List of military special forces units

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 the Russian definitions of 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]

Afghan National Army Special Forces Command (ANASOC)[8]

• National Mission Brigade (NMB)[9]
  • 6th Special Operations Battalion (SOK)
  • Ktah Khas Battalion[10] (AKA: Afghan Partner Unit, APU)[11]
  • Special Forces Battalion
  • Special Forces Battalion
• Afghan National Army Commando Corps[12]
  • 1st Commando Brigade
  • 2nd Commando Brigade
  • 3rd Commando Brigade
  • 4th Commando Brigade
• Military Intelligence Battalion[9]
• National Strategic Reserve Operations Battalion[9]

Albanian Armed Forces

• Special Operations Battalion (Albanian: Batalioni i Operacioneve Speciale)[13]
• Commando Battalion

Algerian Land Forces (CFT)

• 104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (104e RMO)
• 116th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (116e RMO)
• 25th Reconnaissance Regiment (25e RR)

Algerian Navy (AN)

• Navy Special Action Regiment (RASM)

Algerian Air Force (AAF)

• 772nd Air Commando Rifle Regiment (772e RFCA)

Algerian Republican Guard (GR)

• Special Intervention Regiment (RSI)

Angolan Armed Forces

• Special Forces Brigade (BRIFE)[14]

Argentine Army[15]

• Special Operations Forces Group
• 601 Commando Company
• 602 Commando Company

Argentine Navy

• Tactical Divers Group
• Amphibious Commandos Group[16]

Armenian Army

• One Spetsnaz regiment[17][18][19]

Australian Army

• Special Operations Command[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]
  • Special Operations Engineer Regiment[25]
  • 6th Aviation Regiment[26]
    • 171st Aviation Squadron[26]
    • 173rd Aviation Squadron[26]

Royal Australian Air Force

• No. 4 Squadron, B Flight[27]

Royal Australian Navy

• Clearance Diving Branch[28][Note 1]

Austrian Army

• Jagdkommando[29][30]
  • 1st Special Operations Task Group
  • 2nd Special Operations Task Group
  • 3rd Special Operations Task Group (Reserve)

Azerbaijani Armed Forces

• Special Forces of Azerbaijan
• 641st Special Warfare Naval Unit

Directorate General of Forces Intelligence

• Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau (CTIB)

Bangladesh Army

• Para-Commando Brigade
  • 1st Para Commando Battalion "Cheetah"
  • 2nd Para Commando Battalion
  • 3rd Para Commando Battalion
• Black Eagle Sniper Team

Bangladesh Navy

• Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS)
• Offensive Demolition Division 71 (ODD71)
• Special Boat Combatant Crewmen (SBCC)

Bangladesh Air Force

• No.41 Squadron

Special Operations Forces Command (Russian: командование сил специальных операций)[31][32]

• 5th Spetsnaz Brigade (Russian: 5-я отдельная бригада специального назначения)[31][32]
• 33rd Guards Spetsnaz Detachment (complete with officers and warrant officers)
• A special purpose detachment of 5th Spetsnaz Brigade (known as "company officer")
• 527th Spetsnaz Company
• 22nd Spetsnaz Company (Western Operational Command)

Belgian Land Component

• Special Operations Regiment in Heverlee[33]
  • Headquarters and Staff Company, carrying the traditions of the 4th Commando Battalion in Marche-en-Famenne
  • 2nd Commando Battalion in Flawinne
  • 3rd Paratroopers Battalion in Tielen
  • Special Forces Group in Heverlee[34][35]
  • 6th Communication and Information Systems Group in Peutie
  • Parachute Training Centre at Schaffen Air Base
  • Commando Training Centre in Marche-les-Dames

• Commando unit[36]

Brazilian Army

• Special Operations Command[37]
  • 1st Special Forces Battalion (1º BFEsp) - (1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais)
  • 1st Commando Battalion (1º BAC) - (1º Batalhão de Ações de Comandos)[38]
  • 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[39]
• Paratroopers Brigade (Brazil)
  • Brazilian Pathfinders - (Companhia de Precursores Pára-quedista)

