This is a list of military special forces units, also known as special operations forces (SOF), currently active with countries around the world, that are specially organized, trained and equipped to conduct special operations.
These are distinct from special-purpose infantry units, such as the Royal Marine Commandos, found on the list of commando units, and also paratrooper units found on the list of paratrooper forces.
Definitions
NATO currently defines "special operations" as: Military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, trained, and equipped forces, manned with selected personnel, using unconventional tactics, techniques, and modes of employment.
In 2001, as part of efforts to create a framework for consultation and cooperation between NATO and Russia, the NATO-RUSSIA Glossary of Contemporary Political and Military Terms further defined special operations and special operations forces: 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. 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.
The United States definition of special operations is: 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.
The Canadian definition of special operations forces is: 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.
Afghanistan
Afghan Army Red Unit Ministry of Interior Affairs Badri 313 Battalion
Albania
Albanian Armed Forces Special Operations Regiment
Algeria
Algerian People's National Army (PNA) 104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (104th RMO)Algérie – Les Forces spéciales algériennes au combat – الجيش الجزائري 116th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (116th RMO) Algerian Navy (ANF) Navy Special Action Regiment (RASM) Republican Guard (GR) Special Intervention Regiment (RSI)
Angola
Angolan Armed Forces Special Forces Brigade (BRIFE)
Argentina
Argentine Army Special Operations Forces Grouping 601 Commando Company 602 Commando Company
Argentine Navy Tactical Divers Group Amphibious Commandos Group
Armenia
Armenian Army 1st Special Forces Regiment (Armenia) – Spetsnaz unit.IISS Military Balance 2013, p.215; ; Reported in the Russian-language internet at Nurabashen, part of Yerevan, in 2012.
Australia
Australian Army Special Operations Command Special Forces Group 1st Commando Regiment 2nd Commando Regiment - Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (East) Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) - Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West) Special Operations Engineer Regiment 6th Aviation Regiment 171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron 173rd Special Operations Aviation Squadron Royal Australian Air Force No. 4 Squadron, B Flight
Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving BranchThe Clearance Diving Branch does not have a dedicated special operations role as they also include clearance diving roles. Divers serve with 2nd Commando Regiment as part of Tactical Assault Group (East)
Austria
Austrian Army JagdkommandoseeÖsterreichs Bundesheer – Jagdkommando . Bmlv.gv.at. Retrieved on 8 September 2011.Das Jagdkommando (JaKdo) . Doppeladler.com. Retrieved on 8 September 2011.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Armed Forces Special Forces of Azerbaijan 641st Naval Special Operations Brigade 777th Special Forces Regiment
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Army Para Commando Brigade Bangladesh Navy Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) Bangladesh Air Force 41 Squadron Airborne
Belarus
Special Operations Forces Command 5th Spetsnaz Brigade 38th Guards Mobile Brigade – Brest 103rd Guards Mobile Brigade – Vitebsk
Belgium
Belgian Army Special Operations Regiment in Heverlee
Botswana
Botswana Ground Force 1st Commando RegimentIISS Military Balance 2013, p.495
Brazil
Brazilian Army Special Operations Command 1st Special Forces Battalion (1º BFEsp) 1st Commando Battalion (1º BAC) Special Operation Support Battalion Brazilian Air Force Airborne Rescue Squadron Brazilian Navy Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion (COMANF) Combat Divers Groupment (GRUMEC)
Brunei
Royal Brunei Land Force Special Forces Regiment (SFR)
Bulgaria
68th Special Forces Brigade Bulgarian Land Forces 101st Alpine Regiment Bulgarian Navy 65th Seaborne Special Reconnaissance Detachment
Burundi
Burundi National Defence Force 4th Commando Battalion
Cambodia
Royal Cambodian Army Special Forces Command (Cambodia) Brigade 70 (B-70)
Canada
Special Operations Forces Command Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU)
Chile
Chilean Army Lautaro Special Operations Brigade/detalle/index.asp?id={8ec7efbc-5bd7-4b8b-ae39-9e58e08b383d} "Army opens rapid deployment elite brigade" , El Mercurio , 25 December 2006; accessed 12 December 2008.= 3072 Creation of the BOE , Chilean Army, 26 December 2006; Accessed 12 December 2008. Chilean Air Force Special Forces Group (Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales, GRUFE)Chilean Air Force "PROTEGER LOS CIELOS DE CHILE" Fuerza Aérea de Chile, Fuerza Aérea de Chile, https://fach.mil.cl/rol-en-la-defensa-nacional, Date accessed: May 23, 2026 Anti-Aircraft Artillery and Special Forces Regiment "Tactical School" (Regimiento de Artillería Antiaérea y Fuerzas Especiales “Escuela Táctica”)Chilean Air Force "Regimiento de Artillería Antiaérea y Fuerzas Especiales “Escuela Táctica”" Fuerza Aérea de Chile, Fuerza Aérea de Chile, https://fach.mil.cl/santiago/ii-brigada-aerea/regimiento-de-artilleria-antiaerea-y-fuerzas-especiales-escuela-tactica, Date accessed: May 23, 2026(May 15, 2026) "Regimiento de Artillería Antiaérea y Fuerzas Especiales de la IIa Brigada Aérea celebra 96 años en Quintero" Delphos Magazine, Delphos Magazine, https://www.delphosmagazine.com/en/regimiento-de-artilleria-antiaerea-y-fuerzas-especiales-de-la-iia-brigada-aerea-celebra-96-anos-en-quintero/, Date accesed: May 23, 2026 Anti Aircraft Hijacking Group (Agrupación Antisecuestros Aéreos, A.S.A.)
