air Force
B Flight, No. 4 Squadron[25]
Austria

Austrian Army
Jagdkommando[26][27]
1st Special Operations Task Group
2nd Special Operations Task Group
3rd Special Operations Task Group (Reserve)
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Armed Forces
Special Forces of Azerbaijan
641st Special Warfare Naval Unit
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Army
Para-Commando Brigade
Para Infantry Brigade
Airborne Brigade
Black Eagle Team
Bangladesh Navy
Special Warfare Diving and Salvage
Special Boat Squardorn
Bangladesh Airforce
41 Squardorn
Belarus

Special Operations Forces Command (Russian:командование сил специальных операций)[28][29]
5th Independent Special Purpose Brigade (Russian:5-я отдельная бригада специального назначения)[28][29]
38th Independent Guards Mobile Brigade (Russian:38-ю отдельную гвардейскую десантно-штурмовую бригаду)[28][29]
103rd Independent Guards Mobile Brigade (Russian:103-ю отдельную гвардейскую воздушно-десантную бригаду)[28][29]
Belgium

Belgian Land Component
Special Forces Group[30][31]
Botswana
Commando unit[32]
Brazil
Brazilian Army
Brazilian Special Operations Brigade[33]
1st Special Forces Battalion (1º BFEsp) - (1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais)
1st Commando Battalion (1º BAC) - (1º Batalhão de Ações de Comandos)[33]
1st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Company - (1ª Companhia de Defesa Química, Biológica, Radiológica e Nuclear)
3rd Special Forces Company (3ª Cia FEsp) - (3ª Companhia de Forças Especiais)
Special Operation Support Battalion[34]
Special Operations Platoon (Pelopes): One for each unit - (Pelotão de Operações Especiais)
Brazilian Air Force
Airborne Rescue Squadron (Para-SAR) - (Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento)[35]
Dagger Platoon - (Pelotão Punhal)[36]
Special Operations Platoon (Pelopes): One for each infantry unit - (Pelotão de Operações Especiais)
Brazilian Navy
Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion (COMANF) - (Batalhão de Operações Especiais de Fuzileiros Navais)[37]
Combat Divers Group (GRUMEC) - (Grupamento de Mergulhadores de Combate)[38]
Brunei
Royal Brunei Land Forces
Special Forces Regiment (SFR) - (Malay: Regimen Pasukan Khas, RPK)[39]
Bulgaria
Bulgarian Land Forces
68th Special Forces Brigade - independent component under the Chief of Defence, based in Plovdiv.
Bulgarian Navy
65th Seaborne Special Reconnaissance Detachment - frogmen unit of the Navy, based in Tihina area in Varna, unofficially called "Tihina" Detachment and "Black Sea Sharks" Detachment.[40][41]
Cambodia
Royal Cambodian Army
911 Special Forces Regiment[42]
Brigade 70 (B-70)[43]
Canada

Canadian Special Operations Forces Command[44]
Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) - (French: Force opérationnelle interarmées 2, FOI 2)[45][46]
Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) - (French: Régiment d'opérations spéciales du Canada, ROSC)[47][48]
427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) - (French: 427e Escadron d'opérations spéciales d'aviation, 427 EOSA)[49][50]
Chile

Chilean Armed Forces
Special Forces of Chile
China

People's Liberation Army Marine Corps[51]
Special Operations Battalion
Special Forces Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion
People's Liberation Army Ground Force
People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces[52]
Congo, Democratic Republic of
391st Commando battalion URR[53]
Croatia
Special Operations Command (Croatia)
Czech Republic
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR)
102nd Reconnaissance Battalion[54]
601st Special Forces Group
Denmark
Special Operations Command (Danish: Specialoperationskommandoen) (SOKOM)
Jaeger Corps (Danish: Jægerkorpset)[55]
Frogman Corps (Danish: Frømandskorpset)[55]
Danish Home Guard
Special Support and Reconnaissance Company[56]
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.[56] 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
Sa'ka Forces Thunderbolt Forces
Unit 333
Unit 777
Unit 999
Estonia
Estonian Special Operations Force (ESTSOF)
Special Operations Task Group
Ethiopia
Agazi Commando Division[57]
205th/206th Commando Brigade
Anti-Terrorism Battalion
ESOF(400 men detachment)
Finland
Finnish Army
Special Jaeger Company (Finnish: Erikoisjääkärikomppania) of the Utti Jaeger Regiment[58]
Finnish Navy
Special Action Detachment (Finnish: Erikoistoimintaosasto) of Coastal Brigade[58]
France
Special Operations Command
Armée de Terre (Army)
French Army Special Forces Command
1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment[59]
13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment[59]
4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment[59]
Marine Nationale (Navy)
Commandos Marine[59]
Armée de l'Air (Air Force)
No 10 Air Parachute Commando[59]
ET 03/61 Poitou[59]
Directorate-General for External Security
Action Division
Paratrooper Specialised Training Centre in Cercottes for clandestine operations
Paratrooper Specialised Instruction Centre in Perpignan for commandos
Paratrooper Training Centre for Maritime Operations in Quelern for combat divers
Gabon
Commandos Fusiliers Marins (COFUSMA)
Presidential Guard Unit
Georgia
Georgian Army
GSOF[60][61]
Germany