Brazilian Air Force

• Airborne Rescue Squadron (Para-SAR) - (Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento)[40]

Brazilian Navy

• Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion (COMANF) - (Batalhão de Operações Especiais de Fuzileiros Navais)[41]
• Combat Divers Group (GRUMEC) - (Grupamento de Mergulhadores de Combate)[42]

• Royal Brunei Land Forces
  • Special Forces Regiment (SFR) - (Malay: Regimen Pasukan Khas, RPK)[43]

• 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.[44][45]

• Royal Cambodian Army
  • 911 Special Forces Regiment[46]
  • Brigade 70 (B-70)[47]

Special Operations Forces Command[48]

• Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) - (French: Force opérationnelle interarmées 2, FOI 2)[49][50]
• Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) - (French: Régiment d'opérations spéciales du Canada, ROSC)[51][52]
• 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) - (French: 427^e Escadron d'opérations spéciales d'aviation, 427 EOSA)[53][54]
• Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU) - (French: Unité interarmées d'intervention du Canada, UIIC)[55][56][57]

Chilean Armed Forces

• Special Forces of Chile

People's Liberation Army Ground Force

• People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces[58]
  • 71st Special Warfare Brigade
  • 73rd Special Warfare Brigade
  • 75th Special Warfare Brigade
  • 77th Special Warfare Brigade
  • 78th Special Warfare Brigade
  • 79th Special Warfare Brigade
  • 80th Special Warfare Brigade
  • 82nd Special Warfare Brigade
  • 84th Special Warfare Brigade
  • 85nd Special Warfare Brigade

People's Liberation Army Navy[59]

• Sea Dragon's Jiaolong Assault Team

People's Liberation Army Marine Corps[60]

• Special Forces Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion

People's Liberation Army Air Force[61]

• Leishan Thunder God Commando Airborne Force

People's Armed Police[62]

• Mountain Eagle Commando Unit
• Snow Leopard Commando Unit
  • 3rd Group,13th Detachment,People's Armed Police Beijing General Corps

Comando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales (CCOES - Joint Special Operations Command) (Army, Navy and Air force)

National Army of Colombia

• División de fuerzas especiales (DIVFE) (Army's main special forces branch, and division)
  • 1er regimiento de asalto aéreo (Air assault)
  • 2do regimiento de fuerzas especiales (Land operations)
  • 3er regimiento de apoyo a operaciones especiales (Support)
• Brigada Contra el Narcotráfico (BRCNA) (Counter narcotics)
• Batallón de acción directa y reconocimiento (BADRE) (Long range recon and combat)
• Batallón de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas AFEUR (Urban special forces)
• Agrupación de fuerzas especiales antiterroristas urbanas AFEAUR (Anti terrorist urban special forces)
• Fuerza de Despliegue Rápido "FUDRA" (Quick Reaction Force)
• Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad personal (GAULA) (Unified Action Group for Liberty) (Counter kidnap, counter extortion, and hostage rescue)

Colombian Navy

• Batallón de fuerzas especiales de infantería de Marina (BFEIM) (Marine Corps Special Operations Batallion)
• Comando de fuerzas especiales navales (COFEN) (Navy´s Special Operations group)
• Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad personal (GAULA) (Unified Action Group for Liberty) (Counter kidnap, counter extortion, and hostage rescue)

Colombian Air Force

• Agrupación de Comandos Especiales Aéreos (ECOEA) (Special Air Commando group)
• Grupo especial de operaciones de defensa aéreo (Air base defense)
• Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad personal (GAULA) (Unified Action Group for Liberty) (Counter kidnap, counter extortion, and hostage rescue)

National Police of Colombia (Gendarmerie, as it falls under the Military Penal Code, and it´s under the Ministry of Defense administration)

