Russian special forces are equipped independently. New full equipment for Russian special forces. Comparison of special forces equipment in Russia and the USA What uniform does the special forces have?

At the present stage, special forces represent special formations subordinate to the Russian special services. These units, being in any military formation, are considered the elite of the Armed Forces. Soviet and Russian special forces throughout the history of their existence have proven their uniqueness and superiority over similar units in the world.

Russian fighters of the Alpha special forces took first place at the world championship and were recognized as the best international squad. The special forces uniform has its own signs, regulated by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The fighters of the unit wear the emblem and symbols of the unit on the sleeve of their uniform.

History of special forces

The roots of special forces are quite deep. The first formations in Rus' were endowed with the main goal: ensuring the security of the state. The problem of creating special detachments was raised by Russian commanders: General Pyotr Panin, Infantry General Alexander Suvorov, Field Marshal General Mikhail Kutuzov.

These units were called Jaeger regiments, their appearance dates back to 1874. These units became the founders of modern special forces.

The tactics of huntsmen in combat were used by Catherine II. The combat training of Jaeger detachments is similar to the principles of action of modern special forces: organizing agents and collecting the necessary information and force reconnaissance associated with striking, disabling combat complexes, warehouses, ships, control centers and many other tasks.

The uniform of the huntsmen was also special; green and black colors predominated in it.

Dolman, short jacket with cords, tight trousers, dark green. Only the huntsmen's uniform included a green overcoat, which they wore folded over their backpack.

In 1917, the Bolsheviks established the People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs, which was later entrusted with the leadership of all the armed forces of the Republic.

• to fight the Basmachi and remnants of gangs;
• tasks of prompt suppression of conspiracies and rebellions;
• protection of political, economic and military facilities of national importance;
• participation in hostilities while in the front line.

ChON and units of the Red Army had the same organizational structure. The special forces units included infantry, cavalry, artillery and armored units, formed from the most trained soldiers.

The external and internal situation gradually stabilized and in the period 1924-1925, by decision of the Central Committee of the RCP (b), the ChON were disbanded.

The years of the Great Patriotic War were the beginning of the formation of detachments capable of operating in the German rear, conducting reconnaissance and carrying out combat operations.

During the war years, special forces with vast reconnaissance and sabotage experience were formed. However, after the end of the bloody war they were disbanded.

In the 50s, the need to form special units again arose. The main reason was the emergence of mobile nuclear weapons, which were adopted by some armies of NATO member countries.

Only specially trained soldiers could reconnaissance and destruction of new weapons that threaten the security of the country. They were entrusted with reconnaissance in the deep rear and carrying out sabotage operations aimed at eliminating dangerous weapons.

Special forces equipment from different countries

Historically, units that perform special tasks on which the security of the state depends belong to the elite of the armed forces. Their equipment at all times differed from the uniform and weapons of other branches of the military. The fighters of these detachments were given weapons and devices of the most advanced type to effectively carry out tasks.

In all countries of the world, the uniform of special forces units, first of all, provided for the maximum possible protection of a soldier from external conditions and weapons of the opposing side.

The material from which special forces uniforms are made has special requirements. First of all, these are safety requirements. The material must have special strength and breathability.

To provide camouflage, fabric with a special pattern is used. This uniform of a special forces soldier is called camouflage, which has its own characteristics in each country.

All countries have special units in parts of the armed forces. Externally, the uniform of the special forces is similar to the uniform of the type of troops to which it is attached:

1. The GSG 9 unit belongs to one of the structures of the German police and has all the powers of the German federal police. Its actions are regulated by the German Ministry of the Interior. The unit consists of three subgroups of main importance (the subgroup of regular, naval and airborne operations) and several auxiliary (technical and technological) support groups.

   The GSG 9 units are armed with developments from Heckler & KochGmbH:

   • submachine gun of all versions and configurations;
   • assault rifle;
   • carbine;
   • automaticG8;
   • AMP Technical Services DSR-е sniper rifle;
   • assault rifle SIG Sauer SG 550;
   • Glock 17 pistol;
   • Heckler Koch MZP-1 grenade launcher;
   • MBB Armbrust anti-tank rifle;
   • semi-automatic sniper rifle Heckler&Koch PSG1.

   The unit's fighters undergo a special training course, which lasts 11 weeks.

   
   

   Combat training is allocated 13 weeks, 9 weeks are spent on advanced training of fighters.

2. NOCS - anti-terrorist special unit of the Italian civilian police. Special forces units are located in all military units of Italy. NOCS - refers to Italian civilian police units. The actions of all special forces units are coordinated by the center, the abbreviation of which is O.S.S.I. (Operatori Speciali Servizio Informazioni).

