Special Forces units primary objective is to hit the target or complete what is assigned to them and immediately disappear from ground zero. They work under the motto of “high impact and low visibility.” Special Forces train their warriors on various skill sets. For a layman it would be interesting and easy to relate to Bollywood or Hollywood movies and characters such as ‘Uri’, John Rambo’ and ‘James Bond 007’ thrillers.
Though the movies are always a bit of exaggeration, some of the operations conducted by the Special Forces Units are no less or are even more daring. The Operation conducted by the US Seals at Abbottabad to liquidate Osama bin Laden was well covered by various media channels and was a classic example.
Similarly, Raid on the Entebbe Airport in Uganda by the Israeli SF is yet another example. There are many such operations conducted by the Indian Special Forces which are not published or are in the public domain. Typically their Skill sets comprise Martial Arts, use of an array of weapons, explosives, handling high-tech communication and engineering equipment and carrying out stealth missions.
They are trained in aerial, water and ground insertion, have a high staying power in small teams/buddy pairs or even as lone warriors. The SF can operate in the dark nights or in full daylight with equal efficiency and ease. They are multi-skilled and are apt at multitasking. The Indian Special Forces are competent to survive in super high altitude and extreme cold climates with relative comfort.
Yielding disproportionate results
Special Forces are meant to strike high value targets that have strategic and asymmetric impact. The forces are employed to effect disproportionate gains. Most importantly, they work as the most dependable ‘eyes and ears’ of the Commander deep behind the enemy lines.
High value targets are usually in the hinterland of the adversary and located deeper and are heavily guarded. These can be anything like nuclear facilities such as enrichment plants or missile infrastructure , Defence Industrial Complex, high value logistic infrastructure, critical choke points such as bridges, airfields from where adversaries operate their air force. These are those targets that cannot be destroyed by aerial or missile attacks for some reason.
These targets need Reconnaissance and Designation even if they are to be destroyed by an aerial platform. Certain targets are assigned to the SF as Direct Action targets. High Value targets would be assigned before the declaration of hostilities or are assigned as they show up in Hybrid war scenarios. Use of technology is increasingly becoming a favourite tool at the hands of Special Forces.
In hybrid scenarios Special Forces are also employed in hostage rescue operations when high profile individuals are kidnapped or taken hostage. These forces have also been used in capture and assassinating leaders either directly or through use high technology such as witnessed in assassination of an Iraninan general in Iraq in 2019 by the US forces.
Special forces around the world
Apart from British Special Air Service (SAS), US Navy SEAL Team 6 and DELTA Force are arguably the top special operations forces. Created In 1962, the Sea-Air-Land operators go through years of training and especially since 9/11, endure an incredible operations tempo.
The most popular operation led by US Seals (SEAL TEAM 6) in recent times was Operation Neptune Spear which was carried out in a CIA-led operation with Joint Special Operations Command, commonly known as JSOC. It was successfully carried out to eliminate the most wanted global terrorist Osama Bin Laden, hidden in our neighbourhood Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Interesting aspect of Special Forces is that Special Forces of different countries train together at times. They often participate in joint exercises to polish their skills and understand the skills and calibre of their counterparts.
The insignia of coveted British SAS bears the phrase “Who dares wins.” In fact Delta Force of the US was modelled on SAS. They earned their fame in WWII by operating behind German lines and later came into limelight through a widely televised Iranian Embassy siege in 1980 in England and freeing all the hostages. Asked about the importance of the SAS’ role in the fighting that followed the Iraq War, US Gen. Stanley McChrystal said: “Essential”. Could not have done it without them.”
The UK equivalent of the Navy SEALs is the Special Boat Service. The selection process involves a gruelling endurance test, jungle training in the rain forests of Belize, and combat survival training, which involves intense interrogation of candidates. And you get only two attempts to pass.
Russia’s Alpha Group is one of the best-known special force units in the world. This elite anti-terrorism unit was created by the KGB in 1974 and remains in service under its modern-day counterpart, the FSB. Ukraine’s’ Special Operations Forces (SSO) are one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Before the Russian offensive, Special Forces Command numbered over 4,000 spetsnaz operatives, all of whom are professional soldiers. In 2021 the end strength of the SSO was increased by 1,000 troops prior to the Russian Operations. The Special Forces of Ukraine and Russia have been extensively used to cause asymmetric damage to the opposing forces.
Pakistan special forces
Black Stocks, nick name for Pakistan’s Special Services Group In Pakistan is regarded as one of the most disciplined and effective units. In October 2009, SSG commandos stormed an office building and rescued about 40 people taken hostage by suspected Taliban militants after an attack on their Headquarters. But they are often known or accused of working with terror groups simultaneously and assisting them in providing logistics while carrying on terrorist activities.
At times it is also learned that many terrorists take training and prepare themselves for foul intentions all along with SSG groups in Pakistan. Whereas SSG is often seen to be sharing intelligence inputs via ISI with terror outfits to carry out their activities across borders.