• (COPES) Comando de Operaciones Especiales (Commando group)
• (GOES) Grupo de Operaciones Especiales (SWAT)
• (CORAM) Comando de Reacción Motorizada (Motorized reaction group)
• (JUNGLA) Comandos Jungla Antinarcóticos (Counter narcotics)
• (CEAT) Cuerpo Especial Antiterrorista (Anti and counter terror)
• (GRATE) Grupo Antiterrorista (Anti terror)
• (BLAUR) Grupo Bloque Antiterrorista Urbano (Urban Anti Terror)
• (UNIR) Unidad de Intervención y Reacción (Quick reaction force)
• (FUCUR) Fuerza de Control Urbano (Urban control force)
• (GAULA) Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad personal (Unified Action Group for Liberty) (Counter kidnap, counter extortion, and hostage rescue)

• Black Wasp (Avispas Negras)
• Brigada Especial Nacional

• 391st Commando battalion URR[63]

Special Operations Command (Croatia)

Ředitelství speciálních sil[64]

• 601st Special Forces Group[65]
• Special Forces Support Center (Centrum podpory speciálních sil)
• Special Operation Air Task Unit (Letecký odřad speciálních operací)

Special Operations Command (Template:Langda) (SOKOM)

• Jaeger Corps (Danish: Jægerkorpset)[66]
• Frogman Corps (Danish: Frømandskorpset)[66]

Danish Home Guard

• Special Support and Reconnaissance Company[67]

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.[67] 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.

Sa'ka Forces Thunderbolt Forces

• Unit 333
• Unit 777
• Unit 999
• Black Cobra
• Navy Thunderbolt (SEALs)
• Rapid Deployment Forces (Egypt)

Estonian Special Operations Force (ESTSOF)

• Special Operations Task Group

• Agazi Commando Division[68]
  • 205th/206th Commando Brigade
    • Anti-Terrorism Battalion
      • ESOF(400 men detachment)

Finnish Army:

• Special Jaeger Company (Finnish: Erikoisjääkärikomppania) of the Utti Jaeger Regiment[69]

Finnish Navy:

• Special Action Detachment (Finnish: Erikoistoimintaosasto) of Coastal Brigade[69]

Special Operations Command

• Armée de Terre (Army)
  • Army Special Forces Command
    • 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment[70]
    • 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment[70]
    • 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment[70]
    • Special Operations Support Group
    • Special Forces Academy
• Marine Nationale (Navy)
  • FORFUSCO
    • Commandos Marine[70]
• Armée de l'Air (Air Force)
  • No 10 Air Parachute Commando[70]
  • No 30 Air Parachute Commando
  • ET 03/61 Poitou[70]

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

Defense Forces

• GSOF[71][72]

German Army

• Rapid Forces Division
  • Special Forces Command (KSK)[73]
  • Specialized Army Forces with Expanded Capabilities (EGB Forces) [74]

German Air Force

• Kampfretter[75]

German Navy

• Naval Special Forces Command (KSM)[76]

Hellenic Army

• 1st Infantry Division
  • 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade (LOK) (MAK)[77][78][79]
    • 13th Special Operations Command
    • Special Paratrooper Unit (ETA)
    • Zeta Amphibious Raider Squadron (Z'MAK)

Hellenic Air Force

• 31st Search & Rescue Squadron (31MEED)[80]

Hellenic Navy

• Underwater Demolition Command (DYK) - is organized into sections called Underwater Demolition Teams (OYK)[81]
  • Underwater Demolition Team 1
  • Underwater Demolition Team 2
  • Underwater Demolition Team 3
  • Underwater Demolition Team 4
  • Underwater Demolition Team 5

• HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion[82]
• HDF 25/88th Light Mixed Battalion[83]
• HDF 5/24th 'Gergely Bornemissza' Reconnaissance Battalion[84]