   The NOCS unit is armed with the latest small arms. The equipment of the Italian special forces police also corresponds to perfect standards, ensuring the completion of tasks of any level of complexity.

   Each fighter has several types of weapons. NOCSj fighters especially prefer the easy-to-shoot Beretta Mod.92, the updated Beretta Px4 Storm model and the H&K P-2000.

   
   

   The arsenal of special forces weapons includes sniper weapons. It is used in anti-terrorist operations.

3. CANSOFCOM – special units of Canada, formed in 2006. Main tasks: suppressing the actions of terrorist organizations within the state and beyond its borders. Canadian special forces soldiers are equipped with various types of small arms:
   • Canadian-made C16 assault rifle;
   • C8 carbine;
   • The weapons set of groups carrying out operations to free people taken hostage is supplemented by weapons produced by Colt Canada under license. These are the NK MP5 pistol and sniper rifles;
   • Each special forces soldier has a personal weapon: a Sig Sauer pistol and an FNP90 submachine gun, produced by the Belgian company FNHerstal$
4. SWAT, under this abbreviation, there is a special US unit - Special Weapons And Tactics Teams. These units are located within the police department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Specialized forces are designed to perform the following tasks:
   • neutralization of terrorist gangs and release of hostages;
   • escort of US dignitaries;
   • resolution of high-risk situations related to drug transportation, arrest and escort of those arrested;
   • Conducting counter-terrorism operations in populated areas of the United States.

   US police SWAT troops are also among the elite of military units and have a uniform similar to police uniforms, but with special equipment necessary to perform specific operations: body armor, camouflage, shoes.

   
   

   The universal submachine gun Universale Maschinenpistole is used in the arsenal of special units.

   As a personal weapon, special forces soldiers use the Glock 17 pistol, a highly reliable Austrian product. This type of weapon is produced in several modifications.

   A number of modifications of the German-designed HK USP pistol are widely used in the US army and its special forces.

5. Russian special forces units are part of various ministries or departments with their own specific specifics. Their tasks determine the use of various types of weapons, equipment, vehicles, equipment, training centers and bases. Russian military units of this kind include the SOBR detachment, “Alpha”, “Vympel”. The best of the best fighters are selected for these units. Vympel employees were assigned special tasks:
   • illegal reconnaissance on the territory of different states;
   • release of hostages taken by terrorists;
   • liberation of objects captured by terrorists;
   • introduction into military intelligence agencies and special services of other states;
   • liquidation of persons posing a threat to the Russian state.

   It takes at least five years to train Vympel employees.

   
   

   For combatants, there is a special uniform and weapons that they master perfectly.

The uniforms of the Russian army are being improved. VKBO - the kit supplied to the unit represents a field uniform, which includes 18 clothing options. Elements of army uniforms can be combined in any combination convenient for the soldier.

The development of the field uniform was entrusted to the specialists of the BTK-group company, which operates on its own high-tech production base. In addition, expert research institutes were included in this process.

The VKBO set consists of 23 items of clothing and three pairs of shoes.

A special feature of the development is the principle of its multi-layering. 8-layer overalls enable military personnel to use this innovative uniform in all weather conditions in all climate zones, combining a combination of kit elements.

Such special forces equipment is capable of protecting military personnel in 40-degree frost with wind and blizzards. The kit is supplied in a VKBO bag.

Highly effective functionality of clothing at any level of physical activity of fighters of each branch of the military. All criteria for its application are met:

• camouflage properties required for field clothing;
• the strength of the material, ensuring a long service life of the uniform. In combat conditions, this characteristic plays a decisive role, since there is no possibility of its repair or replacement;
• adaptability of the cut design to combat conditions;
• comfortable design of the shoe and the choice of material for its manufacture; it is characterized by resistance to oils and gasoline, providing resistance to slipping when passing icy surfaces.

Caring for the VKBO uniform is simple. Hand washable, machine washable at 300C, all zippers and textile fastenings must be fastened before washing in the machine. Drying in a machine drum is allowed when using a lower temperature setting.

Ceremonial uniform

The dress uniform of the Russian Army was first demonstrated at the Victory Parade in 2016.

Maximum attention was paid to its development. In these clothes there should be an image of a victorious warrior of the Great War, the memory of a soldier who defended his land, who liberated the world from fascism at the cost of his life, should remain.

For these reasons, the uniforms of military personnel of the Navy, Ground Forces and Air Force from 1941-1945 were reproduced. It was an exact repetition of the uniform of the USSR armed forces.

