Special Forces of India

The Special Forces of India are Indian Military units that have a training specializing in special operations.

List of Indian Special Operations Forces

National Security Guards

National Security Guards (NSG) is India's premier counter-terrorism force, created by the Cabinet Secretariat under the National Security Guard Act of 1985. The NSG operates under the oversight of the Ministry of Home Affairs and is headed by an officer of the rank of Director General (DGP) of the Indian Police Service (IPS). The Inspector General of the force is an officer of the rank of a Major General and he serves with the NSG, on deputation from the army. The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black nomex coveralls and balaclavas or assault helmets they wear.

Garud Commando Force

The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in 2001 and has a strength of 1000-1500 personnel.The need for forming such a special force was felt after the Kargil operations and terrorist attacks on IAF airfields in insurgency-affected areas.The Garuds are trained to protect airfields from enemy and terrorist attacks, carry out hostage rescue operations, and enemy radar busting.They also carry out Combat Search and Rescue missions for securing back pilots from hostile territory, as demonstrated during the 'Red Flag' exercise at the Nellis air base in US' Nevada desert.

During the exercise, the Garuds were provided a simulated emergency scenario in which they were asked to attack an airfield about 60 km behind enemy lines and neutralising their radar site and also capturing the airfield within a stipulated two hours."The Garud successfully demonstrated their mission capability during the exercise, when they accomplished the tasks and also carrying out a Combat Search and Rescue operation to bring back a pilot, whose aircraft had been shot down by the enemies," an IAF officer participating in the exercise said over phone.The Garuds were provided with intelligence report identifying the location of the airfield in the desert terrain, suggesting medium threat environment and adequate defensive measures."After acquiring the necessary inputs, including those from satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles, the Garuds Mission Commander Flt Lt Jagvinder Singh carried out a detailed analysis of the terrain and topography, working out an operational plan, which included heliborne insertion and exfiltration of the force," the officer said.During the mission, the Garuds used assault rifles as their primary weapon, with pistols and combat knives as secondary weapons, light machine guns, navigation and communication equipment and all terrain vehicles.

US Air Force's Capt Burry, after witnessing the Garuds performance, was quoted as saying: "They have well executed all the assigned missions overcoming all the exercise limitations. The Garuds are a highly trained, motivated and mission oriented force. They never lose their focus and can achieve the near impossible tasks given to them."

Para Commandos

Para Commandos are the elite special forces of the Indian Army. During the 1965 Indo-Pak War, a small force raised and commanded by a Guards officer, conducted operations far beyond their strength. This force was named the Meghdoot Force after their leader, Maj Megh Singh. Their success prompted the powers that be to permanently raise a commando unit and as a result, the Brigade of the Guards raised a unit for the purpose. As special forces units training involved parachuting, the unit was transferred to the Parachute Regiment and named the 9th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Commando) on 1 July 1966. The former members of the Meghdoot Force formed the nucleus and the unit brought up to strength from volunteers from all units of the Army. Exactly one year later, the unit was split to form the second unit, the 10th Battalion. In 1978, the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment was converted as the third Para Commando battalion. The year 1994 saw the authorizing of the conversion of 21st Maratha Light Infantry as the fourth para commando unit. They were formed in June 1966. They are considered to be among the best elite special force in the world along with MARCOS(naval special forces).

pecial Frontier Force

After the Sino Indian war and towards the end of 1962, after hectic lobbying by Indian intelligence agencies, the Nehru Administration ordered the raising of an elite commando unit primarily composed of Tibetan fighters. Chushi Gangdruk leaders were contacted for recruitment of Khampas into this new unit.

pecial Protection Group

The Special Protection Group (SPG) is the agency responsible for the protection of India's Prime Minister and his/her immediate family members. The force was raised in 1985 in response to the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Today, the SPG is one of the elite agencies of its kind in Asia.

MARCOS

The Marine Commando Force (MCF) is a special forces unit, created on the lines of the US Navy Seals by the Indian Navy in 1987. For many years, the Indian Navy wanted to establish an elite force for special maritime operations. All MARCOS personnel are static line parachute qualified and a number are freefall qualified (HALO/HAHO).

Equipment

* Heckler & Koch MP5
* SIG SG-552
*IMI Tavor TAR-21
*M16A2
*AK-47,AK-101
*INSAS rifle
*Uzi submachine gun
*IMI Galil , Dragunov SVD59 SVD rifle , Heckler & Koch PSG1
*FN P-90
*FN F2000

External links

* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Special-Forces/ SPECIAL FORCES in bharat-rakshak.com]
* [http://witnwisdumb.blogspot.com/2005/12/elite-indian-commando-forces.html]
* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=10258/ new wing of SPG, special protection group to protect VVIP´s]