Top Ten Special Operations Forces in the World

Countries throughout the world train special operation forces within their military, so coming up with a list of top special operations forces in the world is difficult at best.  All special ops forces train their military men to be the best of the best, to take the impossible task and make it possible.  In that respect, all Special Operations units are top.  While the list below may not be everyone’s top ten, some of those listed would certainly be a part of any top ten lists.

10.  Russian Spetsnaz – What sets the Russian Spetsnaz apart from other specially trained special ops units around the world is their daily

exposure to physical punishment.  The purpose for this portion of their training is to teach them to endure physical pain and to work the mind to “enjoy” it since it is impossible to ignore it.  They are permitted to leave the training anytime they desire.  Their missions generally involve reconnaissance and close quarter combat.   Many of the bodyguards chosen for the high-tanking political figures of Russia are chosen from the Spetsnaz.

9.  Pakistan Special Service Group – This Pakistan Special Service Group (SSG) is also known as “Black Storks” a name derived from their unique headgear the “Maroon Beret”.  The SSG has ten specific missions for which they are trained:

• Asymmetric Warfare
  
• Special Operations
• Counter-Proliferation
• Unconventional Warfare
• Foreign Internal Defense
• Special Reconnaissance
• Direct Action
• Hostage Rescue
• Counter-Terrorist
• Personnel Recovery

This elite group from Pakistan is somewhat similar to the US Army’s Green Berets and the British Army’s SAS.  They often conduct exercise missions with Special Forces from other countries such as China and the UK.

8.  Austria Eko Cobra – This special ops tactical unit is involved mainly in counter-terrorism.  The group retains a low

 profile, despite their high-speed involvement in the war on terror.  In Europe, they are known for their competitive edge over other countries at S.W.A.T. and other competitions throughout Europe.  Though their covert missions are carried without with little or no media, they are still considered by many as one of the best trained counter-terrorist units in the world.

7.  French Army Special Forces Brigade – This French Special Ops group has one of the most rigorous qualification training programs in the world.  This group is subdivided into three specially trained

 areas:

• 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d’Infanterie de Marin which is based in Bayonne.
• 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes based in Martignas-sur-Jalle.
• 4e Régiment d’Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales, the unit based in Pau.

Why does China enter Britain’s nuclear power market?

2013-10-21 — For a chancellor so keen on the defence of UK national sovereignty against democratic Europeans, George Osborne’s unbridled enthusiasm for Chinese investment in the UK’s critical infrastructure is striking. If all these memorandums of understanding come to fruition, Chinese entities will hold important stakes in water in the UK, airports, IT infrastructure and now nuclear power generation, all without a serious national debate on any potential risks such involvement might bring.

Since the Chinese government does its homework, it knows that Osborne represents a country reduced to penury by the financial crisis, and with some tricky, big-ticket items on its wishlist. Since the Chinese appreciate deference from their visitors, they must have been delighted by the chancellor. Britain is open for business, as he likes to say. Just make me an offer.

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Plant

Neither China’s sovereign wealth fund nor its state-owned enterprises are philanthropic. All have large war chests, and their search for profitable, secure investments around the world has stimulated competition among aspirant recipients. But good bargains are not always done in haste and a number of unanswered questions hang over China’s proposed investment, future majority stake-holding and possible future operational involvement in Britain’s nuclear power.

Some are hardy perennials: the world has 270,000 tonnes of high-level waste in temporary storage, an unlovely heap that grows by 10,000 tonnes each year. In 50 years of nuclear power, nobody has come up with a workable plan for the million years that safety regulations demand. Are the costs of that, and of decommissioning, built into the deal and if so, who pays?

Then there is public subsidy: nobody has ever built a nuclear power plant without it, but the mandatory opening up of European electricity systems to competition means consumers are no longer obliged to underwrite unlimited costs, or to pay for expensive nuclear energy. This transfers the financial risk to the owners and financiers – hence the difficulty of finding the cash. What is different here?