Dress code for hot regions

To replace the same type of clothing, uniforms have long been developed taking into account service in regions with hot climates. The first batches of this uniform were delivered to 201 military bases located in Tajikistan. For the uniform, fabric made using modern technologies was used, the color of the material was sand. Her required kit:

• Panama - for rank and file, officers are entitled to a field cap;
• field jacket with zipper;
• trousers, comfortable straight cut, with a pocket with a flap on the side, in the lower part, or shorts, knee-length;
• shoes - lightweight boots with high sides made of light-colored genuine leather with inserts made of durable, highly wear-resistant fabric.

A new development for a hot region, provided for the strength and lightness of zipper elements, sewing clothes from fabric with a high degree of thermal and moisture regulation, good ventilation and air exchange.

Female form

There are many positions in the armed forces that are occupied by women: medical personnel in hospitals, sanitary instructors in units and subunits, signalmen, employees of clothing and food departments, teachers in military educational institutions.

Their uniforms, in addition to the standard army kit, include women's models of skirts, dresses, coats, and shoes.

The uniform is made of olive-colored fabric; for women serving in the Air Force, the color of the uniform is blue. The set of women's uniforms includes casual and dress uniforms.

Special Operations Forces MTR

Specially trained units participate in all hot spots on the territory and outside of Russia.

Special operations forces are being created in Russia; the decree on their establishment was signed on February 26, 2015.

The equipment of MTR fighters differs from that of other representatives of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation:

• workwear made of camouflage fabric of special strength and special cut;
• body armor, protection class 6, protects from machine gun bullets and sniper weapons SVD and machine gun, and Kalashnikov PK and PKM;
• a high-strength helmet made of special material;
• The SSO fighter is armed with the latest Kalashnikov assault rifle with a special bracket (Picatinny rails) designed for attaching additional equipment and accessories;
• collimator sight, provides high speed pointing to the target;
• silent firing devices (silencers);
• special designs of active headphones that protect against ambient sounds of combat and ensure the use of a built-in radio station for necessary conversations;
• an optical sight that provides visual approximation of the target;
• personal weapon - pistol;
• Tactical shoes made of high quality and durable material.

Special Operations Forces (SOF) have unique, advanced weapons and ammunition, which allows them to solve the most difficult missions and tasks anywhere in the world.

Options for camouflage suits

Ghillie suits appeared not so long ago, but they became very widely used among the military. Over the course of several years, patterns for camouflage fabrics have been developed that can hide a person in any landscape.

The fabric pattern is developed for a suit designed to camouflage a person in a certain area. There is no universal camouflage.

Russian camouflage is based on the use of its own designs, as well as copying the German versions of the Great Patriotic War:

• “Ameba” is a camouflage pattern developed in 1935 in the USSR. Has several color options;
• “Deciduous Forest” - camouflage from the Great Patriotic War, developed in 1945;
• “Silver leaf” camouflage, which is called “Birch” or “Sunny bunnies”. The pattern has a deforming effect, developed in 192 in Russia;
• VSR-93. The camouflage is designed with a pattern of vertical stripes. Well camouflages a human figure against a background of plants;
• VSR-98 “Flora”, the characteristic camouflage stripes gave it the name “watermelon”. This type of camouflage is considered basic and is used for sewing camouflage suits for special forces of the Russian Armed Forces;
• camouflage “Russian figure” or “Digital flora”. This fabric is used for camouflage uniforms in units of the GRU, FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs;

The earliest developments of Russian camouflage colors are still used for the manufacture of camouflage uniforms in the Russian Armed Forces.

Video

Today it is difficult to find truly high-quality uniforms. In most cases, you have to deal with dubious variants originating from China.

The form looks quite beautiful, and it is almost impossible to distinguish it from the original. However, as soon as such attributes appear in “field” conditions, quality takes precedence over visual superiority - it simply gives in.

For the military, every little detail is very significant, especially important is physical mobility and a number of direct tactical, defensive and protective functions that become possible thanks to special clothing.

Uniforms are issued to military units, including the foreign intelligence agency represented by the GRU special service. This is a form of special purpose, which must be functional, convenient and practical.

Nowadays it is not uncommon to see reports on television channels, articles in the media, and Internet programs about various special forces.

People ignorant of this issue can simply comment on the appearance of the fighters like this - they are all the same: camouflage, berets, vests... But this is only at first glance.

All uniforms have historically established features. In addition to everyday quality, the military uniform of the GRU special forces, both in the old days and to this day, is not only facilitates the service, but also protects its own owner.

The protective function allows a person, when performing official duties, to be protected from the effects of negative natural factors. Tactical clothing for GRU special forces also helps minimize accidents and the risk of unpredictable situations.

Types of clothing, styles

As a rule, the entire variety of uniforms of law enforcement agencies is focused on its classification according to seasonality:

• summer;
• winter

You can also notice the division of the form according to its direct application:

• Types of clothing for field activities. Used in combat. As a rule, the field uniform of the GRU special forces is accompanied by its use in the most difficult moments of service, therefore, special requirements are placed on it.
• Front door- ideal for presenting military and state awards, as well as special honors, and performing a guard of honor. You can't do without it on special days and weekends.
• Casual uniform. Applies in all other cases.

