The history of modern special forces in our country began relatively recently - in fact, the starting point can be considered the moment the Russian Federation itself appeared. Numerous detachments assigned to the KGB and the GRU were dispersed into new units, and several new elite groups were formed, which immediately had to deal with the legacy of the collapsed empire. Despite the mortal danger that awaits each of the soldiers of the special forces, many people dream of getting here, but only a few units can go through the most severe selection.

Squad "Alpha"

The name "Alpha" was invented by journalists eager for catchy words, who slightly embellished the bureaucratically dry Office "A". The fighters of this detachment are working on carrying out counter-terrorist operations - we can say that this is the first level of the country's barrier against the threat of world terrorism. The Alpha unit is rightfully considered the elite of the Russian special forces and is highly rated internationally.

Detachment "Vympel"

This is one of the oldest special forces in our country. The Vympel group was formed under the KGB of the USSR: with the collapse of the country, the sign was changed (now it is the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia), but the structure was left the same. Vympel fighters are considered external agents - they are used for pinpoint operations outside of Russia.

OSN "Volcano"

It is enough to look at the place of permanent deployment of this special unit in order to roughly imagine the level of training of the fighters. OSN "Volkan" is based in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic of the Southern Federal District - these guys took part in the first Chechen war, and in subsequent counter-terrorist operations. Not only fire training is valued here: in order to get into the "Volcano", the applicant will have to undergo serious engineering, technical, topographic and medical testing.

Detachment "Warrior"

Contractors of the "Warrior" are tested for the right to wear a maroon beret in the order of monthly practice. On their shoulders lies the fight against organized criminal groups and terrorist gangs. It is the “warriors” who are trusted to ensure the security of top officials of the Russian Federation.

PDSS

The abbreviation stands for "Underwater sabotage forces and means." Roughly speaking, the PDSS is an analogue of the American "fur seals", with a large adjustment for the harsh Russian realities. A candidate for combat swimmers goes through the strictest multi-month selection, during which physical and psychological stress reaches the limit. PDSS units are on duty at all Russian naval bases and carry out targeted missions outside the country.

In the world of the military, nothing strikes the imagination more than special forces. In addition to conventional military forces, most countries have an elite group of troops that meet a higher standard of requirements and training. Some of these groups have received wide publicity, others are not so well known and shrouded in myths. A commando can silently emerge from the water to silently neutralize guards, storm a plane to rescue hostages in a captured shopping center, sabotage enemy bridges and roads, and perform other top-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 countering terrorism and rescuing hostages, 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 (GIGN for short) from France. GIGN, like most of the European special forces, traces its history after the hostage-taking at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. In France, a year earlier, there had been a prison riot in 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-terrorist operations, GIGN has repeatedly shown itself in action. Past operations have included the rescue of 30 student hostages in Djibouti, the capture of war criminals in Bosnia, the fight against Somali pirates and of course the dramatic attack and hostage rescue aboard Air France Flight 8969 in Marseille in 1994.

SSG Group, Pakistan

In 1956, the Pakistani army created its own special forces known as the Special Services Group (SSG). This force was modeled on the British SAS and US Special Forces, and its strength remains classified. The selection into the ranks of the special forces is very strict, and only 1 out of 4 newcomers, after nine months of training, an on-board school, hand-to-hand combat courses and exhausting physical exercises, fall into the ranks of the SSG. The SSG is trained to perform tasks in all sorts of environments, including mountains, desert, jungle, and even underwater combat. During the early Cold War, SSG forces trained and operated alongside US Special Forces. Some of the fighters were trained in Afghanistan fighting the Mujahideen against the Soviets in the 1980s. India claims that SSG forces 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 is focused on intelligence, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue outside of Israel. Sayeret Matkal was created in 1957 to fill a void in Israel's special forces and is made up of candidates selected for high physical and intellectual characteristics. Applicants complete eighteen months of training, including basic infantry school, paratrooper school, counter-terrorist training, and reconnaissance. The force has taken part in many large scale operations since the 1960s. The most famous of these is Operation Entebbe/Thunderbolt, which made Sayeret Matkal famous all over the world. The operation began after several Palestinian terrorists took hostages aboard the airliner. Many hostages were released, but more than 100 people (mostly Israeli and Jewish hostages) were detained at the airport's terminal building. A group of approximately 100 Israeli commandos, including the Sayeret Matkal Special Forces, attacked the position, killing the terrorists and freeing all the hostages.