German Army
Rapid Forces Division
Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK)[62]
Specialized Army Forces with Expanded Capabilities (EGB Forces)[63]
German Air Force
Hubschrauber Geschwader 64
Kampfretter (Combat Rescue) [64]
German Navy
Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine (KSM)[65]
Greece

Hellenic Army
1st Infantry Division
32nd Marines Brigade
1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade [66]
13th Special Operations Command
Special Paratrooper Unit
Zeta Amphibious Raider Squadron
Hellenic Navy
Underwater Demolition Command (DYK) - is organized into sections called Underwater Demolition Teams (OYK)
Underwater Demolition Team 1
Underwater Demolition Team 2
Underwater Demolition Team 3
Underwater Demolition Team 4
Underwater Demolition Team 5
Hungary

HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion[67]
HDF 25/88th Light Mixed Battalion[68]
HDF 5/24th 'Gergely Bornemissza' Reconnaissance Battalion[69]
India


Research and Analysis Wing
Special Frontier Force
Indian Army
Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)[70]
Ghatak Force
Indian Navy
Marine Commandos (MARCOS)[71]
Indian Air Force
Garud Commando Force[72]
Indonesia

Indonesian Army
Kopassus (Ko</b>mando Pas</b>ukan Khus<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[31264,31273,3,3]}'>sus) 
 Indonesian army special forces command,[73][74]
SAT-81/Gultor (Detasemen Khusus-81 Penanggulangan Teror) 
Counter-terrorism unit of Kopassus.[75]
Tontaipur (Pele<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[32100,32109,3,3]}'>ton In<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[32112,32121,3,3]}'>tai Tem<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[32125,32134,3,3]}'>pur) 
Indonesian army special combat reconnaissance platoon from the Kostrad corps.[76]
Indonesian Navy
Kopaska (Ko</b>mando Pas</b>ukan Ka</b>tak) 
Indonesian navy frogman and Underwater demolition unit.[77][78]
Denjaka (De</b>taseme<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[32984,32991,3,3]}'>n Ja</b>la Mang<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[33007,33015,3,3]}'>ka</b>ra) 
Indonesian joint navy-marine counter-terrorism special force.[79] It is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Kopaska and Marine Corps' Taifib.
Taifib (Batalyon In<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[33518,33527,3,3]}'>tai-Am<b data-parsoid='{"dsr":[33530,33539,3,3]}'>fib</b>i) 
Indonesian Amphibious reconnaissance commandos battalion from the Indonesian Marine Corps.[80]
Indonesian Air Force
Paskhas (Korps Paskhas) 
 The Air force infantry and special forces corps of the Indonesian Air Force,[81]
Bravo Detachment 90 (Detasemen Bravo 90) 
Counter-terrorism unit of the Indonesian Air Force which its personnel comes from selected individuals from Paskhas.[82]
Iran

65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade (Persian: تیپ ۶۵ نیروهای ویژه هوابرد‎) (or the 65th NOHED Brigade (تیپ ۶۵ نوهد))
Iraq

Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Bureau (CTB)[83]
Iraqi Counter Terrorism Command
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 (two brigades, according to the IISS 2013). As of 30 June 2009, there had been legislation in progress for a year to make the Iraqi CTB a separate ministry.[83]
Ireland
Irish Army
Army Ranger Wing (ARW)[84]
Israel


