Airborne special forces: history, structure, main differences. Airborne special forces - an elite unit of airborne troops Who is better special forces or airborne forces

Many people have no idea what this military unit actually is. Essentially, these are the eyes and ears of the Airborne Forces, reconnaissance and sabotage units that operate behind enemy lines, preparing the arrival and preparation of landings if necessary, and are engaged in the capture of airfields, small bridgeheads, and sites. Their functions also include solving many related tasks, including the seizure or destruction of communications, other infrastructure facilities, and much more.

This is the special forces of the Airborne Forces, which acts, speaking in an artistic and more understandable language, like a ray of light, just as quickly and easily, breaking through any, even the slightest, crack.

The most successful use of airborne special forces is considered to be in conditions when the army of our country is conducting active offensive operations.

Airborne special forces carry out their tasks without fear and without reproach, in any corner of the planet. Tactical special training special forces is the development in fighters of absolute stress resistance, abnormal, bordering on pathology, endurance, narrow-profile training in many disciplines, including technical ones, and running, running, and running many more times, performing forced marches in training distance of 30 kilometers or more.

So what is the activity of this almost mythical unit, the name of which evokes delight, hidden fear and wariness in the soul.

Troops special purpose Airborne forces can be used everywhere: behind enemy lines to create discord and chaos, when solving problems of assisting in the capture and retention of strategic objects until the moment when the main units of the army arrive, when capturing strategically important bridges, airfields, transport hubs and etc. And since the capture and retention of such important objects for a sufficiently long time is an impossible task for the few special forces groups of paratroopers, their main purpose is to create a favorable environment for further actions of the already numerous airborne assault detachments.

To carry out operations, separate special forces groups are dropped into pre-determined areas behind enemy lines, with a clear indication for each of them of a deployment zone, once in which the reconnaissance paratroopers attack places where enemy forces are concentrated. The meaning of such attacks is obvious: by carrying out raids that are unexpected for the enemy, during which maximum destruction and damage is caused, airborne special forces groups, as a result of their attack operations, ultimately cause panic among the enemy.

This happens until the enemy, who has come to his senses, begins to come to his senses. Then the airborne special forces, in order to prevent unnecessary casualties on their part, deploy to reverse side to hide or continue their work elsewhere.

We have seen much of what has been said in artistic and documentaries, read in books. But everything shown and written is true, albeit sometimes in an embellished form, but this is the work of the Airborne Special Forces.

Just like in the movies, special forces soldiers gather in dense groups and begin to retreat, taking cover and changing direction. And when they fail to quickly break away, they set mines and tripwires behind them right on the move in order to slow down the enemy’s pursuit and be able to “dissolve” in the area.

Due to the fact that the tactics of these airborne special forces are based on high maneuverability and swiftness combined with universal firepower, the airborne groups are created by their leadership with the expectation that they have optimal numbers and are well targeted.

In these groups there are no additional or spare people; it is customary to ensure the life and safety of each warrior.

A little . From the first moment our troops were introduced into Afghanistan, airborne special forces constantly participated in various operations, so when the 45th airborne special forces regiment was formed in the summer of 1994, there was already enough experience for the soldiers to be as versatile as possible and truly prepared for war. In addition, numerous foreign developments and technologies have already been introduced, which have had a positive impact on the quality of the created special forces Russian Airborne Forces.

The 45th regiment is, perhaps, one of the legendary regiments in the modern history of the Russian Armed Forces. He is known quite well in Chechnya. They say that even unverified information about the approach of the Airborne Special Forces forced the dushmans to withdraw from their positions and leave. Leaders of militants during the first Chechen war They promised fabulous sums for the capture of at least one soldier of the 45th regiment. Honor and praise to our fighters: the promises remained in words, since not one of them got to the militants, either alive or dead. But this regiment is considered the youngest part of the army of our country, but what a one!

45th Regiment is unique combat unit Russia, which has everything to solve its problems: the necessary weapons, equipment, and devices. In addition, it is armed with unmanned aerial vehicles.

The regiment also includes a psychological detachment, whose task is to demoralize or disorientate the enemy troops, destroying their faith in the meaning of resistance. This unit has the skills and abilities to win over the neutral civilian population to its side, which is especially important in the information age, sometimes this is done with the help of an existing compact television station that broadcasts the necessary programs within a radius of many kilometers.