EKO-Cobra, special forces of Austria

In 1972, following an attack on Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympics, Austria created the Cobra-Einsatzkommando for anti-terror operations. The detachment was created from 450 men who served in the Austrian Federal Police. Training at EKO-Cobra is similar to that of other squads, and includes several months of specialized courses in marksmanship, language learning, 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 the EKO-Cobra did not have such outstanding operations as Sayeret Matkal, they successfully freed the hostages in the 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 the flight when the hijacker demanded a yaw. Needless to say, the raider chose the worst flight for such a move, and was immediately neutralized by the special forces.

Delta Force, USA

The full name of this group is the 1st Special Operations Detachment "Delta". In addition to counterterrorism operations, Delta can also take part in hostage rescue, attack, reconnaissance, and less covert direct impact 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 applicants must be male, 21 years of age or older, have high test scores, and be physically and mentally fit. A series of grueling physical and mental tests allows you to immediately get rid of the weakest. According to the results of testing, less than 1 applicant out of 10 is admitted to intensive 6-month training courses. Delta Force operations are shrouded in mystery, but you can be sure they are at the forefront of any US-led operation.

JTF2 Special Forces, Canada

Established in 1993 and expanded to several hundred fighters after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Canadian JTF2 is an elite counter-terrorism and special operations group. Composed of members of the Canadian Forces, JTF2 performs a wide range of operations. They have repeatedly escorted VIPs and provided security at events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics. More covertly, they worked in many of the world's hotspots, rescuing hostages in Iraq, or hunting down Serb snipers in Bosnia. Their presence in Afghanistan is mostly classified, but it is known that some forces were still involved in separate operations. Their activities were so secret that even the Canadian Prime Minister did not know that JTF2 Special Forces were involved in Afghanistan during the first years.

Spetsnaz Alpha, Russia

The elite division of Russian special forces, 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 group was sent to Beirut to try to rescue four Soviet diplomats. Rumor has it that when the diplomats were killed, the alpha fighters hunted down the relatives of the invaders and returned them to their families practically piece by piece to send a message to would-be terrorists. Domestically, Alpha has been involved in most of the major anti-terror operations, such as the siege of the Nord-Ost theater in 2002 and the takeover of the Beslan school in 2004. Both events demonstrated the rather brutal nature of the Russian special forces, as hundreds of hostages died in the course of the operation.

Shayetet 13, Israel

Another Israeli special forces group, Shayetet 13 is linked to the Israeli Navy. Established in 1948, this force has taken part in all major Israeli military operations, from hostage rescue and counter-terrorism to intelligence gathering and surveillance. The course of study lasts 20 months and subjects candidates to the most demanding psychological and physical tests even before the start of specialized training. SWAT soldiers learn all kinds of combat, skydiving, scuba diving and more. Shayetet 13 is also responsible for seizing weapons heading for the Gaza Strip. Their most famous operation took place after the 1972 Olympics in Munich, when special forces hunted 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 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 physical and mental strength, where only the best of the best are selected. Training takes a year, and most applicants can't even pass the physical proficiency 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 go further, obtaining the qualification of a Navy SEAL, and only after that the door to specialized training opens for you. All this ensures that special forces soldiers are physically and mentally strong and capable of performing the most difficult operations anywhere in the world.

SAS Special Forces, UK

What could be a special forces group that surpasses the legendary Navy SEALs? This is the SAS special forces - the British Special Forces Service, created in 1941 to work behind the lines of 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. Testing culminates in a 40-mile march with full ammunition, which must be completed in 20 hours. Applicants must be able to swim two miles in an hour and a half and run four miles in 30 minutes. After that, they are thrown into the jungle to learn survival and receive navigational 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 that the candidate will be admitted to further training. SAS special forces soldiers take security courses at MI5 and MI6, training in intelligence service and counterintelligence operations. British special forces are like a mixture of Navy SEALs and James Bond in one bottle.

The fighters of these well-equipped and technically equipped units are ready to perform the most difficult combat missions to free hostages and destroy terrorists, for which they received the meaningful name "Special Forces".

Almost every self-respecting country has its own units used to perform delicate tasks, and in the DPRK this area of ​​​​military service to the Motherland is even singled out as a separate branch of the military. Today we will talk about the five best special forces in the world according to the website and personally Roman Zablotsky. Let's make a reservation right away that the fame of the special forces is far from always equal to its effectiveness - many operations require silence.

5. ST-6 (USA)

SEAL ( SE a, A ir and L and) Team 6 (ST-6) is better known as the SEAL unit. It was formed in 1980. The main task of this special unit is the release of hostages and the elimination of terrorists who commit crimes against humanity.

