What is the name of the French special forces? Army special forces - the elite of the Russian army

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 - British special forces for last years has lost a lot, the glory of past years is simply following him.”

In principle, there is nothing surprising in an attempt to deploy American special forces in better light, 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 the 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 of 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; military unit "Navy Seals", which carries out reconnaissance and sabotage operations in war time 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 it all comes down to tasks - special forces Marine Corps does not fight enemy marine special forces in real life, he has 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 foreign policy and the 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 those performing similar tasks at sea “Shayetet 13” - special unit Israeli Navy. 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 - in best case scenario It was possible to reach an agreement with the terrorists only through the transfer of 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 techniques hand-to-hand combat. 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 conventional armed forces, most countries have an elite group of troops corresponding to more high standard 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 an airplane to rescue hostages in a captured mall, sabotage enemy bridges and roads, and carry out other 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 hostage rescue on 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 ranks is very strict, and only 1 out of 4 newcomers after nine months of training, airborne school, hand-to-hand combat courses and grueling physical exercise fall 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 in 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, parachute jumping, 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's 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.




Do you remember the old Soviet joke? At a meeting at NATO, generals decide in which army in the world, which elite units are best trained. English Green Berets? Or American? Or someone else? Finally, one old general says that the most terrible troops are in the Soviet Union. They are called a strange word, and due to their special savagery, they are not even trusted with weapons. The Soviet Union conveniently collapsed. In the Russian army, the construction battalion was abolished (replacing it with more favorable phrases “railway troops” and “ engineering troops"), but still, it is interesting to know which country owns the most powerful elite special forces.

Of course, it is difficult to compare these troops with each other, since it is impossible to hold a tournament between them according to the Olympic system in the manner of gladiator fights practiced in Ancient Rome, but you can try to evaluate the entry requirements, training, as well as the track record of these military formations. So….

8. Black Stork Squad, Pakistan

A special forces group that got its name from its unique headgear. During training, the fighters of this formation must complete a forced march of 58 km in 12 hours and with full equipment. It fights mainly against Afghans, including the Taliban.

7. Special Operations Unit of the Spanish Navy

Created in 1952, initially only volunteers were recruited there. It was called a “company of mountaineering divers” ( original name, isn't it?) Later transformed into an elite unit. The selection for this unit is very strict. Based on the results of the qualifying course, 70-80% of applicants are usually eliminated.

6. Russian special forces "Alpha"

Created in 1974, of course, under the KGB, subsequently, after the collapse Soviet Union, came under the control of the FSB. After the collapse of the Union, this special unit clearly had more work. All kinds of operations in the North Caucasus and beyond. Alpha fighters fight both with and representatives of organized crime. As you understand, there are an order of magnitude more of both of them in Russia than in the former USSR.

What can you do, the world is changing. For Beslan and Nord-Ost, Alpha is still criticized to this day, making unjustified accusations against the security forces a large number of victims. But, it must be said that in the same notorious Moscow theater, Alpha people corrected the mistakes of other people who showed phenomenal carelessness and indifference. The result was 129 dead hostages, mainly from the effects of paralytic.

However, the professionalism and highest fighting qualities of the Alpha fighters are beyond doubt. Suffice it to recall the storming of Amin’s palace in Kabul in 1979, numerous operations in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and others. For example, the liquidation of the leader of Ichkeria Aslan Maskhadov and the representative of Al-Qaeda in Chechnya and the adjacent regions of Abu Havsa, the release of hostages in Mineralnye Vody in 2001. As for criticism, it seems that the peculiarities of the Russian mentality have an effect. Criticize, look for the guilty, and sometimes even curse, accusing of all known mortal sins, but when it gets hot, tearfully beg for help.

5. Special forces of the French gendarmerie, the so-called intervention group. GIGN

The main combat missions are operations to free hostages, this is the specificity of the group. When seizing the Al-Harak Mosque in 1979 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, special forces were faced with the fact that only Muslims could be allowed into the territory of the holy city. Then three fighters of the group, and after that they immediately joined the Saudi Arabian troops, who were liberating the mosque from the terrorists. In total, the group’s combat account includes more than 600 freed hostages.