The ceremonial and demobilization uniform of the GRU special forces looks like in this photo:

Thanks to the high-quality uniform, the fighter is comfortable and comfortable even during unexpected combat missions.

For men

The variety of shapes and colors of clothing used by GRU units is mostly inherited from the USSR period. The main ones can be listed:

• "Amoeba". The most durable example of camouflage, the history of which goes back to 1935. At one time it was the basis of the developments of Soviet designers of military uniforms. It has currently been finalized and various variations are available.
• "Deciduous Forest"- an ideal option for military camouflage fabric. The uniform underwent a “baptism of fire” and served the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War of 1942 well.
• "Silver Leaf"(“Sunny bunnies” or). Sketches of this sample were created back in the 50s.
• VSR-93, or folk “Vertical”(based on the vertical stripes on the form). The shape of the field character allows you to effectively merge with the surrounding background.
• VSR-98 "Flora". In wider military circles it is known as the “Watermelon” camouflage because of the stripes. This option is basic for special forces. In addition to its specific color, it has excellent camouflage characteristics, suitable for the central part of Russia.
• “Digital flora” or “Russian digital”. These are innovative developments of new summer and winter uniforms for special forces soldiers of the GRU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB, which was developed by V. Yudashkin (Russian fashion designer).

Are you interested in knowing what the requirements are for? There are also certain rules and requirements for it.

Find out what materials safety split-leaf gaiters for welders are made from here.

What features does a black special forces uniform have and what requirements it must meet, read this.

For women

Military special uniform for women is created based on the male version, taken as a basis. At the same time, all the basic principles of reliability, comfort and resistance to any weather conditions are preserved.

The women's version of GRU special forces clothing is stand-up and has a special sizing chart intended exclusively for women. The jacket-shirt has a large number of necessary pockets. The pockets are presented with a straight version with Velcro.

Convenience is achieved by the fact that in the summer there is always you can roll up your sleeves. On the back of the pants there are reflective meshes that allow you to move without fear of getting dirt and perform a ventilation function.

What the GRU special forces uniform looks like for men and women, look at the photo:

In order for the item to retain its presentability and last as long as possible, you will need to follow the recommendations for washing it (look at the label).

Storage rules and care

Absolutely any uniform, regardless of its area of ​​application needs special care. Due to daily wear, persistent stains appear on the uniform.

Before you start washing the GRU uniform, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the recommendations indicated on the product. In this case, woolen products need to be hand washed in warm water or in a washing machine with the most gentle setting selected. Due to the high temperature of the water, the material may “shrink”, so things will shrink by 1-2 sizes. And don’t forget about spinning, which is absolutely “contraindicated.”

The most problematic to clean are police, military and GRU uniforms.

Mistakes in care can simply ruin it, which will entail a sufficient amount of trouble, which may even lead to an official reprimand.

Everyday uniforms can be cleaned in any mode - it can withstand exposure to any temperature and detergents.

Given the high degree of contamination, these clothes are made from the strongest fibers. Even with the best wishes of the owner, dry cleaning the dress uniform would still be the best option, since attempts at home can only damage the dress uniform and lead to irreversible consequences.

Special forces suits are popular not only among representatives of law enforcement agencies. Such ultra-durable and comfortable clothing has become very popular among civilians. It is suitable for sports games, outdoor activities, fishing and hunting. Some parts of the uniform can be used as regular clothing. For example, a warm jacket or trousers look stylish. But at the same time, it is special forces representatives who most often need such equipment.

Varieties of form

To begin with, it’s worth finding out what kind of overalls there are for law enforcement agencies. The form is divided into summer and winter. The task of the first type is to ensure the removal of heat from the body, while winter clothes, on the contrary, retain heat.

Russian special forces use uniforms in two main colors: khaki and black, but the camouflage patterns vary greatly. The most popular types of special uniform colors for many law enforcement agencies are:

• amoeba - camouflage developed by the famous artist Malevich, used since 1935;
• birch tree, silver leaf - design developed in the 50s;
• VSR-93, vertical - field special uniform;
• VSR-98 is the basic uniform used by special forces of the Russian Armed Forces;
• digital flora - winter and summer special uniforms for fighters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB, GRU.

The US special forces uniform is no less popular among our compatriots. These are MARPAT, Woodland and ACU PAT products. The first type is Marine Corps special forces clothing. Woodland is a NATO camouflage pattern that comes in four colors. ACU PAT is a special uniform for the US Army.

How to choose the right clothes for special forces?