The fighters of this detachment are used to perform particularly difficult tasks that are beyond the strength of the military personnel of ordinary special forces. When selecting, special emphasis is placed on professional skills and "necessary cruelty" in relation to the enemy.

In 2011, ST-6 fighters landed on the territory of their ally Pakistan without the consent of its leadership. They kidnapped the permanent leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization banned in Russia Osama bin Laden and took him to an unknown destination. Subsequently, it was officially announced the execution of bin Laden, the burning of his body and the scattering of ashes over the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

4. Sayeret Matkal (Israel)

Sayeret Matkal (Hebrew סיירת מטכ"ל‎) is a special unit of the Israel Defense Forces General Staff, better known as Detachment 269. It was organized in 1957 in the image and likeness of the British SAS unit.

The number and location of the fighters of this unit are strictly classified. But it is believed that it includes up to a company of military personnel, each of whom has experience in parachuting and owns several military specialties. The fighters are trained in the technique of diving with underwater breathing apparatus and are able to storm ships located on the high seas.

In order to get into the staff of this elite special forces, the applicant must undergo a special training course lasting more than 18 months, after which they must demonstrate their professional capabilities.

The most famous Sayeret Matkal operation was the release of the passengers of an Air France plane hijacked by terrorists in Uganda. Then, as a result of a lightning attack, 102 hostages out of 106 were rescued. In total, the fighters of the "detachment 269" carried out more than 1000 operations, none of which ended in failure.

And this unit does not take fools. Over the years, prime ministers of Israel served in Sayeret Matkal Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz, Secretary of Homeland Security Avi Dichter, Mossad intelligence director Dani Yatom and other well-known politicians who subsequently determined the country's development strategy.

3. Special Air Service SAS (UK)

The special unit was founded in August 1941 by Lieutenant David Sterling, who managed to convince the country's leadership of the expediency of throwing paratroopers-saboteurs behind enemy lines. It was the saboteurs trained by the SAS and abandoned in the Czech Republic that destroyed the Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia in May 1942 Reinhard Heydrich. The ensuing Nazi repressions against the Czechs subsequently provoked the intensification of the people's liberation movement in the country most loyal to the Germans.

Today, the unit includes three separate parachute regiments, each of which does not exceed the size of an ordinary motorized rifle battalion. The fighters report to the operational command of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and their 22nd Regiment works closely with British intelligence MI6 in peacetime.

They carry out particularly delicate assignments around the world, including the release of hostages, as well as the elimination of the leaders of criminal and terrorist groups. The soldiers of this special unit participated in the fighting in Afghanistan.

The most famous is the special operation to free the hostages held in the Iranian embassy in London in 1980. It lasted less than 17 minutes. One hostage died, another was injured, and the rest were rescued. The exact number of operations carried out by SAS fighters is still unknown to the general public.

2.GSG-9 (Germany)

A special unit of the German Federal Police was formed in 1973 after the tragic death of Israeli athletes who were attacked by Islamic terrorists during the Munich Olympics. The name stands for "Border Guard Group", and the number 9 was chosen because by that time there were already 8 German border guard groups.

The training course for special forces is 22 weeks, during which military personnel receive several military specialties and gain skills in providing professional medical care.

It is required to pass numerous physical standards, including overcoming 5 kilometers over rough terrain in 23 minutes and long jumps of at least 475 cm. As a rule, only one in five fighters who have completed a preliminary training course meets these requirements.

The most famous special operation is the release in 1977 of the hostages of a Lufthansa aircraft captured in Somalia. In just 7 minutes, all the terrorists were eliminated, and none of the hostages were injured.

1. KGB/FSB Alfa group (Russia)

Alpha is a special forces unit formed under the KGB of the USSR in 1974 on a personal initiative. Yuri Andropov. The group was created from the best officers who are able to carry out anti-terrorist operations using special means and special tactics.

Alpha officers undergo a rigorous selection process. They learn to withstand the successive hit of several bullets in a bulletproof vest, after which they must destroy the enemy with return fire. The detachment consists exclusively of persons with higher education and excellent physical training.

Mandatory standards for admission to Alpha:

• pull-ups on the crossbar - 25 times;
• push-ups from the ground - 90 times;
• press swing - 100 rfz;
• 100 meters run - 12.7 seconds;
• jumping up with a change of legs - 90 times;
• barbell bench press with its own weight - 10 times;
• cross 3 km you need to run in 11 minutes;
• the applicant must withstand a confrontation with a trained officer within 3 minutes.