French enthusiasm is explained by the attempt to save their industry after decades of nuclear chill: Japan’s plants are currently shuttered, for obvious reasons; new licensing is suspended in the United States; many countries (Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium) are phasing out nuclear power, or have never had it (Ireland, Austria, Norway, Greece, Portugal, Italy and Denmark).

But what is in it for China? China has been the global nuclear industry’s main hope of survival in recent years. It is a newcomer, starting to build its first commercial reactor only in 1985. It now has 16 in operation and a further 26 under construction, and more are planned. Now China hopes to become the world’s next big nuclear exporter and sees involvement in a British plant as a key step to gaining credibility in the market.

UK Air Force Retire its C-130Ks

A Royal Air Force decision to take the seven remaining C-130Ks out of service brings to a close a 45-year operational association of the variant with the RA

LONDON — The Royal Air Force will axe the final C-130K special force Hercules from its fleet of airlifters by the end of this month. The Defence Ministry is cannibalizing the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft of its defensive aids suite to fit into some of the C-130J models being equipped to fill the role according to the MoD.

In an unrelated move, the British have opted to skip the Block 7 update for its J models and incorporate the modifications in their aircraft along with the new Block 8.1 improvements program being led by the US Air Force as part of an international program.

The decision to take the seven remaining Ks out of service brings to a close a 45-year operational association of the variant with the Royal Air Force. The decision leaves Britain’s tactical airlift dependent on 25 of the more modern J models ahead of the introduction of the Airbus A400M next year.

The move has been prompted in part by the heavy cost of keeping the aircraft airworthy. One MoD source said keeping them flying would not have made economic sense, and with the K effectively at the end of its service life, it made more sense to invest in further J capabilities.

It’s the second aging air asset the British have stood down recently. Late last month, the Air Force finally took its VC10 air transport/air tanker fleet out of operation after 47 years of service.

The British C-130K fleet has been gradually run down over the past few years. The aircraft has had its out-of-service date extended several times, mainly as a result of serious delays to the A400M program and to a lesser degree the failure to complete the Block 7 upgrade to the J fleet on time.

Deliveries to lead customer France have commenced on the Airbus aircraft, which in payload sits between the Hercules and the Boeing C-17, which the Royal Air Force also operates.

Increasing numbers of Airbus A330 tanker/transports now coming into service, a handful of old Lockheed Tristars and some leased BAE 146 jets make up the remainder of the British airlift fleet.

Doug Barrie, the senior air analyst at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, said the timing of the out-of-service decision might stretch resources as Britain completes the draw down of combat troops from Afghanistan next year.

“It’s hardly ideal to lose airlift capability at this point with the VC10s only recently going out of service, the AirTanker program not up to full speed and with only limited numbers of Tristars available. Of course we don’t know what the level of special forces activity is right now but the Ks will have to be replaced with other airlift assets,” he said.

Lockheed Martin has been given an £18 million (US $29 million) contract by the British to develop and install radio frequency defensive aids systems into the J models. The systems are already in use in the K model.

Time frames and whether the work will be undertaken separately or as part of routine maintenance carried out by Air Force Hercules support prime Marshalls Aerospace is unclear.

The British have also decided to drop separate implementation of the Block 7 upgrade to its fleet of J aircraft and instead effectively merge the capabilities with the upcoming Block 8.1 modification program, sources here said.

The Block 7 program is significantly behind schedule and has effectively been overtaken by the Block 8.1 upgrade, which is scheduled for completion in 2014. The US has already opted to move straight to the Block 8.1.

A Royal Air Force Hercules modified to trial the production version of the Block 7 avionics upgrade has been stuck for months on the apron at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Ga., plant modified but unable to fly because it awaited clearance from Britain’s Military Aviation Authority.

A Royal Air Force spokesman said it remains the strategy to “support the multinational block upgrade program in order to sustain our C-130J fleet to its out-of-service date.

