Garud Commando Force

Garud Commandos at Air Force Day 2018

After attempts by terrorists to attack two major air bases in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001, Indian Air Force commanders felt the need for a specialized force to protect these critical elements and to have a dedicated Commando Force trained in Special Forces techniques, Combat Search and Rescue, Reconnaissance, Counter Insurgency (COIN) Operations and Emergency in response to terror-threats to airfields.

While the Army might have provided some Special forces units to the Air Force, its units were always subject to being posted out on rotation to other areas as per the Army's requirements. It was felt that the specialized training the air force would have provided such units would have to be repeated again and again for the replacement units.

The initial plans mooted in October 2001 called for a specialized force with 2000 commandos. The group was originally called "Tiger Force", but was later renamed as "Garud Force".[6]

In order to address the need for a dedicated force, in September 2003, the Government of India authorized a 1080 strong force to be raised and trained on the lines of the Para commandos of the army and MARCOS of the Indian Navy,[4] with the mandate of performing niche, Air Force specific operational tasks.

Soon after, the first batch of 100 volunteers from the IAF No.1 Airmen Training Center at Belgaum, Karnataka were earmarked to undergo Garud Training at Gurgaon. The Garuds were first unveiled on 6 February 2004, when the first batch of 62 "Air Commandos" passed out of training in New Delhi.[7][8][9] The Garuds were first seen publicly during the Air Force Day celebrations at New Delhi on 8 October 2004.[10]

In the aftermath of the Pathankot Terror Attack, Indian Air Force decided to raise ten additional squadrons of Garud commandos, comprising about 700 personnel, bringing the total strength of the force to 1780.[2][3][11]

The mandated tasks of the Garuds include direct action, special reconnaissance, rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory, establishing airbases in hostile territory and providing air-traffic control to these airbases.[12] The Garuds also undertake suppression of enemy air defences and the destruction of other enemy assets such as radars, evaluation of the outcomes of Indian airstrikes and use laser designators to guide Indian airstrikes.[13] The security of IAF installations and assets are usually performed by the Air Force Police and the Defence Security Corps even though some critical assets are protected by the Garuds.[14]

Garud Commandos at Exercise Vayu Shakti 2019.

Their airbase protection task also includes, when necessary, rendering inaccessible weapons systems and other assets by sealing them off.[6][15] The tasks they perform also includes counter-terrorism, airborne assault, anti-hijacking, hostage rescue and assist civilian relief operations during calamities.[16][15]

Garud personnel are enlisted as airmen in the Indian Air Force. The Garud commandos are organised into fifteen 'flights'. These flights are deployed at air force stations. Each flight is led by an officer who holds the rank of a Squadron Leader or a Flight Lieutenant and is composed of around 60 to 70 men who usually operate in squads of 14 soldiers. The Garud Commando Force has a reported strength of over 1500 personnel as of 2017.[17][14] A Wing Commander rank officer commands the force.[18] Additional personnel are planned to be added to the force.[19]

Garud airman wear the "Airman Beret Badge" on the cap. They are also parachute trained, and wear the para wings above the right pocket. The "Garud Force Patch" can be seen worn on the sleeve. The Garud Commando Badge, which was worn on the right pocket and resembles the NSG badge, is no longer in use. Instead they now have a Garud Winged Badge which is gold in colour and worn on the left chest, similar to where pilot/aircrew wings are worn.

The Garuds used to wear a black beret, instead of the traditional maroon beret of the other Indian Special Forces units, but now wear the maroon beret. They sport the operational paratroopers brevet on the right chest. The formation insignia is worn on the left shoulder. The Garuds are also entitled to wear "IAF GARUD" titles on the sleeves.

A helicopter extracting Garud Commandos at Vayu Shakti 2019

Very little is known about Garud Commando operations and assignments. Garuds have been deployed to Congo as a part of the UN peacekeeping contingent. They also operate alongside Army special forces in Jammu and Kashmir to gain operational exposure. Towards this purpose, teams from the flights are attached to army SF units. The Garuds are now active in the region of Jammu and Kashmir carrying out counter insurgency operations and neutralising the terrorists in the region. Garud Commandos were tasked to provide security at the Yelahanka AFS during Aero India-2005, 2007, 2011[21] and 2013.[22]

The following firearms are reportedly used by the Garud Commando Force:

Small arms

Name	Weapon	Type	Caliber	Origin Country	Notes
Handguns
Glock 17		Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum	Austria	Status: In service, as Standard pistol
SIG Sauer P226		Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum	Germany	Status: In service,
Beretta 92FS		Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum	Italy	Status: In service, in small numbers.
IMI Tavor TAR-21		Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Israel	Status: In service Standard issued rifle.
T91 assault rifle		Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Taiwan	Status: In service
M4A1 Carbine		Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	United States	Status: In service
IMI Galil 7.62 Sniper		Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	Israel	Status: In service Standard issued Sniper rifle
IMI Negev		Light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO	Israel	Status: In service, Standard Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) of special forces

• Special Forces of India

• Garud Commando Force on Bharat Rakshak.
• Garuds: Where Eagles Dare in Sainik Samachar

Media related to Garud Commando at Wikimedia Commons