Uniforms for such structures are highly durable and well-designed. Typically, the jacket and pants have different pockets in different places to carry weapons and ammunition.

The presence of a weapon should not hinder the fighter’s movements, so the jacket and trousers must fit exactly. When trying on a set, you need to subject things to thorough testing. It consists of various exercises: running, jumping, changing direction of movement. There should not be any uncomfortable sensations, as they can cause delays, which should not be allowed.

Purchasing uniforms for special forces in the Ataka online store

On our website, Russian residents can profitably buy special uniforms at the best prices. We offer a lot of advantages: affordable prices for goods, prompt delivery, and bonuses for purchases. After registering on the site, each new user receives an individual 5% discount.

All clothing can be returned within 30 days of purchase if any item of clothing does not fit. You can also use the convenient “Delivery with fitting” service.

A flag for a car with a suction cup "Special Forces of the GRU and Airborne Forces" will be an excellent gift for both paratroopers and intelligence officers. After all, their functions, goals and methods are so closely intertwined.

Flag for the car with a suction cup "GRU and Airborne Special Forces"

The special forces units of the GRU and the Airborne Forces have long been firmly entrenched in the public consciousness as a single whole; the boundary separating different, in general, departments is often extremely blurred. For special forces, both airborne troops and military intelligence are equally close. The second of August for special forces is the same “red day of the calendar” as the sixth of November; paratroopers and reconnaissance officers are united by the Airborne Forces flag, blue berets and vests, a truly special spirit in these branches of the military.

What do GRU special forces and the Airborne Forces have in common?

If we strictly consider the organization of the Special Forces troops in accordance with the existing charter, the scheme of functioning of the armed forces, the existing combat routine approved by the Ministry of Defense, then the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces are considered to be formations of different formats. Moreover, there is only one special forces unit in the airborne troops - this is the legendary 45th Guards Reconnaissance Regiment, here, as you can see, it also cannot be done without belonging to military intelligence. Cuban paratroopers very often conduct joint operations with GRU Special Forces troops; the last major combat operation of GRU and Airborne Special Forces was South Ossetia 2008, then 45 ORP worked in the conflict zone together with detachments 22, 10 and 16 OBRSpN.

Individual special forces brigades are subordinate to the leadership of the GRU and the military district to which they are assigned; organizationally they have no relation to the airborne troops, which is why the connection between the GRU special forces and the Airborne Forces does not become weaker. Back in the middle of the last century, when special forces were just beginning to be created in the country, some identification of the GRU special forces and the Airborne Forces appeared. Firstly, conscript soldiers marked “fit for service in the Airborne Forces” were drafted into the newly created formations of Special Forces troops. Secondly, new units were formed primarily on the basis of airborne regiments and individual battalions; airborne officers also took an active part. Finally, the dress uniform of the GRU and Airborne Forces special forces is initially almost identical.

Why do GRU special forces wear airborne uniforms?

For the Special Forces troops, whose very existence at that time was a military secret, no special uniform was developed, and there were no insignia. Veterans say that during training exercises, military personnel of other types of troops even mistook mobile groups without identification marks for saboteurs, and the GRU special forces fighters chose the airborne uniform as the ceremonial clothing - they were most often mistaken for paratroopers.

Further, the kinship intensified more and more - the training and combat missions of paratroopers and special forces are in many ways similar, in general, both of them are essentially saboteurs. Of course, the tasks of the GRU Special Forces troops directly behind enemy lines are completely different from those of the assault groups of the airborne troops. One way or another, the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces consist of formations of constant combat readiness, but the training of fighters is always higher than the standard in the troops. Well, of course, one cannot help but mention the mandatory airborne paratroopers - the sky makes the special forces of the GRU and the airborne forces more similar than all of the above, the jumping program in the ObrSpN and airborne formations is approximately the same, they often jump together.

Combat interaction between GRU special forces and the Airborne Forces

The joint use of GRU and Airborne special forces in real combat conditions is a practice that has brought more than one victory to the command of the Russian armed forces. It all started with the introduction of formations of Special Forces troops into Afghanistan, when a few special forces detachments of the GRU and Airborne Forces managed to carry out operations that seemed impossible. The story continued in Chechnya, GRU and Airborne special forces troops resolved issues in which motorized rifle formations were powerless. It’s scary to imagine how many people our generals would have killed in Grozny in 1995 if special forces had not taken part in the assault.

So, if you do not take into account the subtleties of subordination, the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces are in many ways related organizations to each other, primarily in spirit.

Now they talk a lot in newspapers, on TV, on the Internet about GRU Spetsnaz and Airborne Special Forces. Since these two communities of military professionals are very similar, we will try to figure out how they differ for an inexperienced person who is far from all this.