Indian Army

• Para (Special Forces) [85]
  • 1 PARA (SF) (raised 1961, converted to para role in 1945, became part of para regt in 1952, converted to commando in 1978)
  • 2 PARA (SF) (ex-3 Maratha LI, converted to special forces in 1999.)
  • 3 PARA (SF) (ex-1st Kumaon, converted to special forces in 2000)
  • 4 PARA (SF) (raised 1961, converted to special forces in 2001)
  • 9 PARA (SF) (the first dedicated special forces unit of the Indian Army)
  • 10 PARA (SF)
  • 11 PARA (SF)
  • 12 PARA (SF)
  • 21 PARA (SF)[86]

Indian Navy

• Marine Commandos (MARCOS)[87]

Indian Air Force

• Garud Commando Force[88]

• Joint units
  • Koopsus, counter-terrorism military unit of Indonesia.This unit work and was formed like Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to execute special operations missions worldwide.

Indonesian Army

• Kopassus (Komando Pasukan Khusus)
  Indonesian army special forces command,[89][90]
  • SAT-81/Gultor (Detasemen Khusus-81 Penanggulangan Teror)
    Counter-terrorism unit of Kopassus.[91]
• Tontaipur (Peleton Intai Tempur)
  Indonesian army special combat reconnaissance platoon from the Kostrad corps.[92]

Indonesian Navy

• Kopaska (Komando Pasukan Katak)
  Indonesian navy frogman and Underwater demolition unit.[93][94]
• Denjaka (Detasemen Jala Mangkara)
  Indonesian joint navy-marine counter-terrorism special force.[95] It is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Kopaska and Marine Corps' Taifib.
• Taifib (Batalyon Intai-Amfibi)
  Indonesian Amphibious reconnaissance commandos battalion from the Indonesian Marine Corps.[96]

Indonesian Air Force

• Paskhas (Korps Paskhas)
  The Air force infantry and special forces corps of the Indonesian Air Force,[97]
  • Bravo Detachment 90 (Detasemen Bravo 90)
    Counter-terrorism unit of the Indonesian Air Force which its personnel comes from selected individuals from Paskhas.[98]

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

23rd Takavar Division

1st Marine Imam Hossein Brigade

Sepah Navy Special Force

Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Bureau (CTB)[99]

• 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.[99]

Irish Army

• Army Ranger Wing (ARW)[100]

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[101]
  • 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 )[102]
• Unit 669 - Combat Search and Rescue and Airborne Medical Evacuation Unit - a tactical unit for special rescue operations

Italian Army

• 9th Parachute Assault Regiment "Col Moschin" (Tier 1)[103][104][105]
• 185th Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"
• 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment
• 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment

Italian Navy

• Comando Subacquei ed Incursori (COMSUBIN)[103][104]
  • Operational Raider Group
  • Operational Divers Group
  • Special Naval Group

Italian Air Force

• 17º Stormo Incursori (ex R.I.A.M., CCT)[103][104][106]

Carabinieri

• Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) (Tier 1)[103][107] - in addition to special operations, is responsible for civil policing as a police tactical unit[108]

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

• Special Forces Group.[109][Note 2]

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

• Special Boarding Unit[110]

Joint Special Operations Command

• 71st Counter Terrorism Battalion

• Special Operations Regiment (Kenya)(SOR)[111]
  • 30th Special Forces Battalion (30SF)
  • 40th Ranger Strike Force (40RSF)

Korean People's Army Special Operation Force

• Airborne
• Reconnaissance Brigades
• Light Infantry
• Maritime SOF

Korean People's Army

• Special Forces (11th Sniper Brigade)

Republic of Korea Army

• Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command[112]
  • 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[113]

• Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Flotilla[114]

Republic of Korea Air Force[114]

• Combat Control Team (CCT)
• 6th Search and Rescue Group
  • 233rd Rescue Battalion
  • 235th Rescue Battalion
  • SART Special Air Rescue Team

• Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade
• One special forces unit [forming] (IISS Military Balance 2013)

Latvian National Armed Forces

• Latvian Special Tasks Unit (SUV)

Lebanese Special Operations Command[115]

Malaysian Army

• Grup Gerak Khas (GGK)[116][117]

Royal Malaysian Air Force

• PASKAU[118][119][120]

Royal Malaysian Navy

• PASKAL[121][122][123]

Maldives National Defence Force

• Special Forces (Maldives)

• Special Forces Company [124]

Netherlands Army

• Korps Commandotroepen (KCT)[125]

Netherlands Navy

• Korps Mariniers
  • Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF)
    • M-Squadron
    • C Squadron (Mountain Leader Recon and Amphibian Recon)
    • T Squadron (Training Squadron)
    • Special Operation Forces Support Group

Special Operations Command

• New Zealand Special Air Service[126]

• Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF)[127]
  • 72nd Special Forces Battalion 101st special forces battalion

401 Special Forces Brigade(No impossibility) (The killer bee)401 Special Forces Brigade Strike Force(The black Badgers)

• • 133rd Special Forces Battalion

Nigerian Navy

• Special Boat Service[128]

Army of the Republic of Macedonia

• Special Operations Regiment ("Wolves")[129]

Norwegian Special Operation Forces (NORSOF) (Norwegian: Forsvarets Spesialstyrker)[130]

• Armed Forces' Special Command (Norwegian: Forsvarets Spesialkommando) (FSK)[130]
• Navy Special Operation Command (Norwegian: Marinejegerkommandoen) (MJK)[130]

• Sultan's Special Forces

Inter-Services Intelligence

• Covert Action Division (CAD)

Pakistan Army

• Special Service Group (SSG)(Black Storks)
  • 1st Commando Battalion "Yaldram" in Attock District
  • 2nd Commando Battalion "Rahber" in Attock District
  • 3rd Commando Battalion "Powindahs" in Tarbela
  • 4th Commando Battalion "Yalghar"
  • 5th Commando Battalion "Zilzaal"
  • 6th Commando Battalion "al-Samsaam"
  • 7th Commando Battalion "Babrum"
  • 8th Commando Battalion "al-Azb"

Pakistan Navy

• Special Service Group Navy (SSGN)

Pakistan Air Force

• Special Service Wing (SSW)

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)

Peruvian Armed Forces

• Peruvian Army
  • 1st Special Forces Brigade[131]
• Peruvian Navy
  • Special Operations Force - (Fuerza de Operaciones Especiales) FOES
  • Peruvian Marines
    • Espíritus Negros
    • Fuerza Delta[132]

Special Operations Command (Philippines)

• 710th Special Operations Wing[133]
• 1st Scout Ranger Regiment[134][135]
• Special Forces Regiment[136]
• Light Reaction Regiment[137]
• Marine Special Opeations Group[138]
• Naval Special Operations Group

Special Troops Command[139][140][141][142][143][144][144][145][146][147]

• 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

Portuguese Army

• Commando Regiment[148]
• Paratroopers
  • Pathfinders Company
• Special Operations Force[148]

Portuguese Navy

• Portuguese Marine Corps
  • Special Actions Detachment (DAE)[149]
  • Boarding Platoon (PelBoard)
• Sappers Divers Group

Portuguese Air Force

• Portuguese Air Police
  • Core of Tactical Operations of Protection (NOTP - Núcleo de Operações Táticas de Proteção)[150]

Ministry of Defense

• Direcţia Generală de Informaţii a Apărării
  • Detaşamentul Special de Protecţie şi Intervenţie[151][152][153]
• Romanian Land Forces:
  • 6th Special Operations Brigade "Mihai Viteazu"

Special Operations Forces Command (Russian: командование сил специальных операций, (KCCO), tr. Komandovanie sil spetsial’nalnykh operatsii, (KSSO))[154]