Military Intelligence Directorate
Sayeret Matkal - (Hebrew: סיירת מטכ"ל) (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269)
Israeli Army
89th "Oz" Brigade
Unit 212 - Maglan – a commando unit which specializes in operating behind enemy lines[85]
Unit 217 - Duvdevan –  undercover operations unit operating in the West Bank
Unit 621 - Egoz – counter-guerrilla unit, originally for operating in southern Lebanon
Israeli Navy
Flotilla 13 - Shayetet 13 (Hebrew: שייטת 13‎), naval commando unit
Israeli Air Force
Unit 5101 - Shaldag (Hebrew: שלדג‎, romanized:Kingfisher) (Special Air-Ground Designating Team )[86]
Italy


Italian Army
9th Parachute Assault Regiment "Col Moschin" (Tier 1)[87][88][89]
185th Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"
4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment
3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment
Italian Navy
Comando Subacquei ed Incursori (COMSUBIN)[87][88]
GOI Gruppo Operativo Incursori (Operative Raiders Group)
Italian Air Force
17º Stormo Incursori (ex R.I.A.M., CCT) [87][88][90]
Carabinieri
Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) (Tier 1)[87][91] - in addition to special operations, is responsible for civil policing as a police tactical unit[92]
Japan
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Special Forces Group.[93]
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Special Boarding Unit[94]
Jordan
Joint Special Operations Command
71st Counter Terrorism Battalion
Kenya
Special Operations Regiment (Kenya)(SOR)[95]
30th Special Forces Battalion (30SF)
40th Ranger Strike Force (40RSF)
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea)
Korean People's Army Special Operation Force
Airborne
Reconnaissance Brigades
Light Infantry
Maritime SOF
Korean People's Army
Special Forces (11th Sniper Brigade)
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
Republic of Korea Army
Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command[96]
1st Special Forces Brigade (Eagle)
3rd Special Forces Brigade (Flying Tiger)
Oversea Deployment Group (Whole World) (Formerly 5th Special Mission Group 'Black Dragon')
7th Special Forces Brigade (Pegasus)
9th Special Forces Brigade (Ghost)
11th Special Forces Brigade (Golden Bat)
13th Special Mission Brigade 'Black Panther' - reorganized as the "decapitation unit" as of 2017
707th Special Mission Battalion (White Tiger)
Republic of Korea Navy[97]
Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Flotilla[98]
Republic of Korea Air Force[98]
Combat Control Team (CCT)
6th Search and Rescue Group
233rd Rescue Battalion
235th Rescue Battalion
Kuwait
Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade
One special forces unit [forming] (IISS Military Balance 2013)
Latvia
Latvian National Armed Forces
Latvian Special Tasks Unit (SUV)
Lebanon
Lebanese Special Operations Command[99]
Lithuania

Macedonia, Republic of
Army of the Republic of Macedonia
Special Force Battalion ("Wolves")[100]
Malaysia
Malaysian Army
Grup Gerak Khas (GGK)[101][102]
10 Paratrooper Brigade (Malaysia) (10 Para)[103][104]
Royal Malaysian Air Force
PASKAU[105][106][107]
Royal Malaysian Navy
PASKAL[108][109][110]
Maldives
Maldives National Defence Force
Special Forces (Maldives)
Mexico

Morocco
Groupe d'Intérvention de La Gendarmerie Royale
Namibia

Netherlands
Netherlands Army
Korps Commandotroepen (KCT)[111]
Netherlands Navy
Korps Mariniers
Maritime Special Operations Forces (MARSOF)[112]
New Zealand
Special Operations Command
1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment[113]
Nigeria
Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF)[114]
72nd Special Forces Battalion
133rd Special Forces Battalion
Nigerian Navy
Special Boat Service[115]
Norway
Norwegian Special Operation Forces (NORSOF) (Norwegian: Forsvarets Spesialstyrker)[116]
Armed Forces' Special Command (Norwegian: Forsvarets Spesialkommando) (FSK)[116]
Navy Special Operation Command (Norwegian: Marinejegerkommandoen) (MJK)[116]
Oman
Sultan's Special Forces
Pakistan
Pakistan Air Force
Special Service Wing (SSW)
Pakistan Army
Special Service Group (SSG)
Special Response Force (SRF) was inducted in April 2012 to strengthen the security of strategic nuclear assets.[117]
Pakistan Navy
Special Service Group Navy (SSGN)
Paraguay
Paraguayan Armed Force
Special Forces Battalion - (Batallón Conjunto de Fuerzas Especiales)
Special Troops of Army - (Tropas Especiales del Ejército)
Amphibious Commandos of Navy - (Comandos Anfibios de la Armada)
Commando Company of Air Force - (Comandos de la Fuerza Aérea)
Philippines