Among the most famous operations are the destruction of the terrorists who mined the theater center on Dubrovka in 2002, as well as the release of the hostages held by the terrorists in the Beslan secondary school in 2004.

Unfortunately, the latest special operations were accompanied by a large number of casualties among the civilian population, which significantly spoiled the reputation of the Alpha fighters. Nevertheless, they continue to be leaders among the special forces of the world due to the huge number of military operations that ended in the destruction of terrorists and the release of hostages.

Those who are engaged in the most difficult tasks. This post will introduce you to the five most famous and prestigious special forces in the world.

Special Air Service, United Kingdom

The British Special Air Service gained worldwide notoriety after the storming of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980. The colonial British past guaranteed the widespread use of the SAS unit in various countries and in various conflicts. The history of this structure dates back to the time of the Second World War on the North African front of hostilities in Libya and Egypt. These paratroopers were not spared by the Nazi troops. Hitler's special order for immediate destruction was in effect against them. So, in 1944, 55 British operatives were shot.

SAS patrol in North Africa during World War II.

Modified and heavily armed SAS jeep

In April 1980, six Arab terrorists broke into the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London and took hostage 26 people from among the visitors and staff of the diplomatic mission. They demanded the release of almost a hundred of their comrades from Iranian prisons. Otherwise, they threatened to blow up the embassy. The SAS fighters were the first to arrive on the scene, who organized their headquarters in a nearby building. Negotiations began, within a couple of days several hostages were released from the embassy, ​​but on May 5, when the demands of the terrorists were not met, the lifeless body of the press attache of the diplomatic mission was thrown out of the building.

For several days, the SAS fighters practiced the assault on a full-size mock-up. On May 5, Operation Nimrod was broadcast live. It took 15 minutes, and only one of the invaders survived. He was sentenced to life in prison, but was released in 2008 and helped start life under a new name. None of the SAS fighters were injured. Among the hostages, one person was killed and two others were seriously injured.

Margaret Thatcher with SAS fighters who stormed the Iranian embassy

Selection in SAS is carried out twice a year: in winter and in summer. Only the military can get into the British special forces. Historically, people with a past are welcomed there in commandos or the local equivalent of the Airborne Forces. In addition to the physical exercises inherent in the selection for the "seals", British candidates are weeded out by a two-hour 13-kilometer march with 25 kg on their shoulders. Every day the distance grows and ends with a 65-kilometer march through a hill 886 meters high.

The fighters are then sent to learn survival, navigation, and combat techniques in the jungle. The most recent test is hide-and-seek in the jungle with stalking "hunters". But even uncaught candidates will have to pass the test of interrogation and torture, which stretches for 36 hours. The fighters are starved, thirsty and sleep deprived, and they, in turn, must repeat: "I can not answer this question."

The mountain so often stormed by candidates for the British special forces

Sayeret Matkal, Israel

One of the most secret Israeli special forces of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), Sayeret Matkal, primarily specializes in deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines. However, the unit is also tasked with counter-terrorism and hostage rescue missions outside of Israel. It is alleged that it was created in the image and likeness of the British SAS.

In the 50s of the last century, the structure was formed with an eye to uniting the best physically and intellectually developed youth of Israel. With the growing threat of Palestinian terrorism in the late 60s, the Sayeret Matkal unit began to develop the world's first methods and techniques for releasing hostages and countering terrorism.

One of the first such operations for Israeli fighters was the release of the hostages of passenger flight 571 Vienna - Tel Aviv in May 1972. Terrorists from the Palestinian organization Black September hijacked a Belgian plane, more than a hundred passengers and staff, and threatened to blow them all up if Israel did not release more than 300 Palestinians from prisons. The Sayeret Matkal fighters trained on a similar vessel in a closed hangar, while the main one, meanwhile, had its wheels flattened and the fluid from the hydraulic systems drained. The terrorists were then assured that the Boeing needed maintenance.

People in white - Sayeret Matkal

The operation to free the hostages involved 16 fighters in disguise, among whom was the current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He was wounded, as were two other hostages. Two terrorists and one passenger of the plane were killed. It is noteworthy that the future Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was also the commander of the assault group, and negotiations with the terrorists were conducted by Shimon Peres, who at that time was the Minister of Transport, and later became ... yes, the Prime Minister of Israel.