4. Special unit Sayeret Matkal, Israel

The main tasks are reconnaissance and information collection. Therefore, the fighters of this unit spend a lot of time behind enemy lines. Not everyone can withstand the extreme stress of the qualifying course (gibusha). are carried out under the supervision of doctors and a psychologist. Based on the results of the death, only the best are accepted into the unit. One of the group's most memorable operations was the release of an Israeli taxi driver named Ilyahu Gurel, who had been kidnapped by three Palestinians whom he had taken to Jerusalem. His captors held him in a 10-meter shaft in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Ramallah. However, special forces soldiers found him there too. As for the terrorists, they were given what they deserved.

3. UK Special Air Service, or SAS (Special Air Service)

This is, in a way, a double of the SBS Marine Corps special unit. The motto of this unit is “He who takes risks wins.” The SAS saw action in Iraq following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. As American General Stanley McChrystal noted, “Their participation was critical. We couldn't have done it without them." This statement best characterizes the role of the SAS in those events, as well as the level of combat training.

2. Special unit of the British Marine Corps - SBS (Special Boat Service)

There is also a very tough selection and high intensity of training. The training course includes all kinds of endurance tests, training in survival skills in combat conditions, training in the jungles of Belize, plus intensive interrogation of candidates for admission. You can take the test course no more than twice.

1. SEALs are an elite unit of the US Armed Forces

The main tactical unit of the US Navy's special operations forces. They are mainly engaged in reconnaissance, sabotage activities and the release of hostages, and also solve other tasks of a tactical nature (clearing mines, combating illegal border crossings). The formation of the detachment began in 1962. First of all, fighters who could swim well and wield bladed weapons were selected for the detachment. From 1962 to 1973, SEALs fought in Vietnam, both as part of reconnaissance teams and as instructors for Vietnamese soldiers. Invaded Grenada (Operation Flash of Fury, 1983). Participated in the Gulf War (Operation Main Chance). They fought in Panama and Afghanistan. On May 2, 2011, a Navy Special Forces team conducted a successful operation to eliminate Bin Laden.

The specificity of training fur seals is that they perceive water not as an obstacle, but as a natural environment. Service in the SEAL places increased demands on the health of fighters, both physical and psychological, and therefore the training there is appropriate. What is “” worth when for 5 days the fighters sleep only 4 hours a day, and the rest of the time is occupied with survival tests. The motto of the Navy SEALs - “the only easy day was yesterday” - clearly indicates the progressive nature of the loads, which would already seem prohibitive to an ordinary person.

These units are involved in the most difficult situations, where conventional power structures are usually powerless. They are called the special forces elite. They are available in many countries, but this review includes only the best of the best.

Sayeret Matkal (IDF Special Forces) Israel

The special squad was formed in 1957 by an officer named Abraham Arnan. When creating the Israeli “unit 269,” they were guided by the methods of preparing and carrying out operations of the British SAS special forces. (more on them later). The number and location of Sayeret Matkal are strictly classified. There is no accurate information in the open press about the structure of the detachment. The list of functions of the unit includes: counter-terrorism, reconnaissance and hostage rescue.

Israeli specialists are true masters of their craft. In order to join the ranks of such an elite unit in the country, conscripted soldiers undergo a long training course, which lasts 18-19 months. Exist next steps preparation:

  • four month basic course
  • two-month advanced infantry training course
  • three week parachute course
  • five-week anti-terrorism training

The rest of the time is spent training under the Sayeret Matkal program with an emphasis on acting alone, in isolation from the main forces, deep behind enemy lines.

One of the most high-profile operations of “unit 269” was the release of passengers from an Air France plane hijacked by terrorists from the PFLP organizations in Uganda. As a result, 102 out of 106 hostages were rescued. The casualties were the detachment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu.

  1. SAS(Special Air Service) Special air service. Great Britain

The SAS is one of the oldest and most highly trained special forces units in the world. The unit was formed on 24 August 1941 by Lieutenant David Stirling of the Scots Guards. It was he who was able to convince the British command to drop special forces behind enemy lines using parachutes, hence the name.

