Combat Operators

Combat Operators

Three French Foreign Legion soldiers posing with a 9K38 Igla (SA-18 Grouse) MANPADS launcher during field operations

9K38 Igla: The Soviet-Born Air Defense System Still Shaping Modern Warfare

April 17, 2025

by Eric Sof

The 9K38 Igla is a Russian/Soviet man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) that uses infrared homing technology to target and destroy enemy aircraft. Manufactured by…

Germany to Supply Ukraine with 120 Soviet-Made “Igla” Air Defense Systems

Russian Offensive: Threat of Frontline Collapse in Two Key Sectors

Ukraine’s Lost Offensive: How Infighting Among Generals Shaped a Strategic Defeat

Tiers »

A joint special forces team move together out of a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey Feb. 26, 2018, at Melrose Training Range, New Mexico. At Emerald Warrior, the largest joint and combined special operations exercise, U.S. Special Operations Command forces train to respond to various threats across the spectrum of conflict.

Inside the World of Tier 1 Special Mission Units

by Eric Sof

In the United States military, Tier 1 units are frequently referred to as Special Mission Units (SMU). They are a classification of Special Operations…

Tier 2: An Exclusive Look into the 2nd echelon of elite special forces

The backbone of the conventional military: The role and importance of Tier 3 units

Expert Analysis »

Ukrainian soldiers driving near combat positions near Bakhmut during 2023 offensive

Ukraine’s Lost Offensive: How Infighting Among Generals Shaped a Strategic Defeat

Task Force 121 Delta Force

A Glimpse at the Gear, Training, and Missions of Delta Force

Glock 19X in Coyote color in dual deployment kit

Evolution of Glock Pistols: A Look at the Different Generations

The most famous assault rifle in the world AK-47

What is the equivalent of an AK-47 for sniper rifles?

The Unbelievable Power of Force Protection Vehicles: Polaris MRZR-D4 ATV

The Unbelievable Power of Force Protection Vehicles

The world's most popular weapon - AK-47 Assault Rifle

Why is the AK-74 not as Popular as its Predecessor?

Most read

1

The list of world’s most elite special forces in 2023

2

From Delta Force operator to 4-star General

3

Kevin Holland served both in Seal Team 6 and Delta Force

4

Robert Howard: One of the most decorated American soldiers in history

5

Ranking the Top Tier of US Special Forces

Firearms »

Soldier firing Carl-Gustaf M4 during live-fire exercise

Carl-Gustaf M4: Saab’s Multi-Role Recoilless Rifle Sets the Standard for Modern Infantry

The Carl-Gustaf M4 (CGM4), designated M3E1 by the U.S. Army, represents the latest evolution in Saab’s…

Al-Yassin 105: A heavily modified anti-tank round based on RPG-2 and RPG-7 design

Shershen ATGM: A Belarusian version of Skif with additional capabilities

XM84/M84 Stun Grenade: Design, Use, and Potential Risks

NICO BTV-1 Flash Bang: A Non-Lethal Weapon for Multiple Missions

MARA: An Indigenous Anti-Tank Weapon That Failed to Meet Expectations

Tier 3

The backbone of the conventional military: The role and importance of Tier 3 units

Honor and Pride: The French Foreign Legion’s Code

The Only Unit In The World That Can Do This

The Royal Irish Rangers

USMC ANGLICO

French Army Special Forces Brigade

A Closer Look at the Marine Expeditionary Unit’s MSPF

10th Mountain Division: Climb to Glory

Fallen Heroes »

U.S. Army dentist Capt. Benjamin Salomon Medal of Honor recipient

The Ben Salomon’s last stand took over 90 enemy soldiers with him

Robert J. Reeves: A Navy SEAL who died in Extortion 17

Navy SEAL Erik Kristensen was KIA in Extortion 17 incident

Erik Kristensen led his Navy SEALs last time on a fateful rescue attempt

CIA Agent Johnny Mike Spann: The first American to die in combat after the 9/11

Johnny Mike Spann: The first American to die in combat after the 9/11

Units »

Frogman Corps: A Danish counterpart to the Navy SEALs

Inside Serbia’s Military Police Detachment for Special Purposes KOBRE

SAJ: Serbia’s Special Anti-Terrorist Unit

JSOC’s Tier-system explained: How do they differ?

Portuguese Special Forces: Special operations and elite units in Portugal

Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFOD-A): Main operational element of Army Special Forces

NATO Special Operations Forces

Special Operations Team Room

Equipment »

Soko J-21 Jastreb in front of hangar covered with protective equipment

Jets

by Eric Sof

SOKO J-21 Jastreb: Yugoslavia’s Advanced Single-Engine Jet Aircraft

Soko G-4 Super Galeb: Development, Combat, and Future Upgrades

by Eric Sof

April 2, 2025

SOKO G-3 Galeb: A Remarkable Development in Yugoslavian Aviation

by Eric Sof

April 2, 2025

SOKO G-2 Galeb: A Yugoslav Jet Trainer and Light Ground-Attack Aircraft

by Eric Sof

April 3, 2025

Roshel Senator: The Multi-Purpose Armored Personnel Carrier for Law Enforcement

by Eric Sof

March 27, 2025

128mm RAK-12 MLRS: A Croatian version of the M-63 Plamen

by Eric Sof

March 29, 2025

Veterans »

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT JOHN D. MAGRATH

John D. Magrath: The 10th Mountain Division’s first Medal of Honor recipient

Audie L. Murphy: The most decorated soldier in American history

Roy Benavidez: The Green Beret Who Defied Death and Became a Legend

LT. Jason Redman: Navy SEAL who survived deadly al-Qaeda ambush

Famos Missions »

Soldier fires a 9K38 Igla missile from the shoulder while standing on an armored personnel carrier.

Germany to Supply Ukraine with 120 Soviet-Made “Igla” Air Defense Systems

Russian Offensive: Threat of Frontline Collapse in Two Key Sectors

Russian Forces Use Drones to Mark Minefields

Rising Tensions: China’s Military Exercises Near Taiwan Mirror Invasion Tactics

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Videos »

Osama Bin Laden notorious Al-Qaeda Leader killed during the Operation Neptune Spear

Netflix Explores the Hunt for Osama bin Laden in a New Docuseries

Best War Movies: 1917 (2019)

1917: The most realistic war movie ever made

The only publicly available video of Delta Force CAG 1st SFOD-D

The only publicly available video of Delta Force

Netflix’s Triple Frontier and tactical aspects

Columnists »

Eric Sof

9K38 Igla: The Soviet-Born Air Defense System Still Shaping Modern Warfare

Ian Hogg

Erma EG73 Carbine: Another successful German rifle

Andreas Berg

Ranking the World’s Most Grueling Special Forces Training

Sam Jacobs

What Self-Defense Weapon Do Special Forces Use for EDC Off Base?

Opinions »

Special Ops Versatility

by Sam Jacobs

The Importance of Versatile Weapons in Special Operations

The operator from the SIPA SSU stands alongside his colleague from the US Special Forces

by Sam Jacobs

How to Always Be at the Ready with Minutemen Tactics

by Sam Jacobs

The Absolute Essentials to Stock Up on During a Gun Craze!

Sig Sauer P320 United States Armed Forces service pistol

by Eric Sof

A Closer Look at the Advantages of the US Army’s M17 Sig Sauer P320 Pistol over the M9 Beretta

self defense tools

Opinion

by Sam Jacobs

What Self-Defense Weapon Do Special Forces Use for EDC Off Base?

When it comes to EDC, the weapons Special Forces use in the field aren’t always the ones they’d want strapped to their hips during…