Four years later, the Sayeret Matkal unit caused a stir in Uganda, where terrorists delivered about a hundred Israelis on a hijacked plane. Their release was complicated by the unfriendly government of Uganda, which required the transfer of hundreds of troops over 4,000 km. While the Sayeret Matkal fighters stormed the airport terminal, two more units held back the Ugandan military. As a result, three hostages were killed and ten more wounded. On the part of the Israeli troops, only the unit commander was killed, while the terrorists and Ugandans lost a total of 52 people and several dozen helicopters.

The old Entebbe airport, where an Israeli special operation was carried out, later named after the deceased Yonatan Netanyahu, the commander of Sayeret Matkal

Return of passengers to their homeland.

GSG 9, Germany

The special forces of the German Federal Police were formed six months after the tragic events at the Olympics in Munich in 1972. Then, as a result of an unsuccessful attempt to free the hostages, Palestinian terrorists killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. In Germany, they realized that without specially trained fighters, a new type of threat would not be able to resist. Therefore, it was decided to create the Grenzschutzgruppe 9 unit (“Border Protection Group 9”).

The main challenges for GSG 9 were hostage-taking, terrorism, and kidnapping. The department's specialists are also involved as consultants both within Germany and abroad.

The real baptism of fire for the German special forces was the operation "Magic Fire" to free the hostages from the Landshut aircraft of the German airline Lufthansa in 1977. The terrorists wandered in the sky for a long time (from Rome through Dubai to Mogadishu in Somalia) and demanded the release of their accomplices from German prisons, as well as paying a multi-million ransom. But their journey ended in a Somali city where GSG 9 fighters arrived. Under the cover of night, in black uniforms and with painted faces, three groups of special forces broke into the plane, shot two terrorists, mortally wounded a third and captured a fourth. Over 80 passengers were rescued.

The hostages return home

After the Landshut incident, GSG 9 allowed the German government to be told that it would never again negotiate with terrorists.

The successful operation was followed by another attack on a plane with hostages in Düsseldorf, which took place without a shot being fired, and the arrest of terrorists in a town in the north of the country. One of the latest incidents that required the intervention of GSG 9 fighters was the massacre at a McDonald's restaurant in Munich this summer.

Only German police officers who have served in the bodies for at least two years can get into the ranks of the special forces. In addition to medical and psychological testing, they pass the 5 km run, 100 m sprint, jumps, pull-ups, bench press, etc. They also need to pass the shooting with a pistol and a submachine gun. The best are selected for 22 weeks of training, and only one in five successfully completes this course.

United States Navy SEALs

American "fur seals" over the years of their existence have acquired almost mythical status. Largely thanks to the cinema. What is only Steven Seagal, who in the action movies "Under Siege" and "Under Siege 2" played a former SEAL fighter. This abbreviation stands for SEa, Air and Land (“Sea, Air and Land”), and translates as “seal” or “fur seal”. Bruce Willis ("Tears of the Sun") and Michael Biehn ("The Rock", "The Abyss") have repeatedly played SEAL commanders.

The SEALs were created in 1962 by then US President John F. Kennedy. The tense situation in relations with the Soviet Union, the Cuban crisis and the Vietnam War influenced this decision. The tasks of the newly formed unit included sabotage and counter-partisan activities on the territory of a mock enemy.

To a greater extent, this concerned just the Vietnamese theater of operations. In particular, the SEALs participated in the Phoenix program under the auspices of the CIA. Its essence was to eliminate key people in the Vietnamese army and people who sympathize with the Viet Cong - the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.

Subsequently, the SEALs participated in all major US military conflicts: in the invasion of Grenada, where the group was unable to save the local governor general from house arrest; in the Iran-Iraq conflict of the late 80s, where the unit distinguished itself by capturing the Iran Air vessel, which mined the waters of the Persian Gulf; in the invasion of Panama, where the main sabotage task of the "fur seals" was the destruction of the local army's watercraft and the aircraft of General Noriega, overthrown as a result of the intervention.

In modern history, the most significant operation was the destruction of the number one terrorist Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. The CIA-developed Operation Neptune Spear involved 40 SEALs from DEVGRU, formerly SEAL Team Six. On May 2, 2011, a unit on Black Hawk helicopters with M4 assault rifles, night vision goggles and pistols approached the terrorist's house, where they began cleaning the premises. In addition to the terrorist, four more people who resisted the special forces were killed. The operation was monitored live by the top leadership of the country.

Bin Laden's hideout. He and his wives lived on the second and third floors behind a high fence.