“The UK has one C-130J, currently modified to Block 7 standard and located in the USA, where we expect it to commence flight trials soon in support of the multinational block upgrade program. We have no current plans to withdraw this resource,” the spokesman said.

It’s a similar message to the one the British issued in March after the aircraft had been modified to clear the upgrades for incorporation by the partner nations in the program.

The aircraft has been marooned at the Marietta plant so long that Lockheed Martin had to give the machine annual maintenance that it was scheduled to have on its return to the UK.

A Lockheed Martin spokeswomen said that “Seven C-130J operating nations have signed up for the Block 7/8.1 upgrades. These nations include: Australia, Denmark, Canada, Italy, Norway, the US and the UK. Each nation will implement the upgrades on a schedule that accommodates their operational requirements.”

Block 7 upgrades include a new flight management system, which allows operators to meet current civil aviation CNS/ATM standards and integration of a tactical data capability, Link 16, civil GPS and a new special mission display processor.

Awarded by the US Air Force in December 2011, the Block 8.1 configuration includes updated identification friend or foe, Tempest compliance, automatic dependent surveillance broadcast, and a communications, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management data link. Lockheed Martin is also providing enhanced approach and landing systems, and additional covert lighting. 

Mini helicopter drone for UK troops in Afghanistan

British soldiers in Afghanistan have become the first to use miniature surveillance helicopters in frontline operations.

The Ministry of Defence plans to purchase 160 of the mini drones

The drones can fly around corners and obstacles to identify potential hidden dangers, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Norwegian-designed Black Hornet Nano features a tiny camera and relays video and still images to a handheld control terminal.

It measures about 10cm by 2.5cm (4in by 1in) and weighs 16g (0.6oz).

The MoD, which also operates more than 300 larger-sized unmanned air vehicles in Afghanistan, said the Black Hornet is carried easily on patrol and works in harsh environments and windy conditions.

They have been in use in Afghanistan since 2012, a spokeswoman confirmed.

Surrey-based Marlborough Communications has a £20m contract with the military to supply and maintain 160 of the drones, which were originally developed by Prox Dynamics for search and rescue operations.

Mini drones can be piloted directly or programmed to follow co-ordinates using GPS.

Powered by battery, the Black Hornet is reported to have a range of about half a mile (800m), a top speed of 22mph (35kph) and can fly for up to 30 minutes. 

They can help soldiers on the ground pinpoint hidden Taliban fighters and explosives.

Sgt Christopher Petherbridge, of the Brigade Reconnaissance Force in Afghanistan, said: "We used it to look for insurgent firing points and check out exposed areas of the ground before crossing, which is a real asset. 

"It is very easy to operate and offers amazing capability to the guys on the ground."

Defence minister Philip Dunne said intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems were a "key component" of the MoD's investment in new equipment over the next 10 years.

Spending outlined last month also includes almost £36bn for a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines, almost £19bn for combat aircraft, and around £17bn for Royal Navy warships.

BAE May Have to Suspend M777 Production

LONDON — BAE Systems will suspend production of the M777 howitzer unless it can quickly secure a long-talked about order from India for the lightweight 155mm weapon.

The company said in a statement on Thursday that it had begun consulting staff and unions ahead of the suspension of production at its Barrow, England, facility because of continuing delays in negotiations with the Indian government over the sale of 145 guns.

Up to 200 jobs are at risk at the Barrow site, where BAE also builds nuclear submarines and supports other artillery programs. Its Hattiesburg, Miss., site in the US, which undertakes final assembly and testing of the gun, is not immediately impacted, the BAE statement said.

“The [Barrow] move comes about because of ongoing delays in the US government foreign military sale of M777 howitzers to India,” the company said.

letter of agreement (LoA) between the US and Indian governments for the sale of the towed 155mm weapons expired on Tuesday, triggering a rise in the ceiling price of the package of guns, training and support from US $647 million to $885 million. That price, though, is likely subject to some flexibility if the deal can be finalized quickly.

Nobody is holding their breath for a quick deal. The major price escalation from the US government and BAE is likely to lead to further delay. In addition, India is gearing up for a general election.

