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People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
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People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
The People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces refer to the various special operations units belonging to the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. They specialize in direct action, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and counter-terrorism operations.
Each theater command controls their own SOF units. The units rely on external support to conduct missions. Most ground SOF are organized like conventional light infantry units. In 2022, many units were recently converted from conventional forces and likely had capabilities closer to shock troops than special forces.
In 2022, the PLA SOF consisted of 15 Ground Force (PLAGF) brigades, one Marine Corps (PLANMC) brigade, one Airborne Corps (PLAAFAC) brigade, and the Rocket Force (PLARF) Reconnaissance Regiment.
The first Army SOF units were created in the 1990s. At the end of the 1990s, each Military Region had an Army SOF or a special reconnaissance force of approximately 1,000 personnel.
Navy special forces deployed with the first Chinese anti-piracy naval patrol off Somalia on 26 December 2008.
After 2013, the PLA placed increased emphasis on expanding its SOF. By 2022, PLA SOF had been expanded by converting conventional forces.
The PLA SOF is divided into 2000-3000 personnel brigades or 1000-2000 personnel regiments. Brigades are internally organized like conventional PLAGF brigades with the "brigade-battalion-company-team" hierarchy, which delegate less authority to team commanders. Conventional "centralized", rather than "task oriented", command style is used.
China does not have a national-level command for SOF (like the USA's SOCOM). Theater Commands control their own SOF units. Each group army contains a SOF brigade. Units have discrete missions depending on their location and branch.
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People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
The People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces refer to the various special operations units belonging to the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. They specialize in direct action, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and counter-terrorism operations.
Each theater command controls their own SOF units. The units rely on external support to conduct missions. Most ground SOF are organized like conventional light infantry units. In 2022, many units were recently converted from conventional forces and likely had capabilities closer to shock troops than special forces.
In 2022, the PLA SOF consisted of 15 Ground Force (PLAGF) brigades, one Marine Corps (PLANMC) brigade, one Airborne Corps (PLAAFAC) brigade, and the Rocket Force (PLARF) Reconnaissance Regiment.
The first Army SOF units were created in the 1990s. At the end of the 1990s, each Military Region had an Army SOF or a special reconnaissance force of approximately 1,000 personnel.
Navy special forces deployed with the first Chinese anti-piracy naval patrol off Somalia on 26 December 2008.
After 2013, the PLA placed increased emphasis on expanding its SOF. By 2022, PLA SOF had been expanded by converting conventional forces.
The PLA SOF is divided into 2000-3000 personnel brigades or 1000-2000 personnel regiments. Brigades are internally organized like conventional PLAGF brigades with the "brigade-battalion-company-team" hierarchy, which delegate less authority to team commanders. Conventional "centralized", rather than "task oriented", command style is used.
China does not have a national-level command for SOF (like the USA's SOCOM). Theater Commands control their own SOF units. Each group army contains a SOF brigade. Units have discrete missions depending on their location and branch.
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