• Special Operations Forces (Russian: Силы специальных операций, (ССО), tr. Sily spetsial’nykh operatsii, (SSO))[154][155]
  • Special Purpose Center "Senezh"
  • Special Purpose Center "Kubinka-2"
  • 561st Naval Rescue Center
• 344th Army Aviation Combat Center

Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)

• Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (Spetsnaz GRU)
  • Russian Ground Forces[156]
    • 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
    • 25th Special Purpose Regiment
• Russian Airborne Troops[157]
  • 45th Guards Special Purpose Brigade
• Russian Navy
  • Naval Special Reconnaissance (OMRP)[158]
    • 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[159]

• 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)
• 1st Marine Detachment of the MVD (Khabarovsk);
• 2nd Marine Detachment of the MVD (Murmansk);
• 31st Marine Training Detachment of the MVD (Severobaikalsk);
• 32nd Marine Detachment of the MVD (Ozersk);

Saudi Arabian Army

• 64th Special Forces Brigade
  • 85th Special Forces Battalion

Royal Saudi Navy

• Special Naval Security Units

Serbian Army

• 72nd Brigade for Special operations (Serbian: 72. бригада ѕа специјалне операције)[160][161]
• 63rd Parachute Brigade (Serbian: 63. падобранскa бригада)[160][161]

• Cobras (Serbia) (Serbian: Кобрe)

Special Operations Task Force

• Naval Diving Unit
• Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation
• Special Operations Force

Slovak Armed Forces

• 5th Special Forces Regiment (Slovakia)

South African National Defence Force

• Special Forces Brigade[162]
  • 4th Special Forces Regiment (South Africa)
  • 5th Special Forces Regiment (South Africa)

Somali Armed Forces

• DANAB Brigade

National Intelligence and Security Agency

• Gaashaan Brigade
• Waran Brigade

Defence Staff (Joint Operations Command)

• Joint Special Operations Command[163] Mando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales (MCOE)

Spanish Army

• Special Operations Command (Mando de Operaciones Especiales (MOE))[164]
  • 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

• Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial
  • Special Operations Unit (Unidad de Operaciones Especiales)

Sri Lanka Army

• Army Special Forces Regiment
• Army Commando Regiment
• Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol

Sri Lanka Navy

• Special Boat Squadron

Sri Lanka Air Force

• Regiment Special Force
• Special Air Borne Force

Sri Lanka Police

• Special Task Force

Swedish Armed Forces

• Special Operations Task Group (SOG)[165]

Swedish Army

• Life Regiment Hussars (K 3)
  • 32nd Intelligence Battalion
    • 323. Parachute Ranger Squadron (Fallskärmsjägarna)[166]
• 193rd Ranger Battalion (Jägarbataljonen)

Swedish Air Force

• Blekinge Air Force Wing (F17)
  • Air Force Rangers (Flygbasjägarna)

Swedish Navy

• Amphibious Corps
  • 1st Marine Regiment (Amf 1)
    • 202nd Coastal Ranger Company (Kustjägarna)[167]

Swiss Army Kommando Spezialkräfte KSK (Special Forces Command)

Professional units

• Army Reconnaissance Detachment (ARD 10)[168][169]
• 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)

Special Forces Command[170]

• 14th Special Forces Division[171] - possibly no longer operational
• 15th Special Forces Division - possibly no longer operational
• 25th Special Forces Division[172]

Republic of China Army

• 101st Reconnaissance Battalion (中華民國陸軍101兩棲偵察營)
• Special Forces Command (特戰指揮部) In charge of 3 training centers
  • Army Airborne Training Center (大武營「陸軍空降訓練中心」)
  • Army Special Forces Training Center (谷關「陸軍特戰訓練中心」)
  • Army Winter and Mountain Training Center (武嶺寒訓中心)
• Special Operation Command
  • 862 Special Operation Group
  • 871 Special Operation Group
  • Airborne Special Service Company (ASSC) (高空特種勤務中隊)