Before a cat candidate can begin training, they must go through a series of psychological and physical tests. The latter include swimming 450 meters in a minimum of 12 and a half minutes; 42 (optimal - 100) push-ups and 50 (100) squats in 2 minutes, 6 (25) pull-ups and a 2.4 km run in 11 minutes. Naturally, the candidates with the best results are more likely to be in the training camp. However, 80% of all those selected still break down and do not complete the training.

Alfa Group, USSR (Russia)

Like the German GSG 9, the anti-terrorist special forces in the USSR were created after the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics. Six years before the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, the chairman of the KGB initiated the creation of the "A" unit. Only KGB officers passed through strict selection criteria there. The first staff recruited those fit for service in the Airborne Forces, and therefore both physical data and psychological endurance were taken into account strictly.

Most of the operations of the Alpha group were carried out on the territory of the Soviet Union. The unit's track record includes the capture of deserters in Sarapul, who took local schoolchildren hostage in 1981, the storming of a Tu-134 aircraft in Tbilisi with Georgian terrorists trying to escape from the USSR, as well as not the most personal tasks in the union republics during the slow disintegration of the country .

A group of fighters who were to storm Amin's palace

The loudest episode in the history of group "A" was the assault on Amin's palace (special operation "Storm-333") in December 1979, which dragged the Soviet Union into a long and exhausting war in Afghanistan. 24 Alpha fighters, in parallel with 30 KGB special reserve fighters, dressed in Afghan uniforms with a white armband and cleared the palace floor by floor, while other special forces provided them with external cover.

As a result of the operation, Afghan President Hafizullah Amin was killed, by whose order Prime Minister Nur Taraki was removed from office in September of the same year. Amin's repression threatened the fall of the regime of the local dominant party, which could lead to a change in the political course of the country.

Since the 90s, the unit has been part of the FSB of Russia, where it specializes in anti-terrorist activities. Separate Alpha groups existed in Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. On their basis, the national special forces of these countries were formed. Belarusian Alfa was founded in March 1990. It was part of the structure of group "A" of the 7th department of the KGB of the USSR as group No. 11 with deployment in Minsk.