Let's start with a historical excursion. Who came first? GRU special forces definitely in 1950. Since a lot of tactical preparations and other features were borrowed from the partisan actions of the Great Patriotic War, it is still fair to designate its unofficial appearance as the second half of the thirties of the last century. The first sabotage groups of the Red Army successfully operated in the war in Spain. And if you look at an even earlier historical period, when the need to conduct sabotage operations forced many countries of the world (including the Russian Empire) to keep completely autonomous “infiltration” units in their armies, then the origins of the appearance of GRU special forces go back to the “mist of centuries.”

Airborne special forces appeared in 1930, along with the Airborne Forces. With the very first landing near Voronezh, when there was an obvious need to start our own reconnaissance. Paratroopers cannot simply land in the “paws of the enemy,” someone must shorten these “paws,” break off the “horns,” and file down the “hooves.”

Main goals. GRU special forces - conducting reconnaissance and sabotage (and some other, sometimes delicate) operations behind enemy lines at a distance of 1000 km. and further (as long as the radio communication range is sufficient) to solve the problems of the General Staff. Previously, communication was on short waves. Now on short and ultra-short satellite channels. The communication range is not limited by anything, but still, in some corners of the planet there are “dead zones”; there is no mobile, radio or satellite communication at all. Those. It’s not for nothing that a stylized image of the globe is often found on GRU symbols.

Airborne Special Forces - essentially the “eyes and ears” of the Airborne Forces, are part of the Airborne Forces themselves. Reconnaissance and sabotage units operating behind enemy lines to prepare for the arrival and preparation of the landing (if there is such a need) of the main forces ("cavalry"). Capturing airfields, sites, small bridgeheads, solving related problems with the capture or destruction of communications, related infrastructure, and other things. They act strictly on orders from the headquarters of the Airborne Forces. The range is not as significant as that of the GRU, but it is also impressive. The main airborne aircraft IL-76 is capable of covering 4000 km. Those. round trip - about 2000 km. (we do not consider refueling, although the range in this case increases significantly). Therefore, airborne special forces operate behind enemy lines at a distance of up to 2000 km.

Let's continue the research. The issue with the uniform is interesting. At first glance everything is the same. Berts, camouflages, vests, blue berets. But this is only at first glance. Take, for example, the beret. This piece of clothing is of medieval origin. Pay attention to ancient paintings by artists. All beret owners wear them asymmetrically. Either right or left. It is unofficially customary for GRU special forces and airborne special forces to wear a beret curved to the right. If you suddenly see a special forces soldier in an airborne uniform and with a beret curved to the left, then he is just an ordinary paratrooper. The tradition began from the time of the first parades with the participation of the Airborne Forces, when it was necessary to open the face as much as possible to the podium, and this can only be done by bending the beret to the left side of the head. But there is no reason to reveal intelligence.

Let's move on to the signs. During the Great Patriotic War, the Airborne Forces made many landings and airborne operations. Many awarded heroes. Including the Airborne Forces units themselves were awarded the title of Guards (almost all). During that war, the GRU special forces were already at the stage of formation as an independent branch of the military, but were outside the legal framework (and in general everything was secret). Therefore, if you see a paratrooper, but without the “Guard” badge, then with almost 100% certainty it is GRU special forces. Only a few GRU units bear the rank of Guards. For example, the 3rd Separate Guards Warsaw-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov III Art. GRU Special Operations Brigade.

About food. Those. about food. GRU special forces, if they are in the format (i.e. under the guise) of a unit of airborne troops, receive uniforms, clothing allowances, monetary allowances, and all due hardships and hardships, both in sickness and in health, and food, strictly in in accordance with Airborne Forces standards.
Airborne special forces - everything is clear here. These are the airborne troops themselves.

But with the GRU the issue is more tricky, and this detail always creates confusion. A friend wrote to me after the Pechora training of GRU special forces in the eighties. "Everyone, ** ***, arrived at the place, in the company. We are sitting for the first day, ****, we are pairing blue shoulder straps, we were given fuel oil, everything is black, **** today is mourning (((((((. Berets , the vests were also taken away. Am I now in the signal forces or something, *****?" So, we arrived in Germany, in the Western Group of Forces, and changed clothes. We immediately became signalmen. And changed our shoes (laced boots were replaced with regular ones boots). But Germany is small, and our sworn “friends” there are not fools either. They are watching. There is a strange signal company. All signalmen are like signalmen, and these are stirring up something all day long. Either a march is a throw of 20 kilometers, or a ZOMP in full swing, then digging trenches (similar to a comfortable place to lie down in a forest belt behind the highway), then hand-to-hand combat, then shooting all day long, then at night something happens. And how varied and suspicious it all is. They went to jumps secretly in tented bodies to a distant airfield. “And for you, dear, there is a field post office. Forward! The trumpet is calling! Soldiers! On the march!” In short, there is no time for communications here (in the usual sense of signalmen).