And that's not all. The capabilities of our country's airborne special forces are truly enormous.

These units fought during the Transnistrian conflict, participated in operations during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, mainly ensuring the safety of refugees and remaining civilians.

According to many, the airborne special forces are the first in the world, bypassing even the British special forces and the Green Berets.

But these are just facts, and in life not everyone can achieve the status of a universal soldier from the Airborne Special Forces. It is foolish to think that this is an easy task. In order to become a real special forces soldier, an applicant first passes numerous tests in psychology, then in physical training, and only then, having determined his abilities and readiness, the commission sends him to a specific military specialty as part of the special forces.

And the learning process begins. After this rigorous type of selection, the learning process begins. To say that it is very difficult to serve in special forces, especially in the Airborne Forces, is the same as simply remaining silent.

Constant training, which alternates with forced marches, night shooting, facade mountaineering, and then tactical training, training for sappers, again forced marches, night shooting.... And so on all the time in a circle.

It is clear that not all future fighters of the formidable special forces will withstand such a pace and load, which is why after about six months the elimination begins: some’ health cannot withstand the stress, some cannot withstand it themselves, some are expelled by their commanders , and in the end, those who remain are the real ones who are fluent in both weapons and skills. They are the real special forces soldiers who have neither face nor property for us. They never cease to appear at the right time in the right places, be it hostage taking, combat operations in hot spots and outside them, in the center of conflicts in Bosnia, Dagestan, Chechnya, Kosovo and many other places.

For all the years that the Airborne Special Forces have existed, its fighters have not stopped fighting, finding warehouses with enemy weapons, drug warehouses, saving many lives of civilians, preventing many troubles. That is why these units are considered the real elite of the Russian army, and the 45th regiment is the regiment of the future.

Materials used:
http://www.logocode.narod.ru/speznas.htm
http://onepamop.livejournal.com/838688.html
http://steppewolves.com/?p=443
http://stratagem36.ya.ru/replies.xml?item_no=49
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/45-%E9_%EE%F2%E4%E5%EB%FC%ED%FB%E9_%E3%E2%E0%F0%E4%E5%E9%F1 %EA%E8%E9_%EF%EE%EB%EA_%F1%EF%E5%F6%E8%E0%EB%FC%ED%EE%E3%EE_%ED%E0%E7%ED%E0%F7 %E5%ED%E8%FF

For me personally, these two interviews became the pearls of my collection. And it’s not even that the conversation was about martial arts in special forces, and my interlocutors were veterans of the GRU and the Airborne Forces. The fact is that in a conversation with real service people, and not fake self-proclaimed “special forces”, the most popular myths at the moment were debunked.

You will be surprised, but you will not hear stories from these people about any “special forces styles”, about karate or kung fu in special forces, and, in general, about the concept of “hand-to-hand combat” in the army.

So, welcome to reality, Neo.

SPECIAL FORCES OF THE VDV.

My first interlocutor asked not to give his name. No, he was not “classified” at all and was not “His Excellency’s adjutant.” It’s just that this person does not consider himself a significant figure and talks about his service rather modestly, even critically.

Well, in fact, he was a professional military man who served in an airborne assault battalion of the Airborne Forces, which visited Afghanistan and came under fire.

“Now the pretentious word “special forces” has become fashionable and a common noun, but then there was no such term in wide use.”

The military unit in which I began to serve was located in Armenia and, at that time, mountain training took place there. Later, after my dismissal, in the 80s, I learned from letters from colleagues that many who underwent training (these were cadets and officers) left for Afghanistan. In addition, the guys who served in our unit, a later conscription, as part of a consolidated company, also went to Afghanistan.

My military career was not limited to conscript service, and already in the 80s, I entered the school of warrant officers of the Airborne Forces, so I can compare the specifics of conscript and extra-conscript service.

I had to serve in conscript service in a separate reconnaissance platoon of an airborne assault battalion. They recruited guys there who were athletic, had ranks, parachute training and usually education.

Now the pretentious word “special forces” has become fashionable and a common noun, but then there was no such term in wide use. In addition to the frequent use of the term “special forces,” you can now often find certain “specialists” who are presented as “hand-to-hand combat instructors.” Neither in military service, nor in the school of warrant officers, nor in further service, I have never encountered such a term; I only learned about it in the movies. During conscript service, we were taught physical (with elements of special) training by a major transferred from the GRU for health reasons. This was a man who was truly in love with martial arts and, more often than not, he studied with us. The reasons for this were, firstly, the battalion commander’s love for sports and our specific nature of service.