The basis of the SAS consists of three separate regiments (21, 22 and 23rd), which in wartime are transferred to the operational subordination of the command of the British Armed Forces. Each regiment corresponds to a battalion in size. Specifically, the 22nd Regiment = “Increment” works in the interests of the notorious Secret Service MI-8. In fact, SAS specializes in military operations of increased complexity, but the special company “Squadron E” settled within the 22nd Regiment. It is she who is focused on anti-terrorist operations.

The most famous SAS operation was the release of hostages at the Iranian embassy in London in 1980. The entire operation took no more than 17 minutes. As a result, 1 hostage was killed, 1 was wounded, the rest were successfully rescued. All terrorists except one were destroyed.

I would like to add that SAS soldiers love to “play around with gas”, as a result of which a gas mask is an integral part of their equipment.

  1. GSG 9 (Germany)

GSG 9 was formed in September 1973, exactly one year after the Munich Massacre, where Olympic athletes tragically died at the hands of terrorists. It was this event that prompted the German authorities to create GSG 9.

The name GSG 9 means "Grenz Schutz Gruppe 9" - border security group, and the number nine was chosen simply because the then border security group in Germany already had eight regular border groups at that time.

GSG 9 is divided into several subgroups, each of which has its own specialization:

1st subgroup – regular operations

2nd subgroup - maritime operations

3rd subgroup - airborne operations

4th subgroup – technical and technological support

As for preparation, everything is serious here. The 22-week training course includes 13 weeks of basic training and 9 weeks of advanced training. In addition to the medical tests, there are also minimum physical requirements, such as running 5,000 meters in 23 minutes and jumping at least 4.75 meters. According to statistics, only one out of five candidates successfully completes the training course, which is not surprising.

One of GSG 9's most famous operations is the rescue of plane hostages in Somalia, Operation Magic Fire. The operation took 7 minutes. As a result, all the hostages were rescued, the terrorists were eliminated, and the German special forces were left without losses.

  1. ST-6 (Seal Team Six) (USA)

The ST-6 team, or better known to us as the SEALs, was created after the failure of Operation Eagle Claw in Tehran in April 1980, the purpose of which was to free hostages from the US Embassy in Tehran. The main area of ​​activity of the team is conducting special operations to free hostages and capture criminals suspected of committing crimes against humanity, war crimes, as well as members of terrorist organizations.

The ST-6 squad is used only in the most difficult missions, where ordinary special forces are simply powerless. The fighters are distinguished by good training and the necessary cruelty.

One of ST-6's most famous operations was the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011.

Most information regarding ST-6 is classified, and the details of its activities are usually not commented on at the official level.

  1. Alpha. Directorate "A" (Russia)

The Alpha special unit was originally created in the 7th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR on the initiative of Yuri Andropov himself after the tragedy at the Munich Olympics. The special unit is designed to conduct counter-terrorism special operations using special tactics and means.

Alpha fighters undergo a rigorous selection process in order to join the ranks of the elite unit. Only officers with higher education and the highest physical fitness are enrolled in the group:

  • Pull-ups on the bar: 25 times
  • Push-ups: 90 times
  • Press: 100 times
  • Running: 100 m - 12.7
  • Bench press: 10 times (body weight)
  • Cross: 3000 m - 11.00 min
  • Hand-to-hand combat demonstration (stand for 3 minutes against a trained employee or instructor)
  • Jumping up with changing legs: 90 times

Among other things, the fighters undergo special psychological training, which is perhaps comparable to the training of specialists from the Israeli Sayeret Matkal.

Among the most high-profile operations of the group are the capture of Amin's palace in Kabul in 1979, the release of more than 750 hostages at the Dubrovka Theater Center in 2002 (41 terrorists were killed), the liberation of a school in Beslan in 2004 (27 terrorists were killed, 1 was captured alive).

I would like to note that the Alpha group has significant combat experience in operations involving mass hostage-taking. Not a single special unit in the world can boast of the same.

Marcos, India

Marcos - elite special forces Indian Navy. It was created in February 1987 to conduct special operations such as unconventional warfare, hostage rescue at sea, counter-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


Eighth place on the list best units The number one special forces force in the world is SSG - 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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