In this way, GRU special forces can masquerade (at times successfully) as absolutely any branch of the military (as the Motherland orders, and to what quiet/rotten distance it sends).
Unmasking signs will be numerous badges with sports ranks, parachutist badges, the same vests (stubborn boys will still put them on under any pretext, but you can’t keep an eye on everyone, and it’s good that airborne vests are terribly popular in all branches of the military), tattoos based on the uniform No. 2 (naked torso), again with an airborne theme with an abundance of skulls, parachutes, bats and all sorts of living creatures, slightly weathered faces (from frequent running around in the fresh air), always an increased appetite and the ability to eat exotically, or completely artlessly .

An interesting question about another stealth. This touch will give away a special forces soldier who is used to getting to the place of “work” not on comfortable transport with invigorating music, but on his own two feet with all parts of his body worn into calluses. The style of running along gullies with a huge load on your shoulders forces your arms to straighten at the elbows. A longer arm lever means less effort in transporting trunks. Therefore, when one day we first arrived at a unit with a huge concentration of personnel, on our first morning jog we were shocked by the huge number of soldiers (soldiers and officers) who ran with their hands down, like robots. They thought it was some kind of joke. But it turned out not. Over time, my personal feelings about this appeared. Although everything here is strictly individual. Even if you pick your nose with your finger and flap your wings, do what you have to do.

And the most important thing is not this. Clothes are clothes, but what is absolutely identical in both the GRU special forces and the Airborne Special Forces is the eyes. This look is completely relaxed, friendly, with a healthy dose of indifference. But he looks straight at you. Or through you. You never know what to expect from such a subject (only a megaton of trouble, if anything happens). Complete mobilization and readiness, complete unpredictability of actions, logic that instantly turns into “inadequate.” And in ordinary life they are quite positive and inconspicuous people. No narcissism. Only a tough and calm focus on the result, no matter how desperately hopeless it turns out to be. In short, for military intelligence this is a kind of philosophical salt of existence since time immemorial (a lifestyle, that is).

Let's talk about swimming. Airborne special forces must be able to overcome water obstacles. Will there be many obstacles along the way? All sorts of rivers, lakes, streams, swamps. The same goes for GRU special forces. But if we are talking about the seas and oceans, then for the Airborne Forces the topic ends here, and the diocese of the Marine Corps begins there. And if they have already begun to distinguish someone, then more precisely, a very specific area of ​​​​activity of the reconnaissance units of the Marine Corps. But the GRU special forces have their own units of brave combat swimmers. Let's reveal a small military secret. The presence of such units in the GRU does not mean that every special forces soldier in the GRU has undergone diving training. Combat swimmers of the GRU special forces are a really closed topic. There are few of them, but they are the best of the best. Fact.

What about physical training? There are no differences here at all. Both the GRU special forces and the Airborne Special Forces still undergo some kind of selection. And the requirements are not just high, but the highest. Nevertheless, in our country there are two of every creature (and there are many who want it). Therefore, it is not surprising that all sorts of random people end up there. Either they read books, watch videos from the Internet with show-offs, or watch enough films. They often have an abundance of sports diplomas, awards, ranks and other things. Then, with such a boiled mess in their heads, they arrive at the place of duty. From the very first forced march (named after the Big Special Forces), enlightenment sets in. Complete and inevitable. Oh, ***, where did I end up? Yes, you got it... For such excesses there is always a reserve of personnel recruited in advance, just for the subsequent and inevitable screening.

Why go far for examples? Finally, for the first time in the Russian army, six-week survival courses for contract soldiers were introduced, which end with an examination 50-kilometer field trip, with shooting, overnight stays, saboteurs, crawling, digging and other unexpected joys. First (!). Twenty-five thousand contract soldiers in three military districts were finally able to experience for themselves what the average special forces reconnaissance soldier has always lived with. Moreover, for them it is for “a week before the second”, and in special forces for every day and for the entire period of service. Even before the start (!) of the field deployment, every tenth member of our armed forces personnel turned out to be a calich, a slipper. Or even refused to participate in the safari show for personal reasons. Some parts of the body suddenly press-press.

Therefore, why talk for so long? Survival courses in the conventional army, i.e. something so unusual and stressful is equated to the average way of life of unremarkable ordinary service in the GRU special forces, and in the airborne special forces. There doesn't seem to be anything new here. But special forces also have extreme pastimes. For example, horse racing has been traditionally held for many years. In ordinary language - competitions between reconnaissance and sabotage groups of different brigades, different military districts, and even different countries. The strongest fight the strongest. There is someone to follow by example. There are no longer any standards or limits of endurance. At the full limit of the human body's capabilities (and far beyond these limits). It is precisely in the GRU special forces that these events are very common.