“Today, many people see service in the special forces of the Airborne Forces as a series of fights, training in hand-to-hand combat and nothing more.”

The major explained to us that he was showing combat sambo techniques, which is actually what I heard about in the army. Not about sambo in general, but specifically about combat section, in which the main task is based on eliminating the enemy. It cannot be said that we were being trained to be some kind of movie heroes, however, those who wanted to did so learned something. And there was a lot to learn; the training included techniques with weapons, removing a sentry, and there were sparrings.

Today, many people imagine service in the special forces of the Airborne Forces as a series of fights, training in hand-to-hand combat and nothing more. But this is a completely wrong idea; the soldier in these units, as well as in all other branches of the military, is engaged in cleaning the territory, sweeping the parade ground, and going to the outfits. Nevertheless, we had the so-called special training, but it did not look like how it is shown in the movies. In my opinion, a big role in our training was played by the battalion commander and major who taught physical training, as well as some young officers who had recently come from the Ryazan Airborne School.

“We didn’t really know anything about karate, just as we didn’t have the term “hand-to-hand combat” in our everyday life.

According to some fans of martial arts, karate techniques were actively introduced into the power structures of the USSR. In fact, we didn’t really know anything about karate, just as we didn’t have the term “hand-to-hand combat” in our everyday life. Elements of karate were more common in the school of warrant officers, although in a very modified version, and then mainly because it was the personal initiative of some people. In fact, all preparation took place with combat elements of sambo.

Sparring took place both during conscript service and at the ensign school, and in the conscript service they were even tougher. At that moment, we needed to go through a kind of initiation - surrendering to the beret and the guards badge. It was true unofficial tradition, moving from conscription to conscription, but they had to pass such an “exam.” This consisted of passing standards and sparring with senior soldiers and, if our major was involved in this, then with officers.

It looked like something like mixed martial arts, everyone tried to do what they could. Of course, no one killed anyone, but the fight did not stop, even if the opponents fell to the ground. The boxers who came from wrestling backgrounds looked most confident, despite their non-combat arsenal of techniques, sambo wrestlers. Although at that time I myself came from judo, I cannot help but note that despite all the similarities between judo and sambo, sambo wrestlers still looked more confident (but this should not be perceived as some kind of superiority of one type over the other). It helped me personally that I had, in addition to wrestling, boxing skills.

“Coming from ordinary combat sports, they looked quite confident, they were easily trained in combat techniques.”

As I already said, we had not heard anything about karate then and there were no karatekas among us. Now, knowing about many types of martial arts, it seems to me that the officer who taught physical training had elements of jiu-jitsu.

Already after conscript service, when Soviet youth actively attended underground karate sections, where I myself went, we heard about kung fu and jiu-jitsu (although I had heard about it before from one of my acquaintances who served in the Pacific Fleet).

Later, while studying at the ensign school, I had to deal with people from karate, as well as a representative of kung fu, at least as he spoke about himself.

On personal experience, without claiming to be the ultimate truth, I can say that in a real fight, the traditional version of martial arts will be ineffective. Sport is the basis, competitive practice, endurance, these are the things without which it is impossible to gain combat skill. Those who came from ordinary martial arts looked quite confident and easily learned combat techniques. As for karate and kung fu, from the outside they looked good, but everything ended as soon as sparring began. But it should be taken into account that there was no need to talk about high professionalism in these martial arts in our circle (although in my life I saw an example of how one of the young people on the train managed to resist several attackers using karate skills). And here again the guys from boxing, sambo and wrestling looked more confident, since the training in these disciplines, at that time, was much stronger. As for talking about combat moments in martial arts, in my opinion, the talk of some martial arts schools that boxing, wrestling, is just a sport is a manifestation of incompetence.

Now, of course, the picture has changed, there is more information, in our country such styles as sanda, kudo, kyokushinkai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu appeared, but I am talking about specific moments involving the variants of martial arts known at that time.

And, in general, you should remember that there are no bad or good martial arts, you should clearly understand why you are doing it, what goals you are pursuing.

