Enhancing Stealth: India's Special Forces Prepare for Advanced Covert Operations

According to TOI, India is strengthening its special forces to excel in covert warfare, emphasizing high-stakes counter-terrorism missions and strategic operations deep within enemy territory.

Boosting Stealth: India's special forces gear up for greater covert warfare | MSN

From cutting-edge weaponry to next-generation communication systems, these elite forces are being equipped to handle diverse challenges with precision and stealth.

Specialized Equipment

India’s special forces now have access to cutting-edge military technology, significantly enhancing their capability to conduct covert operations.

According to The Times of India, the introduction of loitering munition systems has improved precision-targeting, while an array of advanced drones—including nano drones, surveillance copters, and lightweight drones equipped with FLIR (forward-looking infrared) payloads—enable surveillance over distances of up to 10 kilometres.

The special forces are also armed with a diverse range of weaponry, including Finnish Sako sniper rifles, American M4A1 carbines, Israeli TAR-21 Tavor assault rifles, Swedish Carl Gustaf rocket launchers, and Russian VSS suppressed sniper rifles.

To ensure seamless stealth operations, India has introduced advanced combat free-fall parachute systems and procured integrated combat diving kits.

For maritime missions, the MARCOS are equipped with specialised equipment such as midget submarines, underwater scooters, remotely-operated explosive disposal vehicles, and inflatable boats, enhancing their tactical capabilities in water-based operations, the report added.

Training and synergy

The special forces undergo some of the most rigorous training worldwide, with rejection rates reaching up to 70-80%.

Their training covers a wide range of tasks, including surgical strikes, strategic surveillance, laser-guided bombings, and covert intelligence operations, as reported by TOI. The aim is to push candidates to their physical and mental limits, ensuring only the most elite individuals succeed.

To further refine their skills, India’s special forces now utilize advanced simulators and augmented/virtual reality mission planners, offering cost-effective, realistic training experiences.

The formation of the Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD) has successfully tackled issues of "jointness and synergy" between the Para-special forces, Garuds, and MARCOS. This division has been pivotal in enhancing coordination across the Army, Air Force, and Navy during joint operations.

The introduction of software-defined radios and satellite communication systems ensures seamless communication during long-range joint missions, enabling these forces to collaborate efficiently and effectively.

The Army’s first vertical wind tunnel, operational at the special forces training school in Himachal Pradesh, is also boosting 'combat free-fall' skills, further equipping operators for high-intensity, realistic missions.

With these technological advancements and enhanced training, India’s special forces are now better prepared for covert warfare operations with unmatched precision and efficiency.

(This Article was originally published by MSN)