Let us sum up our story. In this article, we did not pursue the goal of dumping stacks of documents from staff briefcases on the reader, nor were we hunting for some “fried” events and rumors. There must be at least some secrets left in the army. However, it is already clear that in form and content the GRU special forces and the airborne special forces are very, very similar. We were talking about the real Big Special Forces, which is ready to carry out the assigned tasks. And they do. (And any group of military special forces can be in “autonomous navigation” from several days to several months, occasionally making contact at a certain time.)

Recently, exercises took place in the USA (Fort Carson, Colorado). First. Representatives of the special forces of the Russian Airborne Forces took part in them. They showed themselves and looked at their “friends”. Whether there were representatives of the GRU there, history, the military and the press are silent. Let's leave everything as it is. And it doesn't matter. One interesting point.
Despite all the differences in equipment, weapons and approaches to training, joint exercises with the Green Berets demonstrated an absolutely amazing similarity between representatives of special forces (the so-called special operations forces based on parachute units) in different countries. But don’t go to a fortune teller; you even had to go overseas to get this long-unclassified information.

As is fashionable now, let’s give the floor to bloggers. Just a few quotes from the blog of a man who visited the 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment during an open press tour. And this is a completely unbiased view. Here's what everyone found out:
“Before the press tour, I was afraid that I would have to communicate mainly with oak special forces soldiers who beat off the last of their brains by breaking bricks on their heads. This is where the collapse of the stereotype happened...”
“Immediately another parallel stamp dissipated - the special forces are not at all two-meter big men with bullish necks and pound fists. I think I won’t be lying too much if I say that our group of bloggers, on average, looked more powerful than the airborne special forces group...”
"...during the entire time I was in the unit, out of hundreds of military men there, I did not see a single big guy. That is, absolutely not a single one...".
“...I didn’t suspect that the obstacle course could be more than a kilometer long and its complete completion could take an hour and a half...”
"...Although at times it really seems like they are cyborgs. I don’t understand how they carry such heaps of equipment for a long time. Not everything has been laid out here yet, there is no water, food and ammunition. The main cargo itself is missing!.. ".

In general, such drool does not need comments. They come, as they say, from the heart.

(From the editors of 1071g.ru let’s add about the obstacle course. In 1975-1999, at the very height of the Cold War between the USSR and the USA and later, there was an obstacle course in the Pechora special forces training of the GRU. The officially common name throughout the GRU Special Forces is “trail reconnaissance officer." The length was about 15 kilometers, the terrain was well used, there were ups and downs, there were impassable areas, forests, water barriers, some in Estonia (before the collapse of the Union), some in the Pskov region, a lot of engineering structures for classes. Two educational battalion (9 companies, in others up to 4 platoons, this is about 700 people + a school for warrant officers of 50-70 people) could disappear there in small units (platoons and squads) for days at any time of the year and in any weather, day and night. Not only did the units not intersect, but they might not have made visual contact at all. The cadets ran “to their heart’s content”, now they are dreaming about it. A fact based on real events.)

Today in Russia there are only two, as we found out, exactly the same (with the exception of some cosmetic details) special forces. These are GRU special forces and airborne special forces. To carry out tasks without fear, without reproach, and anywhere on the planet (by order of the Motherland). There are no other divisions legally authorized by all kinds of international conventions. Forced marches - from 30 kilometers with calculation and more, push-ups - from 1000 times or more, jumping, shooting, tactical and special training, development of stress resistance, abnormal endurance (on the verge of pathology), narrow-profile training in many technical disciplines, running , running, and running again.
Complete unpredictability by opponents of the actions of reconnaissance groups (and each fighter individually, in accordance with the current situation). The skills to instantly assess a situation and also make decisions instantly. Well, act (guess how quickly)...

By the way, is the dear reader aware that the special forces of the Airborne Forces and the special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense took on the burden of military intelligence during the entire war in Afghanistan? There the now famous abbreviation “SpN” was born.

In conclusion, let's add. Any law enforcement agencies and departments, from the FSB to small private security companies, are ready to accept the “graduates” of the harsh school of the Special Forces of the Airborne Forces and the Special Forces of the GRU with open arms. This does not mean at all that the Big Spetsnaz is ready to accept employees of any law enforcement agencies, even with an impeccable track record and the highest level of training. Welcome to the club of real men! (If you are accepted...).

This material was prepared based on the RU Airborne Forces forum, various open sources, the opinions of professional experts, the blog gosh100.livejournal.com (credit to the blogger from military intelligence officers), reflections (based on personal experience) of the author of the article. If you have read this far, thank you for your interest.