SPECIAL FORCES GRU

But my next interlocutor, whose name is Vitaly Tuminsky, served in the GRU special forces, known to us from films and programs. Let's find out from him how true are the allegations about the existence of some super secret “special forces systems”.

Hello, Vitaly.

You are one of those who had the chance to serve in the famous GRU special forces. Tell us where you served, what were your responsibilities?

My term of service began in 91, and ended in 94. First, I spent six months in training, after which I ended up in military unit 83395 (177th Specialized Special Forces of the GRU General Staff). During these six months, I mastered the specialty of radio telegrapher of special short-wave communications. The detachment itself was stationed in the Murmansk region, the village of Pushnoy, and my main task was to provide radio communication with our brigade of the 2nd ObrSpN GRU General Staff (the village of Promezhitsy, Pskov district, Pskov region).

I was a good specialist (1st class), and later I was willingly taken into reconnaissance groups for various exercises, as a reconnaissance radio operator.

How justified is the image of a special forces soldier as a “hand-to-hand fighter” and the GRU as a place where skills are polished? hand-to-hand combat? Were they taught hand-to-hand combat techniques in your unit?

There is no hand-to-hand combat in the curriculum!

In our unit we joked: “A scout should shoot like a cowboy and run like his horse!” And indeed it is. Therefore, the specialties needed by the intelligence officer were mine demolition, foreign armies, air -landing training etc. and so on

Is there a "special forces" style? what reaction do you have, as a person who served in the GRU, when you hear about the “Kadochnikov System”, “Russian hand-to-hand combat” and “ Non-contact combat special forces"?

All I can say is that there is no style of special forces! Perhaps someone, on their own initiative, comes up with something, and as a result we get all the systems listed above.

Everything that is shown on August 2, Airborne Forces Day, is a staged show - window dressing.

You do martial arts.

Have you ever met representatives of Asian styles in fights or competitions and, in general, who caused the most fear as an opponent?

I was drafted into the army with 1st category in boxing. Once a year we had hand-to-hand combat competitions; in my weight class I won without difficulty, probably because I only met karatekas. Most of all, as a boxer, I fear fighters. To be fair, modern karatekas have become more dangerous.

Why do many fans of oriental styles refuse to believe in the inconsistency of some techniques, do not recognize boxing and wrestling techniques as something practical, although contact fights and street clashes say the opposite?

Apparently they have a hard time accepting that their styles are only nominally called martial arts. After all, this means collapse for them (a drop in self-esteem and loss of students).

What do you say about knife fighting? Will hand-to-hand combat, karate, and boxing techniques help against an armed opponent?

A street fight itself is not predictable; anything can influence its outcome. I have seen more than once how good athletes from the gym raked off lyuli. A knife is a lethal weapon and I would not advise anyone to try their skills against an armed person.

Our law enforcement agencies do not have a clearly structured system of “hand-to-hand” training. Soviet archives are replete with “karatesh” window dressing; today they talk about combat sambo, but in reality, in reality, neither one nor the other is really taught to security forces.

What reforms do you think are needed for the army and police in terms of physical training?

After the army, I worked in the police, and for six months at the training center they resold us fighting techniques. But all these techniques are difficult to apply in practice. Good physical training is desirable, but most employees are not able to do this, and it is not necessary, especially since employees have special equipment (handcuffs, RP, etc.)

During my time as a police officer, I have seen several attempts to implement such reforms. Just loud reports - the bottom line is zero.

And in special units, there is a strict selection from people who already have good skills in one form or another of martial arts.

Have you ever asked yourself the question of how to get into the Airborne Forces? Have you often thought about serving in? Most people will answer these questions: “No, it’s not for me,” while many will come up with various kinds of excuses. And this is not at all surprising, because service in the Airborne Forces or in special forces requires special courage, and most importantly, special training.

The main task is to conduct various types of combat operations in the very rear of the enemy, far from the front line. These brave men operate in the most important areas of military operations. Often these are the most extraordinary places. The main task of special forces is sabotage and reconnaissance activities deep behind enemy lines.

Only the most strong men who have a sense of fearlessness and courage, being wondering how to get into the Airborne Forces, or how to get into special forces. It is thanks to such real men that our country can sleep peacefully.

Only the strongest, bravest and most self-possessed people are selected for this Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

In order to get into the Airborne Forces or special forces of the Russian army, you must be a citizen, not necessarily an adult, but have a secondary education.