Special Operations Command (Philippines)
710th Special Operations Wing[118]
1st Scout Ranger Regiment[119][120]
Special Forces Regiment[121]
Light Reaction Regiment[122]
Marine Force Reconnaissance Battalion[123]
Naval Special Operations Group
Poland

Special Troops Command[124][125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132][129]
Operational-Maneuver Response Group (JW Grom)
Commando Regiment (JW Komandosów)
JW Formoza
JW AGAT
Support Unit of Command and Security of Special Forces "Nil" (JW Nil)
7 Special Operations Squadron - operational command only
Portugal
Portuguese Army
Commando Battalion[133]
Paratroopers
Pathfinders Company
Special Operations Force[133]
Portuguese Navy
Portuguese Marine Corps
Special Actions Detachment (DAE)[134]
Boarding Platoon (PelBoard)
Sappers Divers Group
Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Police
Core of tactical projections operations NOTP[135]
Force Protection Unit (UPF)
Romania
Ministry of Defense
Direcţia Generală de Informaţii a Apărării
Detaşamentul Special de Protecţie şi Intervenţie[136][137][138]
Romanian Land Forces:
6th Special Operations Brigade "Mihai Viteazu"
Russia

Special Operations Forces Command (Russian:командование сил специальных операций, (KCCO), tr.Komandovanie sil spetsial’nalnykh operatsii, (KSSO))[139]
Special Operations Forces (Russian:Силы специальных операций, (ССО), tr.Sily spetsial’nykh operatsii, (SSO))[139]
Special Purpose Center "Senezh"
Special Purpose Center "Kubinka-2"
Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)
Russian Ground Forces[140]
2nd Special Purpose Brigade in Promezhitsa, Pskov Oblast
3rd Special Purpose Brigade in Tolyatti
10th Special Purpose Brigade in Mol'kino, Krasnodar Territory
14th Special Purpose Brigade in Ussuriysk
16th Special Purpose Brigade in Tambov
22nd Special Purpose Guards Brigade in Stepnoi, Rostov Oblast
24th Special Purpose Brigade in Irkutsk
346th Special Purpose Brigade in Prokhladny
25th Special Purpose Regiment
Russian Airborne Troops[141]
45th Guards Special Purpose Brigade
Russian Navy
Naval Special Reconnaissance (OMRP)[142]
42nd Marine Reconnaissance point (Pacific Fleet)
388th Marine Reconnaissance point (Black Sea Fleet) - reorganized from the former 431st MRP
420th Marine Reconnaissance point (Northern Fleet)
561st Marine Reconnaissance point (Baltic Fleet)
Counteraction Underwater Diversionary Forces and Facilities (PDSS)
101st PDSS Detachment - based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
102nd PDSS Detachment - based in Sevastopol
136th PDSS Detachment - based in Novorossiysk
137th PDSS Detachment - based in Makhachkala
140th PDSS Detachment - based in Vidyayevo
152nd PDSS Detachment - based in Polyarny, Murmansk Oblast
153rd PDSS Detachment - based in Ostrovnoy, Murmansk Oblast
159th PDSS Detachment - based in Razboynik
160th PDSS Detachment - based in Murmansk
269th PDSS Detachment - based in Gadzhiyevo
311th PDSS Detachment - based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
313rd PDSS Detachment - based in Baltiysk
473rd PDSS Detachment - based in Kronstadt
National Guard of Russia[143]
Dzerzhinsky Division (O.D.O.N.)
604th Special Purpose Center
7th OSN Rosich (Novocherkassk)
12th OSN Ural (Nizhny Tagil)
15th OSN Vyatich (Armavir)
17th OSN  Edelveys (Mineralnye Vody)
19th OSN Ermak (Novosibirsk)
21st OSN Tayfun (Sosnovka)
23rd OSN Mechel (Chelyabinsk)
25th OSN Merkuriy (Smolensk)
26th OSN Bars (Kazan)
27th OSN Kuzbass (Kemerovo)
28th OSN Ratnik (Arkhangelsk)
29th OSN Bulat (Ufa)
30th OSN Svyatogor (Stavropol)
33rd OSN Peresvet (Moscow)
34th OSN Skif (Grozny)
35th OSN Rus (Simferopol)
Serbia