China – PRC * People's Liberation Army Special Operations ForcesPLA Special Operations Forces . SinoDefence.com (30 August 2008). Retrieved on 8 September 2011. p. 259, 260, 261 People's Liberation Army Ground Force
People's Liberation Army Navy People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps 7th Marine Brigade (PLA Navy Marine Corps) People's Liberation Army Air Force People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps Airborne Corps Special Forces Brigade
Colombia
National Army of Colombia Special Forces Division (División de fuerzas especiales [DIVFE]) Colombian Aerospace Force Special Air Commando Group (ECOEA) Colombian Armada (Navy) Special Operations Division Joint units under CCOES Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas ARES
Croatia
Croatian Special Operations Forces Command
Cuba
Black Wasp (Avispas Negras)
Cyprus
Special forces Special Forces Command (Cyprus) Underwater Demolition Team (Cyprus)
Czech Republic
Czech Armed Forces Czech Republic Special Operations Forces Ministry of Defence SOF Directorate 601st Special Forces GroupŽák, Petr (1 September 2020) "CPSS – Czech special combat unit designed for management of information and psychological operations" CZ Defence Czech Army and Defence Magazine, CZDEFENCE.com, 2025, https://www.czdefence.com/article/cpss-czech-special-combat-unit-designed-for-management-of-information-and-psychological-operations, Date accessed: 22 August 2025 Czech Air Force Special Operations Air DetachmentMinistry of Defence and Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (31 December 2018) "Special Forces Directorate" Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, 2025, https://www.mo.gov.cz/en/armed-forces/organisational-structure/general-staff/directorate-of-special-forces-104399/, Date accessed: 22 August 2025 Czech Land Forces 102nd Reconnaissance BattalionCasey, Nuala and Holecek, Oldrich (5 December 2017) "102nd Battalion take home invaluable experiences from international competition" Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, 2025, https://www.mo.gov.cz/en/ministry-of-defence/newsroom/news/102nd-battalion-take-home-invaluable-experiences-from-international-competition-133245/, Date accessed: 22 August 2025Ročňáková, svob. Brigita (20 October 2024) "Despite tough competition, our 102nd Reconnaissance Battalion won a challenging international reconnaissance unit competition" CZ Defence Czech Army and Defence Magazine, CZDEFENCE.com, 2025, https://www.czdefence.com/article/despite-strong-competition-our-102nd-reconnaissance-battalion-won-a-challenging-international-reconnaissance-unit-competition, Date accessed: 22 August 2025
Democratic Republic of the Congo Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 31st Rapid Response Unit Brigade 391st Commando BattalionHolland, James (25 January 2017). 750 Congolese Soldiers Graduate from U.S.-led Military Training, Form Light Infantry Battalion . US Army Africa website. Retrieved 14 December 2017. and Protection Strategies Incorporated What's New . Retrieved 3 August 2010. For Kabila request to Bush, see .
Denmark
Special Operations Command (SOKOM) Jaeger Corps (former Royal Danish Army) Frogman Corps (former Royal Danish Navy) Danish Home Guard Special Support and Reconnaissance CompanyHjemmeværnet – SSR – Særlig Støtte og Rekognoscering. Hjv.dk. Retrieved on 8 September 2011.
Ecuador
Ecuadorian Army IWIAS Jungle Commandos
El Salvador
Special Operations Command (CFE) Comando Especial Anti-Terrorista
Egypt
Sa'ka Forces (Thunderbolt Forces) Unit 777Ryan, p.22 Unit 999
Estonia
Estonian Special Operations Force (ESTSOF)
Ethiopia
Agazi Commando Division
Finland
Finnish Army Utti Jaeger RegimentSuomen erikoisjoukot pidetään piilossa julkisuudelta – tällaisia taistelijat ovat Helsingin Sanomat 2015-03-07. Retrieved 2015-06-09. () Finnish Navy Coastal Brigade Naval Reconnaissance Battalion Special Operations Detachment Nyland Brigade Coastal Jaegers
France
Special Operations Command (French Army)