Republic of China Marine Corps

• Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit (ARP) (海軍陸戰隊兩棲偵搜大隊)

Republic of China Military Police

• Republic of China Military Police Special Services Company[173][174] (中華民國憲兵特勤隊)

Royal Thai Army

• Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command also known as Royal Thai Army Special force - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษ)[175]
  • 1st Special Forces Division - (Thai: กองพลรบพิเศษที่1)
    • 1st Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่1)
    • 2nd Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่2)
    • 3rd Special Forces Regiment, King's Guard. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่3 รักษาพระองค์)[176]
      • Ranger Battalion, King's Guard. also known as Royal Thai Army Ranger - (Thai: กองพันจู่โจม รักษาพระองค์)
      • Special Operation Battalion, King's Guard. also known as 90th Task Force - (Thai: ฉก.90 กองปฏิบัติการพิเศษ รักษาพระองค์).[177]
      • Special Forces Battalion. - (Thai: กองพันรบพิเศษ)
    • 4th Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่4)
    • 5th Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่5)
    • Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company. (LRRP) - (Thai: กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกล)

Royal Thai Navy

• Naval Special Warfare Command also known as Royal Thai Navy SEALs - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษทางเรือ)[178]

Royal Thai Marine Corps

• Reconnaissance Battalion also known as Force Recon Marine - (Thai: กองพันลาดตระเวน กองพลนาวิกโยธิน)

Royal Thai Air Force

• Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน กองทัพอากาศ)
  • Special Operations Regiment also known as Air Force Commando - (Thai: กรมปฏิบัติการพิเศษ หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน กองทัพอากาศ)[179]
    • Command Center
      • 1st Special Operation Battalion (Commando) - (Thai: กองพันปฏิบัติการพิเศษที่1)
      • 2nd Special Operation Battalion (Commando) - (Thai: กองพันปฏิบัติการพิเศษที่2)
      • 3rd Special Operation Battalion (Commando) - (Thai: กองพันปฏิบัติการพิเศษที่3)
    • Aerial Support Company - (Thai: ฝ่ายสนับสนุนส่งทางอากาศ)
    • Combat Search and Rescue Center (CSAR) (Pararescuemen) - (Thai: กองค้นหาและช่วยเหลือ)

Tunisian Army

• Special Forces Group (Groupement des Forces Spéciales) commonly known as (GFS) - (Arabic: فيلق القوات الخاصة‎)[180]

• • Military Intervention Group - Groupe d'Intervention Militaire (GIM) - (Arabic: فوج التدخل العسكري‎)[181]

Tunisian Air Force

• Special Air Regiment - Régiment de Chasseurs Aérien (RCA) - (Arabic: فوج المشاة طلائع الطيران‎)[182]

Tunisian Navy

• 51st Regiment Marine Corps (RMC) - (Arabic: الفوج 51 مشاة البحرية‎) [183]
• 52nd Regiment Marine Commandos (RMC) - (Arabic: الفوج 52 طلائع البحرية‎) [184]

Combined Arms

Turkish Armed Forces

• Special Forces Command (OKK) (aka Maroon Berets)[185]

Turkish Naval Forces[186][187]

• Underwater Defence Group (SAS)
• Underwater Offence Group (SAT)
• Maritime Search and Security Operations Team (Söh)
• Diving, Safety, Security, Search and Rescue Team DEGAK

Turkish Air Force[188]

• Combat Search and Rescue (MAK)
• Air Force Search and Rescue

Gendarmerie General Command

• Gendarmerie Special Public Security Command (JÖAK)
  • Gendarmerie Special Operations (JÖH)
  • Gendarmerie Search and Rescue Battalion Command (JAK)
  • Gendarmerie Underwater Search and Rescue Teams (SAK)

General Directorate of Security (Turkey)

• Police Special Operation Department (PÖH)