Serbian Army
Special Brigade (Serbian: Специјална бригада)[144][145]
Counter-Terrorist Battalion (Serbian: Противтерористички батаљон)[144][145]
72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion (Serbian: 72. извиђачко-диверзантски батаљон)[144][145]
63rd Parachute Battalion (Serbian: 63. падобрански батаљон)[144][145]
Military Police Directorate (Serbian: Управа војне полиције)[146][147]
Military Police Battalion for Special Purposes (Serbian: Батаљон војне полиције специјалне намене) (Cobra)[148][147]
Singapore
Special Operations Task Force
Naval Diving Unit
Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation
Special Operations Force
Slovakia
Slovak Armed Forces
5th Special Forces Regiment (Slovakia)
South Africa
South African National Defence Force
Special Forces Brigade[149]
4th Special Forces Regiment (South Africa)
5th Special Forces Regiment (South Africa)
Spain

Defence Staff (Joint Operations Command)
Joint Special Operations Command (Spain)[150] Mando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales (MCOE)
Spanish Army
Special Operations Command (Army) (Mando de Operaciones Especiales (MOE))[151]
2nd Special Operations Group "Granada"
3rd Special Operations Group "Valencia"
4th Special Operations Group "Tercio del Ampurdán"
19th Special Operations Group "Maderal Oleaga"
Special Operations Command Headquarters Group
Spanish Navy
Naval Special Warfare Force (FGNE)[152]
Special Operations Unit (Unidad de Operaciones Especiales)
Spanish Air Force
Airborne Combat Parachute Engineers Squadron (Escuadrón de Zapadores Paracaidistas (EZAPAC))[153]
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Army
Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment
Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka Navy
Special Boat Squadron (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka Air Force
Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment Special Force
Sri Lanka Air Force Special Air Borne Force
Sweden
Swedish Armed Forces
Special Operations Task Group (SOG)[154]
Swedish Army
Life Regiment Hussars (K3)
32nd Reconnaissance Battalion
Airborne Rangers (FJS)[155]
Arméns Jägarbataljon (Army Ranger Battalion) (K4)
Swedish Air Force
F 17 Kallinge   (F-17)
Air Force Rangers Company (FBJ) Flygbasjägarna
Swedish Royal Navy
Amphibious Corps
1st Marine Regiment (Amf 1)
202nd Coastal Jaeger Company (KJ) [156]
Switzerland

Swiss Army
Kommando Spezialkräfte KSK (Special Forces Command)
Professional units
Army Reconnaissance Detachment (ARD 10)[157][158]
Militärpolizei Spezialdetachement (Military Police Special Detachment)
Militia units
Grenadier Battalion 20
Grenadier Battalion 30
Grenadier Battalion 40 (Reserve)
Fallschirmaufklärer Kompanie 17 (Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17)
Syria
Special Forces Command [159]
14th Special Forces Division[160]
Qawat Al-Khassa
15th Special Forces Division
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Republic of China Military Police
Republic of China Military Police Special Services Company[161][162]
Thailand
Royal Thai Army
Special Warfare Command - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษ)[163]
Task Force 90 - (Thai: ฉก.90 กองปฏิบัติการพิเศษ).[164] Part of 3rd Special Forces Regiment - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่3) (รพ.ศ. 3พัน4)[165]
Royal Thai Navy
Naval Special Warfare Command (Navy SEALs) - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษทางเรือ)[166]
Royal Thai Air Force
Special Operations Regiment - (Thai: กรมปฏิบัติการพิเศษ กองทัพอากาศ)[167]
Turkey

Combined Arms
Special Forces Command (OKK) (aka Maroon Berets)[168]
Turkish Naval Forces[169][170]
Underwater Defence Group (SAS)
Underwater Offence Group (SAT)
Turkish Air Force[171]
Combat Search and Rescue
Ukraine
Ministry of Defense Units
The Special Operations Forces are one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with headquarters in Kyiv.
Ukrainian Ground Forces units
3rd Special Purpose Regiment (Kropyvnytskyi)[172]
8th Special Purpose Regiment (Khmelnitskyi)[173]
140th Special Purpose Center (Khmelnitskyi)[174]
16th Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Huiva)
72nd Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Brovary)
74th Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Lviv)
83rd Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Odessa)
Ukrainian Navy units
73rd Naval Special Purpose Center (73 MTSSN) (Ochakiv)[175]
Other units
99th Staff and Support Battalion, (Berdychiv)
142nd Training Center, (Berdychiv)
Security Service of Ukraine
Alpha Group[176]
United Kingdom



