List of Special Reconnaissance organizations

The following list of organizations possess the capability to conduct Special Reconnaissance (SR) and other special operations roles, with SR often by specialists within them. Certain organizations are tasked for response involving areas contaminated by chemicals, biological agents, or radioactivity.

Current

Albania

• Special Operations Battalion (Albania) (BOS)

Algeria

• Groupe d'Intervention Spécial (GIS)

Bulgaria

• 68th Special Operations Brigade with Special Operations Battalion

Canada

Canadian units are known for exceptional sniper and visual surveillance

• Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), the Canadian Forces’ special operations and counter-terrorism unit
• 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
• Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Company
• Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)

China

• People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
  • Guangzhou Military Region Special Forces Unit - Established in 1988 as the PLA’s first special reconnaissance group, and was later expanded in 2000 to become the first PLA special operations unit to be capable of air-, sea-, and land-operations.
  • Chengdu Military Region Special Forces Unit – Nickname “Falcon”. Established in 1992, this unit is specialised in target locating and indicating, airborne insertion, sabotage and offensive strike, and emergency evacuation. The unit was also used by Chengdu MR to experiment various new concept equipments and tactics, including the digitised army soldier system and high-mobility land weapon platforms.
  • Beijing Military Region Special Forces Unit - Established in the early 1990s, this unit is equipped with various “high-tech” equipment including unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle (UARV), individual explosion device, handheld laser dazzling weapon, etc.
  • Shenyang Military Region Special Forces Unit
  • Nanjing Military Region Special Forces Unit - Nickname “Flying Dragon”
  • Nanjing Military Region Special Forces Unit - Nickname “Eagle”
  • Lanzhou Military Region Special Forces Unit

Czech Republic

• 102nd Reconnaissance Battalion of General Karel Palecek
• 601st Special Forces Group

Denmark

• Jægerkorpset (Danish Army)
• Frømandskorpset (Royal Danish Navy)
• Special Support and Reconnaissance Company (Danish Home Guard)

France

• 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment

India

• Special Frontier Force
• MARCOS
• Para Commandos (India)
• Garud Commando Force

Ireland

• Army Ranger Wing (ARW)
• Directorate of Military Intelligence

Israel

• Sayeret Matkal

Italy

• 9th Parachute Assault Regiment - Esercito Italiano
• Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori Teseo Tesei – Marina Militare
• 17º Stormo Incursori – Aeronautica Militare

Netherlands

• Korps Commandotroepen

Norway

• Forsvarets Spesialkommando - Army SOF
• Marinejegerkommandoen - Navy SOF

Poland

• Jednostka Wojskowa Grom
• Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów
• Jednostka Wojskowa Formoza
• Jednostka Wojskowa Agat
• Jednostka Wojskowa Nil
• 2 Hrubieszowski Pułk Rozpoznawczy
• 9 Warmiński Pułk Rozpoznawczy

Portugal

• Special Operations Force of the Portuguese Army
• Air-Land Pathfinders Company of the Portuguese Army
• Special Actions Detachment of the Portuguese Navy

Russia

• Spetsnaz

• • Federal Security Service "FSB"
    • Alpha Group Directorate "A" of the FSB Special Purpose Center (TsSN FSB), is an elite, stand-alone sub-unit of Russia's special forces.
    • Vympel Group Directorate "B" Vympel Group is an elite Russian spetsnaz unit under the command of the FSB.(TsSN FSB)
  • Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
    • Spetsnaz GRU 2nd,3nd,10nd,14nd,16nd,24nd,25nd Spetsnaz Brigade (obrSpN)
    • 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment Specnaz VDV (orpSpN)
    • Russian commando frogmen42nd,420nd,431nd,561nd Naval Reconnaissance Spetsnaz Point (omrpSpN)
    • Voennaa Razvedka"Military intelligence" personnel/units within larger formations in ground troops, airborne troops and marines. Intelligence battalion in the divisions, reconnaissance company in the brigade, a reconnaissance platoon in the regiment. The level of training that the same Spetsnaz GRU but not controlled by the GRU, mascot bat

Sri Lanka

• Special Forces Regiment
• Special Boat Squadron

Sweden

• Fallskärmsjägarna

United Kingdom

• Special Air Service
• Special Boat Service
• Special Reconnaissance Regiment
• Pathfinder Platoon of 16 Air Assault Brigade
• Brigade Reconnaissance Force, 3 Commando Brigade
• 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA
• Honourable Artillery Company
• 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery

United States

• Central Intelligence Agency Special Activities Division (SAD)
• 75th Ranger Regiment
  • 75th Ranger Regiment, Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC)
• US Army Pathfinders
• Long Range Surveillance Units (LRS)
• United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets)
• Marine-Navy Special Operations Reconnaissance (SOR)
• 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force or Combat Applications Group)
• Intelligence Support Activity
• United States Navy SEALs
• United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)
• Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controllers
• Air Force Special Operations Weather Technicians (SOWT)
• United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
• United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance
• United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions
• United States Marine Corps Radio Reconnaissance Platoons
• United States Marine Corps Scout Snipers

Historical

Nazi Germany

• Brandenburger Regiment

United Kingdom

• Special Operations Executive more a direct action organization, but conducted some reconnaissance. Espionage was under the continuing Secret Intelligence Service

United States

• Office of Strategic Services

• 2671st Special Reconnaissance Battalion