Indian Special Forces

[Aditya Ballal]

There is no such expertise with the Indian Air Force.

Let alone the Garuds or Para.

I doubt any Military in Asia would have that.

Combat controllers are high level controllers who have FAA approval.I doubt how many Indian Airforce Controllers would have similar qualification in India.

Not even a JTAC role in our armed forces?

 

[rkhanna]

There is no such expertise with the Indian Air Force.

Let alone the Garuds or Para.

I doubt any Military in Asia would have that.

Combat controllers are high level controllers who have FAA approval.I doubt how many Indian Airforce Controllers would have similar qualification in India.

To use an example to expand on this. Paraphrasing an incident from the Book 'Masters of Chaos'.

2 ODA's had discovered an entire RG Regiment hiding in a town in Iraq. the 2 ODA's took up blocking positions around the exfil routes of the town to observe and report. Very soon it became apparent that the Iraqis knew they had been found out and were trying to make a run for it. The ODA's called in airsupport. at the Peak there were close to 700 A/c over the AO. UAVs, Rotary Assault, Fixed Wing, AWAC/JSTARs etc.

the Combat Controllers were doing math on the fly. Stacking the Planes via altitude and distance and calling them in one by one for a bombing run. They had to monitor fuel levels and ordnance levels on each plan while making their calculations. Then they had to cue in the targeting coordinates to help each pilot execute their objective for the run. They had overall command authority over every single AC in the AO. Can you imagine the trust AF and Naval Commanders would need to have to turn over their assets to grunts on the ground.

Plus Thats a mindboggling level of skill. They were talking and coordinating with Pilots, AWACs, C&C, UAV ground controllers.

 

[Automatic Kalashnikov]

 

[shouryav105]

What is that red badge on his left arm? also, this is the first interview of military mantra where there is no talk about combat experience.

 

[Corvus Splendens]

What is that red badge on his left arm? also, this is the first interview of military mantra where there is no talk about combat experience.

23rd Infantry Division Badge

 

[EternalNxg]

Off topic
But does anyone here has in depth knowledge about TSD? Technical support division? Also why was it disbanded?

 

[India Super Power]

Off topic
But does anyone here has in depth knowledge about TSD? Technical support division? Also why was it disbanded?

You can watch elite predators video for the info regarding tsd
But I don't think it's related to sf thread

 

[EternalNxg]

You can watch elite predators video for the info regarding tsd
But I don't think it's related to sf thread

Thanks a lot

 

[SGOperative]

will garuds be used here, it was one of their core role when founded

 

[Tactical Doge]

will garuds be used here, it was one of their core role when founded

Something very similar happened a long time ago and IAF proved its mettle
Let's see how this one turns out

 

[SGOperative]

I doubt any Military in Asia would have that.

The South Koreans have one and The Thais seem to have one too

 

[Automatic Kalashnikov]

G

will garuds be used here, it was one of their core role when founded

Garuds have already been deployed here

 

[abingdonboy]

Not even a JTAC role in our armed forces?

I think some fail to understand what a JTAC is. It isn’t a soldier with a radio set that can call in an air strike. They are basically an ATC with a rifle, it’s an incredibly specialised role

@rkhanna has given a decent example of how skilled these individuals have to be, lazing a target is about as skilled as Garuds will be in this role but there they are not commanding any assets, only acting as an asset for the the strike package


pakis may have JTACs on paper (they’ve had plenty of exposure to Americans) but I’d doubt their full spectrum abilities. This is very much a NATO expertise

 

[SGOperative]

H

I think some fail to understand what a JTAC is. It isn’t a soldier with a radio set that can call in an air strike. They are basically an ATC with a rifle, it’s an incredibly specialised role

@rkhanna has given a decent example of how skilled these individuals have to be, lazing a target is about as skilled as Garuds will be in this role but there they are not commanding any assets, only acting as an asset for the the strike package


pakis may have JTACs on paper (they’ve had plenty of exposure to Americans) but I’d doubt their full spectrum abilities. This is very much a NATO expertise

He gave example of CCT not JTAC tho, JTAC is basically calling and controlling a Close Air Support with precision, CCT are ATCs but on steroids (During the recent Afghan Crisis it was USAF CCTs running the ATC at the airport).
Note: A CCT can be JTAC qualified but its not a necessity but most of the time they will be. You would see alot of JTACs supporting the conventional forces hence a need for them to send their men to JTAC courses since they are airpower heavy.

 

[abingdonboy]

H
He gave example of CCT not JTAC tho, JTAC is basically calling and controlling a Close Air Support with precision, CCT are ATCs but on steroids (During the recent Afghan Crisis it was USAF CCTs running the ATC at the airport).
Note: A CCT can be JTAC qualified but its not a necessity but most of the time they will be. You would see alot of JTACs supporting the conventional forces hence a need for them to send their men to JTAC courses since they are airpower heavy.

Right but it’s still not something most countries have outside of NATO and even within NATO militaries it’s a very specialist role. DEVGRU and CAG don’t even do it, they get USAF STS assets attached to them

 

[Aditya Ballal]

Right but it’s still not something most countries have outside of NATO and even within NATO militaries it’s a very specialist role. DEVGRU and CAG don’t even do it, they get USAF STS assets attached to them

Do the Chinese have such a capability? And how important would such a capability be for us in both our conflict zones with our beloved eastern and western neighbours?

 

[abingdonboy]

Do the Chinese have such a capability? And how important would such a capability be for us in both our conflict zones with our beloved eastern and western neighbours?

I’d be surprised if the Chinese have such assets given their more centralised C&C but they are pretty dynamic so if they feel like there’s a need they can likely explore such a concept in the near future

 

[SGOperative]

Right but it’s still not something most countries have outside of NATO and even within NATO militaries it’s a very specialist role. DEVGRU and CAG don’t even do it, they get USAF STS assets attached to them

Yeah they get the CCTs on each mission (benefit of a common command)

 

[SGOperative]

Do the Chinese have such a capability? And how important would such a capability be for us in both our conflict zones with our beloved eastern and western neighbours?

None that i have ever read about. @mupper might have a idea on that. The importance of the capability is directly proportional to how much air power and in what manner we plan to utilize.

 

[abingdonboy]

Yeah they get the CCTs on each mission (benefit of a common command)

USAF-IAF SOF capabilities are probably the most stark of any Indian-US unit comparisons. MARCOs and PARA SF will largely fill the same roles as their Western counterparts but Garuds cannot fairly be compared to USAF PJs or STS teams.

USAF SOFs do not try and replicate capabilities in USN/US army just to tick a box of having SOFs inside USAF but they have carved out highly specialised roles for themselves. PJs (pararescuemen) are the most qualified combat medics in the US military, they are all EMT qualified as a basic level and then are given extremely specific rescue training (mountaineering, diving, winching etc), so they actually have their own niche that no one else in the US military can replicate. USAF PJs were the ones in charge of the Thai cave rescue operation

CCT are covered above

meanwhile Garuds are a jack of all trades often replicating capabilities of the IN/IA SF and focusing on the basic ‘commando’ responsibilities but in many cases searching for a mission hence why they get employed as door gunners, force protection,winch men (like seen today in the ropeway) etc