India hasn’t managed to buy any new howitzers since the 1980s’ purchase of weapons from Bofors — a deal that became embroiled in a huge corruption scandal involving financial kickbacks.

letter of request for the M777s was received from India in late 2012, and all trials and evaluations completed in January this year. The LoA has been in place since February.

BAE ceased producing assemblies for new gun orders this year and has been investing its own cash, keeping the line alive with work on spares and various inventory items.

But the company said that after months of its own investment, it can no longer maintain staffing levels. The artillery side of the Barrow facility employs around 350 people, the majority on the M777.

The British-based defense contractor has been building the weapon since 2004, predominantly for the US Marines and Army. Over 1,000 guns have been ordered and the last of those weapons, destined for the Australian military, are being assembled at the company’s Hattiesburg.

Barrow is responsible for the welding, machining and fabrication of specialized titanium items, such as the howitzer’s saddle and cradle. Final assembly and test of the M777 is undertaken by around 50 employees at Hattiesburg.

BAE said the Hattiesburg facility is completing assembly of guns destined for the Australians and also resetting some weapons supplied to the US military.'

That work is expected to take the US side of the M777 operation through to around April next year.

The announcement of the potential closure of the UK howitzer production site comes just 24 hours after BAE’s US arm said it was closing its Sealy, Texas, wheeled armored vehicle facility, with the loss of up to 325 jobs

.

End of British Military Flying In Germany

The last 1 Regiment Army Air Corps Lynx helicopter has left Gütersloh in Germany, marking the end of British military flying in the country.

The last flight brought an end to a long association with Germany stretching back to 1975 when the regiment first formed up in Lower Saxony.

During their time at Gütersloh elements of the regiment have deployed on operations 17 different times, the most recent occasions being Operation Protego (for the London Olympic Games) and Operation Herrick 18 (Afghanistan).

With the regiment rebasing in the UK next year, where they will convert to using the new Wildcat helicopter, the unit, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tedman, hosted a number of events over last week to formally mark the cessation of British military flying in Germany.

The 3 highlights were the presentation of Afghanistan Operational Service Medals to a cohort of personnel from 661 Squadron and the helicopter handling detachment, who had only days before returned from Afghanistan, a ‘mini-heroes’ parade where the children of deployed personnel were awarded their own medals, and the final farewell Lynx helicopter flight.

Whilst in theater 661 Squadron completed over 1,000 flying hours in support of operations and their engineers proudly achieved the highest serviceability levels. And the helicopter handling detachment worked hard managing helicopter landing sites.

In his address to the medal parade Brigadier Neil Sexton, Deputy Commander Joint Helicopter Command and professional head of the Army Air Corps, congratulated everyone on what had been a hard tour in a challenging environment and extended his personal thanks to all the families for the support they provide.

He concluded by adding:

“Wear your medals with pride, enjoy your deserved leave and look forward to the exciting future that awaits you in the Wildcat era.”

Speaking after the ‘mini-heroes’ parade, Corporal Matthew Garvin said:

“It is fantastic that the regiment have held this parade for our children; our families are incredibly important and it’s great to see that the children are recognised and not forgotten about.”

Concluding the week’s events, Commander Royal Artillery HQ 1st (UK) Armored Division, Brigadier Simon Humphrey, addressed 1 Regiment Army Air Corps on parade. He said:

“It is an immense privilege for me to be here today to formally mark this significant event – the cessation of British military flying in Germany.

“The regiment has a proud record over the last 20 years and it is important that we take the opportunity to reflect with pride on all of those achievements. Well done.”

Brigadier Humphrey also took the opportunity to recognize formally in front of the regiment the award of a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air to Major John Tymon for his outstanding airmanship and command that averted the loss of life following a catastrophic engine failure during a routine assessment flight in December 2011.

To mark the last flight of the Lynx from Gütersloh it was wholly appropriate that Major Tymon led the helicopters on a final farewell past the air traffic control tower and his watching colleagues.