British Army
Special Air Service (SAS)
22 Special Air Service Regiment[177]
Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS(R))[178][179][180][181]
21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve)[182]
23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)[183]
Special Reconnaissance Regiment[184]
18 Signal Regiment (Royal Corps of Signals)[185]
Special Forces Support Group[186]
Royal Air Force/British Army
Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing[187]
7 Squadron (Royal Air Force)[187]
Special Forces Flight of 47 Squadron (Royal Air Force)[188]
657 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)[187]
658 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)[189]
Royal Navy
Special Boat Service (SBS)[190]
Special Boat Service (Reserve)[191]
United States


Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
United States Army
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D or "Delta Force")
Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)
Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC)
Flight Concepts Division[192]
United States Navy
Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU or "SEAL Team Six")
United States Air Force
24th Special Tactics Squadron (24th STS)
66th Air Operations Squadron (66 AOS)[192]
427th Special Operations Squadron (427th SOS)
Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group (AVTEG)[192]
Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)[193]
Army Special Forces Command ("Green Berets")[193]
1st Special Forces Group[193]
3rd Special Forces Group[193]
5th Special Forces Group[193]
7th Special Forces Group[193]
10th Special Forces Group[193]
19th Special Forces Group (National Guard)[193]
20th Special Forces Group (National Guard)[193]
75th Ranger Regiment[193]
1st Ranger Battalion
2nd Ranger Battalion
3rd Ranger Battalion
Special Troops Battalion
Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (Provisional)[194]
Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC)[193]
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment "Night Stalkers"[193]
Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion[193]
Army Special Operations Command Flight Company[193]
Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)[193]
Naval Special Warfare Group 1[193]
SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5, 7
Naval Special Warfare Group 2[193]
SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8, 10
Naval Special Warfare Group 3[193]
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1
Naval Special Warfare Group 4[193]
Special Boat Teams 12, 20, 22
Naval Special Warfare Group 10[195]
NSW Support Activity One
NSW Support Activity Two
Mission Support Center
Naval Special Warfare Group 11[193]
SEAL Teams 17, 18 (Reserves)
Naval Special Warfare Center[193]
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)[193]
1st Special Operations Wing[193]
24th Special Operations Wing[193]
27th Special Operations Wing[193]
193d Special Operations Wing (ANG)[193]
919th Special Operations Wing (AFRC)[193]
352nd Special Operations Group[193]
353rd Special Operations Group[193]
Air Force Special Operations Training Center[193]
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)[193]
Marine Raider Regiment[193]
Marine Special Operations Support Group[193]
Marine Special Operations Training Group
Venezuela
Venezuelan Air Force
Special Operations Air Group 10[196]
Special Operations Air Group 15[196]
Special Operations Air Group 17[196]
Vietnam
Under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (Bộ Tổng Tham mưu Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam)
Commando (Binh chủng Đặc công),[197] including:
Land commando (Đặc công bộ)[198]
Naval commando (Đặc công nước or Đặc nhiệm Hải quân)[199]
Airborne commando (Đặc công dù)[200]
Special reconnaissance (Trinh sát Đặc nhiệm): the reconnaissance force is not a separate branch, every armed branch has a reconnaissance team.[201]
Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe National Army
Special Forces of Zimbabwe
See also
Non-combat special units
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.
Australia: Special Operations Engineer Regiment (SOER) CBRNE unit[202]
Canada: Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU) - (French: Unité interarmées d'intervention du Canada, UIIC) CBRNE unit[203][204]
United States: Joint Special Operations Command
Joint Communications Unit
Joint Communications Integration Element (JCIE)
Joint Intelligence Brigade (JIB)
Joint Medical Augmentation Unit (JMAU)
United States Army Skills Evaluation Detachment (USASED) - selection/recruiting unit for "Grey Fox"[205]
United States Army Special Operations Aviation Command
Systems Integration Management Office (SIMO)[193]
Lists of similar military units

List of non-combat military special units
List of defunct special forces units
List of paratrooper forces
List of marine forces
List of special law enforcement units
List of military diving units
List of air force infantry and special forces units
List of Special reconnaissance units


Miscellaneous Notes