However, the majority of the Special Forces have similar kind of work but the only thing which differentiates them is their training as per their terrain, adversaries, and geo-political situation.
Employment of special forces in India
As far India is concerned, being a peace loving nation, Special Forces usually work with conventional operations. However, forces like NSG are a component of Special Forces, specialized in anti-terror and Anti- hijack operations. The National Security Guards played a vital role, along with Army Special forces, during the 26/11 and Pathankot attacks. Interestingly, NSG was initially raised with troops from Army Special Forces and drew its organisational inspiration from German Counter Terrorist Force ‘GSG 9’.
For the reason that Special Forces work under complicated situations to carry out the most unconventional operation, they are never large in numbers like conventional ground army and other forces. They can’t even be kept at one place and in one operation for as long as they need to be ref-organised, re-equipped and re-establish themselves. So, constant training and skilling is extremely important for Special Forces.
Training
Interesting aspect of Special Forces is that Special Forces of different countries train together at times. They often participate in joint exercises to polish their skills and understand the skills and calibre of their counterparts. India and the US Special Forces hold regular joint exercises “Vajra Prahar” at various places both in India and US alternatively.
As Additional DGMO (Special Ops), I was privileged to participate in a Joint Special Forces exercise at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in the US in 2015. Indian SF carries out similar joint exercises with Special Forces of many other countries and train Special Forces of friendly foreign countries regularly. Similar exercise was carried out “Exercise Yudh Abhyas” held at Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
Due to prevailing situations in the world like proxy wars and sudden attacks on our region, Special Forces need to be in a high state of readiness. They can be called for operations at any time and to any extent, such as surgical strike in Uri, could have been used in Balakot airstrike if needed on ground and in Manipur when one of the Army units was ambushed.
For similar reasons and unpredictability of challenges lies ahead of the forces, they are provided with the finest quality of weapons. Their weapons are not just limited to Indian Army but compatible with Marcos in Indian Navy and Guard Commandos in Indian Air Force.
The Indian Armed Forces have been maintaining traditional Special Forces with their respective services. Army has SF battalions, Navy has Prahar units and IAF Garud units. Each one has a tailor-made role to operate with respective services domain in support of conventional operations. In some measure these units can operate bi-service or Tri-service depending on the operational necessity.
Even MARCOS are trained rigorously to protect our coastal areas, sea frontiers and islands. They are provided with high valued technologies to keep monitoring the activities under deep sea in the worst of weather. They are extensively used in anti-piracy tasks. They have various carriers, submarines and stay for long under the sea to keep a watch on activities happening beneath the water.
Similar approach is opted by Garud Commandos and they are trained to safeguard strategic aerial assets in airbase and airfields and take on direct strike on any threat to the nation. Garuds are also trained specifically to carry out recovery of downed pilots and direct Air power on specific enemy targets by using Laser Designation. In situations like natural calamities, Garuds are also used to conduct very difficult rescue operations along with conventional military forces.
Achieving synergy
With the raising of the Armed Forces Special Operations Divisions (AFSOD) which is a tri-service formation, it is better equipped, organized and tasked for operations that shall fall beyond the charter of the traditional SF units of the three services. The mandate given to them shall dictate their employment suitability in the Grey Zone.
I was again privileged to conceptualise and raise the Division as Deputy Chief IDS. It is led by a two star officer from the Army and has elements from Army, Navy and IAF SF units. This shall be able to undertake multi-terrain, multi-dimensional Operational tasks of National and strategic significance. This organisation is set up under IDS and hence benefits greatly from synergized resources and assets from all three services cutting across services hurdles. They richly benefit from combined experiences of the three distinct fields of expertise and will be able to take on multi domain challenges with ease. They have organisational flexibility of creating multi-speciality task forces for specific tasks.
Since technology is increasingly aiding or replacing human effort, so is it doing to a combatant at an exponential rate. The current Industrial revolution 4.0 has brought about Accelerated Transformation in Military Affairs. The future Warfare would be digital and non-Contact. The priority of targets would shift from destroying forces to disablement and dislocation of forces. It is easier to bring down a critical Infrastructure of a nation through a Cyber Attack.
The forms and tools employed for Surveillance and Targeting would enable a force of private warriors to have access to information, monitoring, analysis, detection and destruction which would be outsourced to a machine. The state sponsored groups and the Special Forces are increasingly using dual strike capabilities using combination of technology and human effort for Recce and Direct-Action. Use of Mini and Micro UAVs controlled by satellite makes third dimensional special operations very effective.
Conclusion
The Special Forces of the Armed Forces or forces under mandated agency has to be ready to respond to any eventuality that is complex, sudden, and highly violent. Such groups need to be trained, equipped, organized and mandated to carry out operation in ambiguous environment. The ‘tooth for tooth’ and ‘eye for eye’ reaction must be sharp, immediate and punitive, both declared and undeclared wars. This can only happen if the concept of Grey Zone is understood and practiced. During Hot War situation the SF should be prepared to operate behind enemy lines and achieve interoperability with groups or other units operating in the Grey Zone.