The main factor for admission is to be in excellent health. Admission of those wishing to serve is carried out only on the basis of the results of entrance tests on physical and psychological preparedness, as well as on the basis of assessments in documents that characterize social, creative, and most importantly sports achivments future soldier.

The world does not stand still, humanity is developing, morals and traditions are constantly changing. There are more and more women striving to look at the world through the eyes of men. Girls also have questions about how to get into the Airborne Forces or special forces.

To enter the service, a girl must have good health and a stable psyche, have a secondary education, and also be a citizen of the Russian Federation.

For representatives of both sexes who wish to serve, it is necessary to submit a report to the military commissar.

While at the military commissariat assembly point, meet the officers who arrived for reinforcements. Try to make the most positive impression on him.

As soon as you find yourself at your duty station, submit a report with a request to be sent to the special unit you need for further service. And find out in more detail how to get into the Airborne Forces.

Once you become a candidate for enrollment in the Airborne Forces or Special Forces, you will need to complete physical tasks. You must be able to do good pull-ups, perform two-arm exercises, and also have excellent cross-country training.

If you complete all the tasks assigned to you with high quality, you can count on enrollment in the Airborne Forces or Special Forces. After serving in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the country will be able to count on you in the most dangerous and troubling moments.

Almost every army has special forces units or troops. Russian special forces Airborne Forces is a special Airborne Forces regiment, designed to perform various specific operations, part of airborne troops Russia. The 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment was renamed the 45th in 2015 separate brigade Airborne special forces.

The history of the emergence of airborne special forces

During the Soviet era, there were not only no special forces, but also no specialized units. The first Russian special forces unit appeared only in 1994. Although about special forces in Soviet time There were many legends; in fact, dangerous missions were carried out by airborne troops, and secret missions- mostly intelligence officers and secret agents.

The 45th Airborne Special Forces Regiment was formed in February 1994, specifically to eliminate gangs in Chechnya. In 1995, when the entire regiment was withdrawn from Chechnya, it had already demonstrated its effectiveness in battle.

In 1997, the 45th Special Forces Regiment took an active part in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, for which it received Battle Banner and a certificate of the Order of Kutuzov. With the resumption of hostilities in Chechnya from 1999 to 2006, detachments of the regiment actively participated in many military operations against terrorists and bandits.

Although the history of the Airborne Special Forces Regiment begins in 1994, it has already managed to cover itself with glory, since many of its soldiers and officers are Heroes of the Russian Federation.

Weapons and equipment of airborne special forces

Since the airborne special forces solve very specific and complex tasks, their weapons and equipment are of higher quality and more varied than standard weapons airborne units(which is already one of the best in the Russian army). Such weapons require enormous funding. Airborne special forces fighters often use types of weapons that are practically inaccessible to other types of rifle troops.

Weapons most often used by airborne special forces:

• SVD is a famous sniper rifle. Although this weapon is not something outstanding, many veterans of the airborne special forces are accustomed to using this particular model sniper rifle. With this rifle, some skilled snipers even managed to shoot down planes, hitting their pilot;
• Currently, the SVD rifle is being replaced by the Vintorez, which is a silent model of a sniper rifle. A powerful “sniper” not only allows you to hit targets that are located at significant distances from the shooter, but is also capable of penetrating a modern steel helmet at a distance of up to 400 meters. First combat applications Vintorez sniper rifles were recorded in the first Chechen company. This weapon is in service only with airborne special forces units; other types of troops do not have access to this weapon;
• The Steyr automatic rifle is also used by airborne special forces. Although this weapon has a high price, its scope is quite wide. The Steyr rifle has the ability to be installed and used underbarrel grenade launcher, which is often necessary when performing special tasks. The use of such combined weapons makes it possible to do without a standard grenade launcher, which can significantly reduce the mobility of an airborne special forces group performing a special mission. Although the Steyr rifle only recently appeared among the standard weapons of the Airborne Special Forces, the soldiers rightfully appreciated its reliability and versatility;
• The AS Val silent assault rifle entered service back in Soviet times. At the end of the 80s, they were recommended for use by special forces when performing various sabotage missions requiring silence and stealth. AS "Val" is equipped with a sniper and night sight, and its transportation is most often carried out in a compact case. The time required to assemble and prepare the AS “Val” for firing takes no more than 1 minute;
• The main assault rifle of the Russian army, the AK, is also used by airborne special forces. True, these are not ordinary modifications that are used in the Russian army, but export models of the hundredth series. Most often, airborne special forces use the AK-103, which, in addition to being better built, uses a caliber of 7.62x39 mm;
• For sudden operations, for which it is impossible to take large models of weapons, they most often take the AK-74M, which has a folding stock, the ability to use a sight and an under-barrel grenade launcher. In some cases, special forces soldiers use a shortened model from the line small arms Kalashnikov - AKS-74. At close ranges, this model is practically not inferior in performance to standard Kalashnikov assault rifles;
• Naturally, the most popular machine gun, both for the entire Russian army and for the airborne special forces, is the Kalashnikov machine gun. Developed back in the 60s of the 20th century, it has not yet lost its popularity. There are many PC options that are used both for infantry and for installation on combat vehicles. Airborne special forces use the latest modification of the Kalashnikov machine gun - PKM, which is lighter in weight and easier to use. There is also a “night” version of the modernized Kalashnikov machine gun, which is called PKMN;
• A more modern model of a machine gun, which is in service with the Airborne Special Forces, is the Pecheneg machine gun. This model is not just a modification of PCM, but really new model, the basis for the creation of which was PCM. This machine gun Suitable not only for shooting at enemy personnel, but also for hitting transport and even air targets. The Pecheneg machine gun is exported to the CIS and Eastern countries;
• For operations to free hostages, they use the AN-95 Abdukan assault rifle, which in appearance resembles a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Its main difference from the Kalash is the incredible accuracy and accuracy of shots. At a distance of 100 meters, an experienced sniper is able to hit the same point with two shots. In hostage rescue operations, lives often depend on the accuracy of the fighters who participate in their rescue. The AN-95 “Abdukan” assault rifle is capable of significantly reducing the mortality rate of hostages in such operations, since several accurate shots can quickly eliminate terrorists;
• In addition to small arms, airborne special forces often use grenades. The most common is the RPG-26. This type of rocket-propelled grenades, which were developed back in the mid-80s, has still not lost its relevance and is an effective means of destroying enemy equipment and fortifications. Since the range of applications for these grenades is very wide, they are used different types troops of the Russian Federation.

In addition to the above weapon models, airborne special forces also receive the latest designs equipment that is developed taking into account the specifics of special forces combat missions.

Specifics of special forces

Since the implementation of special tasks assigned to the airborne special forces requires specialized weapons, equipment and equipment, the funding allocated for the needs of the special forces differs significantly. The training of personnel is particularly thorough, and specialists are trained only in the best training centers, under the guidance of veteran instructors. In addition, joint international exercises are carried out, in which special forces from different countries exchange combat experience.

Service in the airborne special forces is carried out, as a rule, under a contract, which is concluded for at least 3 years. This is explained by the fact that almost every special forces soldier is a highly qualified specialist in some field, and a huge amount of money is invested in him during training, and the departure of such a soldier can disrupt the entire established structure in the detachment, where each soldier clearly performs his tasks. For example, having lost a mining specialist, the squad will spend much more time penetrating the militants’ hideout, which can cost the life of the entire squad, as it will give the bandits the opportunity to prepare for an attack.

Tasks that airborne special forces must solve

The main task of special forces is to completely demoralize the enemy. Suddenly appearing behind enemy lines, experienced fighters who have excellent training are capable of causing significant damage to the enemy in a matter of minutes. Seeing how small detachment easily copes with many times superior forces, the enemy loses faith in victory and easily turns into panic. The task of the regular troops at this moment is to support the special forces and occupy captured positions.

In addition, airborne special forces are capable of carrying out sabotage activities behind enemy lines, organizing resistance units and “luring” civilians to their side. For this purpose, airborne special forces units not only undergo special psychological preparation, but also have mobile television stations capable of providing broadcasting within a radius of about 10 kilometers.

IN Peaceful time There is also a lot of work for airborne special forces fighters. In addition, Russian special forces annually take part in competitions that take place among special forces of the leading countries of the world. Russian special forces constantly take first place, beating both the famous Green Berets and British special forces.

The training of airborne special forces is still at its best, but every year it becomes more and more difficult to recruit recruits. There are plenty of people willing, but it is quite difficult to choose the worthy ones among them. If previously each applicant had a sports rank (often even in several sports), now such conscripts are quite rare.