UK MoD: Independence Could Harm Scotland's Security

The British Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyer Duncan departs BAE Systems

Scotsoun shipyard for sea trials. (BAE Systems)

LONDON — Scotland’s security would be reduced if the country
became independent from the rest of the United Kingdom in an 
upcoming referendum, according to a British government report 
into the defense implications of a “yes” vote.

The British government’s offensive against a possible vote for 
independence in next September’s referendum included the 
Defence Ministry release on Oct. 8 of its analysis of the benefits 
of remaining part of the UK, along with the pitfalls of separation.

“It’s not clear what level of security and protection the proposals 
[from the Scottish National Party, or SNP] would provide for Scotland;
 but it is clear that it would be much less than that provided to 
Scotland as part of the UK,” the analysis said.

United Kingdom orders to Thales UK 200 STARStreak short-range surface-to-air missiles.

Thales UK today confirmed that it has signed a contract with the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) for a further 200 STARStreak short-range surface-to-air missiles, a key component of the UK’s Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability. The multi-million pound contract was announced by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. David Cameron MP, in a speech to the Northern Ireland Investment Conference in Belfast.

The STARStreak multiple launcher employs three canister missiles together with clip-on equipment and a standard aiming unit.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne MP said: “We saw during the Olympics last year how important our air defence capability is. This contract for 200 extra STARStreak missiles will not only provide our Armed Forces with a highly capable weapon, but it also secures hundreds of highly skilled defence jobs in Northern Ireland and should provide confidence to the export markets of the STARStreak system.”

The order has been placed to increase STARStreak stocks as part of the Government’s transformation agenda for the Armed Forces, Force 2020, to equip both the Regular and Reserve forces with the STARStreak systems.

Starstreak is a British short range surface-to-air missile or MAN Portable Air Defense System (also known as MANPADS) manufactured by Thales Air Defence (formerly Shorts Missile Systems), in Belfast.

David Beatty, Managing Director of Thales in Belfast, said, “Not only will this contract sustain jobs at our facilities in Northern Ireland, but it also demonstrates very clearly to our export customers the ongoing importance and trust that the UK MOD places in the STARStreak system and our design, manufacturing and support capabilities”.

The STARStreak missile systems, and its Air Defence Alerting Device, were deployed in the UK by the British Army during London 2012, where they were considered essential to the delivery of a safe and secure Olympic Games.

The Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) is designed to counter threats from very high performance, low-flying aircraft and fast 'pop up' strikes by helicopter attacks.

The missile, which travels at more than three times the speed of sound, uses a system of three dart-like projectiles, allowing multiple hits on the target. HVM can be fired from the shoulder, from a lightweight multiple launcher or from the Stormer armoured vehicle.

Shepherd-MIL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

A Shepherd-MIL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) which looks like a bird is capable of invisible surveillance seen during the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair at Excel in London September 10, 2013.

Reuters

EAGLE EYES: A Shepherd-MIL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at the Defence Security Equipment International arms fair at ExCel in London.

Indian Development OF 10,000-km Range ICBM On Cards

India is seriously contemplating to enhance the reach of it's strategic missiles. The DRDO will carry out preliminary tests of Agni-V in December this year or early next year. This missile will have a range of 5,000 km.

Top Ten Military Expenditure Database

List of countries by military expenditures :

1. United States : 682,478,000,000 $


2. People's Republic of China :166,107,000,000$

3. Russia : 90,749,000,000$

4. United Kingdom : 61,007,000,000$

5. Japan :59,267,000,000$

6. France :58,943,000,000$

7. Saudi Arabia :56,724,000,000$

8. India : 45,785,000,000$

9. Germany : 43,478,000,000$

10. Italy : 34,004,000,000$

11. Brazil : 33,143,000,000$

12. South Korea : 31,660,000,000$

13. Australia : 31,660,000,000$

14. Canada : 22,600,000,000$

15. Turkey : 18,184,000,000$