Over the decades that have passed since the creation of the first special forces, the fight against terrorism has turned from a vocation into a real science. However, each state has its own approach to the destruction of bandits who terrorize the civilian population in various ways. And our own, specially trained people, who can be compared with each other only in terms of efficiency and results of work. 5th place. FBI HRT/SWAT. USA The special forces unit of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation is one of the most inconspicuous in the media space. Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) fighters rarely appear on TV screens and news releases from the United States, but these people do the hardest work in the fight against terrorism and especially dangerous criminals in America. Such special forces are available at each of the 56 FBI departments, which allows you to almost instantly respond to any threats. Contrary to popular belief, HRT does not replace SWAT police special forces. In case of urgent need, SWAT and HRT act together, under a single command. The HRT fighters are somewhat similar to the fighters of the Russian Alfa or Vympel - getting into the American unit is considered a great honor, and only two candidates out of ten succeed in being selected. To enroll in HRT, you must have near-ideal health, fast and accurate shooting skills, and pass a mental health assessment specialist. In addition to traditional small arms, HRT is armed with helicopters and even combat boats. The "broad profile" of the work of HRT specialists - from detaining criminals to working in the coastal zone - is provided by their own squads of divers and demining center employees, so the FBI special forces can operate autonomously and independently in almost any situation. HRT inside the US law enforcement agencies is considered one of the most well-equipped: since its founding in 1983, the FBI special forces management has been drawing up a separate budget, which includes not only the purchase of modern types of weapons and protection, but also armored vehicles with mine protection. Like many foreign special forces, the HRT was created in the image and likeness of the British special forces SAS, and retired British military men were engaged in training the first groups of the American special forces. However, despite the good equipment and funding, HRT is mainly engaged in preparing for the likely combat work: almost every day, the unit's specialists spend at the shooting range. The “hunt” for the brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who are suspected of organizing a terrorist attack in Boston, brought wide fame to the HRT fighters. HRT in the usual sense is a kind of analogue of several units of the Russian special forces at once - the National Guard, the Central Security Service of the FSB and partly the Federal Security Service, since the competence of HRT employees includes the protection of the first persons of the state at official receptions. SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) - US police special forces work almost on an equal footing with HRT. Despite some differences in structure and jurisdiction, US police special forces have the most modern weapons and equipment and are almost always the first to start working in critical situations. Snipers deserve special mention in SWAT. Many of the shooters are not only experienced police officers, but also professional shooters who win prizes in federal and international competitions.
4th place. BRI/RAID/GIGN. France As in many European countries, the terrorist attack during the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972 became the starting point for the creation of special anti-terror groups in France. Almost immediately after the failure of the German special forces and the death of Israeli athletes at the hands of the Black September terrorists, several regional special forces were formed, united in 1976 into a single combat unit GIGN - the Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie. In the same year, a unique by European standards special forces unit was baptized by fire: GIGN specialists freed hostages from a bus seized by militants in Djibouti. From 1980 to the mid-1990s, GIGN fighters participated in a series of special operations. The release of a hijacked Air France plane in Marseille in 1994 is recognized by experts in the field of law enforcement agencies as one of the most difficult and successfully carried out by experts in the field of law enforcement agencies. However, the results of the assault caused controversy in the expert community for a long time. And although the Algerian terrorists, who seized the liner while still in the country of departure, were eliminated, during the assault, 25 passengers of the flight were injured of varying severity.
Currently, GIGN has almost 400 fighters and generalists - from snipers to explosives experts. Together with other French special forces BRI and RAID, GIGN fighters have participated in the elimination of terrorists over the past two years - since November 2015. The soldiers of the GIGN special forces were subjected to the strongest criticism only once - during the liquidation of terrorists in a kosher food store in Paris during the assault, in addition to the terrorists, three hostages were also killed, but experts still disagree on whose fault the civilians died - as a result unprofessional actions of special forces or at the hands of terrorists. Separate mention is also worthy of the employees of the BRI special forces - a unique combat group, by whose forces both investigations and active actions to capture / eliminate especially dangerous criminals are carried out. The competence of the BRI includes not only operational-search activities, but also external surveillance, assaults and much more. A separate program in the training of employees, according to BRI commander Christophe Molmi, are negotiations with bandits. According to experts, BRI fighters were among the first to arrive at the site of a hostage-taking at a kosher food store in Paris in January 2015. The French RAID special forces are also involved in particularly difficult tasks. RAID employees deservedly enjoy respect not only among colleagues in France, but also in other countries, since the fighters of the unit regularly undergo high-altitude, mountain, parachute, special cynological and other types of training and courses. RAID has traditionally strong experience exchange programs. Including with the Russian security forces. One of those who meet with the RAID staff are specialists from the Central Security Service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow.
3rd place. BOPE. Brazil Exotic, and almost unknown to anyone, the BOPE special forces from Brazil are engaged in perhaps the most dangerous and hard work. The unit's officers are engaged in the fight against organized crime and make regular raids to clear the favelas from drug dealers and arms dealers. BOPE (port. Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais), or the Special Police Operations Battalion, are five companies of the most experienced officers and specialists in almost all types of organized crime groups. The geography and social situation in Rio de Janeiro leaves a certain imprint on the actions of the Brazilian police special forces, created in the image and likeness of the American SWAT, adjusted for the local mentality. Operating primarily in the narrow streets of Rio's poorer districts, BOPE special forces do not stick to one single pattern of operation. The mentality, as well as the propensity of the inhabitants of the favelas to drug trafficking and other illegal activities, leave their mark on the methods of delivering special forces to their place of work. In addition to armored vehicles with mine protection and armor for the fifth class of protection, helicopters are also at the disposal of BOPE fighters.