How to get into the airborne special forces

Those applicants who want to join the airborne special forces must have already served military service and have high health indicators, which are required for future special forces. After passing the medical examination, applicants are subjected to a variety of tests to determine mental health and readiness to serve in special forces.

The most calm and balanced applicants are taken as snipers or sappers, the rest are assigned to military professions according to their temperament and psychological stability. Those applicants who do not pass the tests are offered service in other parts of the Russian army.

After selection, training begins, which no more than 40 percent of applicants pass. If after the exercise there are too few people left, the empty seats are filled by the best airborne soldiers who have proven themselves to be excellent during their military service. Such a strict selection leads to the fact that after a year of training, fighters are already experts in using various types weapons and special devices. The best airborne special forces fighters are real universal soldiers, although almost each of them has some military profession better than others.

In the short time that the Airborne Special Forces have existed, its officers and soldiers have managed to take part in all the military conflicts in which Russia was drawn. Until now, airborne special forces fighters are the most elite warriors of the army of the Russian Federation. Numerous medals and orders awarded to soldiers and officers of the Airborne Special Forces serve as clear proof of this.

I came across this material by accident, I was just surfing the net looking for old friends. And even though this article contains, to put it mildly, controversial points, in my opinion it reflects the very essence. So...

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

Let's start with a historical excursion. Who came first? The GRU special forces are definitely in the fifties of the last century (October 24, 1950). Since a lot of tactical preparations and other features were borrowed from the partisan actions of the Great Patriotic War, then it is still fair to indicate its unofficial appearance even earlier, in 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 together with the Airborne Forces. With the very first landing near Voronezh on August 2, 1930, 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 (how long the radio communication range is enough) to solve problems 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 parts of the planet there are " dead zones", there is no mobile, radio or satellite communication at all. That is, it is 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 angled to the right. If you suddenly see a special forces soldier in Airborne uniform and wearing a beret curved to the left, then this 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.
Clueless designers and layout designers of newspapers, magazines, and online publications do great harm to the accuracy of this issue. Sometimes without understanding at all what the real thing looks like military uniform(especially those who have never worn it), they can post on their pages not original photo, and a mirror image of the photo. Not only will the fit of the beret change, but also badges and awards will “migrate” from one half of the chest to the other, and the jacket will suddenly look “buttoned like a woman,” also on the other side. Such funny things happen.

Let's move on to the signs. During the Great Patriotic War, the Airborne Forces committed

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 this is 100% 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 troops or something, *****?". So, we arrived in Germany, to the Western Group of Forces, and changed clothes. They immediately became signalmen. And they changed their shoes (the lace-up boots were replaced with regular boots). But Germany is small, and our sworn “friends” there are not fools either. They are watching. There is a strange communications company. All signalmen are like signalmen, but these guys are stirring up something all day long. Either a march of some 20 kilometers, then ZOMP in full swing, then digging trenches (similar to a comfortable lie-down in a forest belt behind the highway), then hand-to-hand combat, then shooting for the whole day, then something happens at night. And how varied and suspicious it all is. They secretly traveled to the jumps 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 (bare torso) again, slightly weathered muzzles (from frequent running around 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. . 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 so in ordinary life 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 seas and oceans, then for the Airborne Forces the topic ends here, the diocese begins there Marine Corps. And if we have already begun to distinguish someone, then more precisely, a very specific

area of ​​activity of Marine Corps reconnaissance units. 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 GRU special forces is 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 others 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 an unremarkable regular 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 - 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 full capacity human body(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 forces special operations on the base parachute units) V 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 complete walkthrough it can 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 we’ll add about the obstacle course. In 1975-1999, at the height of " cold war"USSR - USA and later, in the Pechora training of the GRU special forces there was an obstacle course. The officially accepted name throughout the GRU Special Forces is the "scout trail". The length is about 15 kilometers, the terrain was successfully used, ups and downs, there were impassable sections, forested areas, water barriers, some in Estonia (before the collapse of the Union), some in the Pskov region, a lot of engineering structures for classes. Two training battalions (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 . Moreover, the units not only did not intersect, but may not have made visual contact at all. The cadets ran "to their heart's content" and now they are dreaming about it. 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 of opponents' actions 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)...

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