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)[189]
  • 8th Special Purpose Regiment (Khmelnytskyi)[190]
  • 140th Special Purpose Center (Khmelnytskyi)[191]
  • 16th Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Huiva)
  • 72nd Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Brovary)
  • 74th Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Lviv)
  • 83rd Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Odesa)
• Ukrainian Navy units
  • 73rd Naval Special Purpose Center (73 MTSSN) (Ochakiv)[192]
• Other units
  • 99th Staff and Support Battalion, (Berdychiv)
  • 142nd Training Center, (Berdychiv)

British Army

• Special Air Service (SAS)
  • 22 Special Air Service Regiment[193]
• Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS(R))[194][195][196][197]
  • 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve)[198]
  • 23 Special Air Service Regiment (Reserve)[199]
• Special Reconnaissance Regiment[200]
• 18 Signal Regiment (Royal Corps of Signals)[201]
• Special Forces Support Group[202]

Royal Air Force/British Army

• Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing[203]
• 7 Squadron (Royal Air Force)[203]
  • Special Forces Flight of 47 Squadron (Royal Air Force)[204]
  • 657 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)[203]
  • 658 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)[205]

Royal Navy

• Special Boat Service (SBS)[206]
• Special Boat Service (Reserve)[207]

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[208]
• 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)[208]
  • 427th Special Operations Squadron (427th SOS)
  • Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group (AVTEG)[208]

Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)[209]

• Army Special Forces Command ("Green Berets")[209]
  • 1st Special Forces Group[209]
  • 3rd Special Forces Group[209]
  • 5th Special Forces Group[209]
  • 7th Special Forces Group[209]
  • 10th Special Forces Group[209]
  • 19th Special Forces Group (National Guard)[209]
  • 20th Special Forces Group (National Guard)[209]
• 75th Ranger Regiment[209]
  • 1st Ranger Battalion
  • 2nd Ranger Battalion
  • 3rd Ranger Battalion
  • Special Troops Battalion
  • Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (Provisional)[210]
• Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC)[209]
  • 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment "Night Stalkers"[209]
  • Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion[209]
  • Army Special Operations Command Flight Company[209]

Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)[209]

• Naval Special Warfare Group 1[209]
  • SEAL Teams 1, 3, 5, 7
• Naval Special Warfare Group 2[209]
  • SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8, 10
• Naval Special Warfare Group 3[209]
  • SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1
• Naval Special Warfare Group 4[209]
  • Special Boat Teams 12, 20, 22
• Naval Special Warfare Group 10[211]
  • NSW Support Activity One
  • NSW Support Activity Two
  • Mission Support Center
• Naval Special Warfare Group 11[209]
  • SEAL Teams 17, 18 (Reserves)
• Naval Special Warfare Center[209]

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)[209]

• 1st Special Operations Wing[209]
• 24th Special Operations Wing[209]
• 27th Special Operations Wing[209]
• 193d Special Operations Wing (ANG)[209]
• 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRC)[209]
• 352nd Special Operations Group[209]
• 353rd Special Operations Group[209]
• Air Force Special Operations Training Center[209]

Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)[209]

• Marine Raider Regiment[209]
• Marine Special Operations Support Group[209]
• Marine Special Operations Training Group

Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF)[212]

• Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT)

Venezuelan Air Force

• Special Operations Air Group 10[213]
• Special Operations Air Group 15[213]
• Special Operations Air Group 17[213]

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),[214] including:
  • Land commando (Đặc công bộ)[215]
  • Naval commando (Đặc công nước or Đặc nhiệm Hải quân)[216]
  • Airborne commando (Đặc công dù)[217]
• Special reconnaissance (Trinh sát Đặc nhiệm): the reconnaissance force is not a separate branch, every armed branch has a reconnaissance team.[218]

Zimbabwe National Army

• Special Forces of Zimbabwe

Miscellaneous Notes

• US Special Operation Forces – 2009 SOCOM Factbook
• China Special Operation Units
• ShadowSpear Special Operations: SOF Unit Profiles