The minimum set of tests for admission to BOPE is as follows: fire training, high-altitude / mountain training, parachuting, hand-to-hand and knife fighting skills in cramped conditions. On average, according to experts, up to 90% of volunteers are eliminated at the selection stage. Since 2009, BOPE has been the only special forces unit in which women can enter the service. Provided that the candidate has the minimum experience for such work and passes all the tests. The main difficulty in entering the service in BOPE is the conditions in which Brazilian specialists have to work. The slums of Rio are mountains, a city, and a jungle practically in one bottle. There are practically no analogues to the special unit from Brazil, which is in charge of not only the fight against drugs and the release of hostages - the only special unit similar in terms of specific tasks has been formed in neighboring Colombia.
2nd place. GSG-9. Germany After the Bavarian police failed the assault on terrorists and the release of the hostages in Munich, the German Ministry of Internal Affairs felt the need to create a special unit, unique even by world standards, whose main task would be to fight terrorism. It took the German Ministry of the Interior less than a year to do everything - already in 1973, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the then head of the German Ministry of Internal Affairs, reported to the leadership on the formation of the GSG-9 combat group (German: Grenzschutzgruppe) - the Border Guard Group. As in the case with other special forces, getting into the GSG-9 from the very moment of its foundation is extremely difficult. There were always more people wishing to get into the service of the Grenzschutzgruppe than there were vacancies. This is the reason for some bias in the consideration of potential candidates. Preference is given to those who served in the ranks of the border service or the Navy: it is believed that it is the “natives” of the army special forces who have the most developed skills, perform their tasks faster and more efficiently than others. The GSG-9 personnel are experienced, but young officers. Most of those who serve in the GSG-9 are under 30. German anti-terror specialists also have enough differences from foreign units. Battle groups have a pronounced "specialization": there is a special "sea" detachment in the GSG-9, which is in charge of combat work with river and sea vessels of various displacements - a kind of analogue of Russian combat swimmers. Also in the unit there are extra-class paratroopers, explosives and a special "fire team", whose main specialization is the use of special weapons in the city.
The GSG-9 is considered a unique special forces unit for a number of reasons. The first reason is the almost complete absence of foreign weapons and auxiliary equipment. Almost all the "tools" for the work of the German special forces are provided by domestic and "friendly" companies - Heckler Koch, Steyr Mannlicher, Sieg Sauer and others. The main feature in this case is the sending of experimental and experimental weapons for “testing”, based on the results of work with which the manufacturer makes changes to the design. To help the GSG-9 fighters, a separate aviation detachment has also been formed, capable of delivering an anti-terror group not only to anywhere in Germany but also the world. The tasks of the GSG-9, in addition to anti-terrorist work on the territory of the country, have recently included the protection of diplomatic and other government missions of Germany abroad. The protection of embassies, assistance to the special services of friendly states and much more are carried out practically on the job. One of the most elegant operations of the GSG-9 is the neutralization of a lone terrorist in Düsseldorf. The fanatic who hijacked the KLM airliner was neutralized without noise, dust and weapons in a matter of seconds. The absence of American-style shooting is noted by all experts in the field of law enforcement agencies. In the entire history of the existence of the group, small arms were used by GSG-9 specialists only twice.
1st place. ALFA/VIMPEL Russia The Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia is not just anti-terror professionals gathered under a single command. These are special people who perform impossible tasks. Contrary to popular belief, domestic profile publications put Alfa and Vympel at the head of the ratings of anti-terror groups not by nationality. It's just that the Russian special forces perform tasks where any other rapid reaction group will fail. Yes, and European / American and any other anti-terrorism groups do not have such experience. Despite the fact that in Russia there are many special forces units that are part of the National Guard, Alpha are ultra-professionals in anti-terrorist work. Once formed for covert sabotage work, Alfa and Vympel in 1998 expand the range of tasks to be solved. Created in 1998, the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia clearly defined the main areas of work of the units - anti-terror. Yes, the tasks of the TsSN FSB and the Russian Guard differ from each other, however, the most dangerous and complex "activities" are worked out jointly by the specialists of the TsSN FSB and the Russian Guard. It is worth noting that not a single foreign unit has experience similar to the combat work of Russian specialists in the North Caucasus. Neither the French RAID and GIGN, nor the German GSG-9, nor many others have ever carried out operations that are anything like the assault on the theater center on Dubrovka. Experts explain that the decision to enter the building, where the entire auditorium was held hostage not just by militants, but also by suicide bombers ready to sacrifice themselves, is still not called “impossible” by European experts.
It does not fit in the head of European specialists how it is possible in a matter of seconds to neutralize a dozen armed and ready to die fanatics and at the same time neutralize all improvised explosive devices, the power of which was enough for the building of the center on Dubrovka to “fold” on the heads of the attackers. Such problems are random, although trained people, of course, do not solve. To be invited to serve in Alpha or Vympel is still considered an honor, and not everyone inspires such trust. 95% of candidates are "weeded out" at the selection stage, and only 5% of "top-class specialists" end up serving in the FSB Central Security Service. Russian anti-terror is specialists who can solve any problem. At sea, on land, in the air and wherever the situation requires it. According to experts, there are no impossible tasks for Alpha and Vympel. There are only deadlines and working out of actions. For the TsSN FSB, in addition to special training programs, special equipment is also being developed. Recently, on many videos where specialists from the TsSN FSB perform combat missions, you can find black, angular armored vehicles with an unusual design. These are Falcatus and Viking, designed specifically for Russian special forces. However, even before the advent of special equipment, the TsSN FSB worked out tasks that were impossible, from the point of view of Western security officials. The operation to liberate the Beslan school seized by militants is still, even 16 years later, called by many foreign experts in anti-terror and law enforcement agencies the best among those known to the world.