1: every special force even para sf macro's or garuds ment a specific role yes they have some common or over lapping responsibility but it doesn't mean they are common in all operational theaters, example para sf mostly exprinced in deployment of deep behind enemy lines and surgical strike but they can't be employed for qrf on hijacked ship or search and rescue of a downed pilot in enemy territory, like wise macros also specialised in water born action like stealth deployment or quick area deny access to some of enemy costal installations or distortion of their operation, when come to garud they have functions like search and rescue ( trained with Israel counterparts also with French ones in past) ,seizure of enemy asset's like forward landing strip's or communication relay nodes etc , active and passive recon behind lines,
Well nobody here disputes the above. SEAD/DEAD is what Garud trains for. Their effectiveness has been demonstrated multiple times including Red Flag. I have also born witness to a Garud Validation Ex where Garud out of a C-130 with Paratroopers overran an OpFor Airstrip. Set up an Adhoc ATC and made it operational as a FARP for IAF assets in under 60 mins.
But that is not how the IAF Brass chooses to employ them. The Concept of 1 unit on deployment, 1 in reserve and 1 in training is not always being maintained. Does Garud maintain a ready unit with Air Assets for CSAR? the LOC is a defacto war zone. The only other country that faces such an active border is Israel. Unit 669 (??) readiness is at a whole different level and they arnt guarding Air Installations unless there is specific intelligence to do so.
What we have to look here these special group have their on expertise and experience in their on relam also they have so much in commonality like doing COIN ops but it doesn't mean they all follows similar tactics and training etc, they deployed in COIN ops becoz its target rich and real life operations to enhance their skills ( even they took casualties in earlier but now they mastering the situations) about equipment and modernization in sf yes they are not in NATO standards but it never reduce their lethality also carrying light quarter zip b.vests and other stuff make them to highly maneuverabil sepc op unit, the com's they are not computer head sets they may look like one but in my knowledge I never saw a computer headset can work on dust, humid and wet conditions all along with out any failures, they are mil garde but they lack looks that u guys like, we slowly but steadily growing and modernizing our forces and about ak203 I have new info which may or may not be classified in nature but I will share or shreds abt that when need arises
Yes none of the units follow similar tactics and training. From a different lens this is institutional failure. There is no comprehensive data bank / knowledge center for SOF operations to pass through to future generations. No/poor Institutional memory. A MARCOS Sniper is hard pressed to support a SF team - their SOPs are all different. There is a desperate need for a unified SOF effort but that has to start inside CDS/Service HQs.
Secondly - the casualties (type off) that SOF took in COIN through the 2000s and into the '10s were uncalled for SOF units. High Density Low Value COIN operations will ALWAYS result in Casualties. SOF has to be operating smarter - SOF has been in the valley since the 90s. has been in Sri Lanka through the 80s and has done a shitload of work in the 70s. Where did all those experiences go that we had to relearn in the 2000s?!!!!!! I see this as a Command Failure.
Again - Kit is not about "Standards" - Its has way more to do with the employment of them.
Our comms are so outdated that we cannot fight underground, our NVGs so old only point men are given them. Most CQC execution is still done in early light conditions. We have no concept of using Supressors to lesson the noise on the battlefield nor ear protection headphones. I am not even going to mention new Gen Flash Bangs, Medical Kits, Cutting and Demo tools. Hell we have great designated marksmen but yet to build up a true blue
sniper capability. Not even going to bring in the efficacy of Air Assets to ferry and cover our SOF forces.
All the above are not fancy toys to do the same job the same way. Its to give them an overwhelming edge over any OPFOR when heavily outnumbered. New Kit means new tactics means evolved training. Hell out static and dynamic shooting techniques have not evolved in 30 years (baring the NSG). So yes their lethality is definitely limited to what they COULD be able to do. We are not comparing them to what they did in the past, we are comparing them to counter parts in the present and what they can do given their own potential.
The men of our SOF units (SF/Marcos/Garud) are in terms of human resources some of the best quality of soldiers on the planet who are repeatedly led down by Command - Training, resources, tasking.
Again its not about any one specific piece of kit or mindless comparison to any "Western TFTA" unit. Its a mindset that has eluded our military command and MoD for nearly half a century.
All my hopes for this SOD experiment. but not holding my breath.
