Special forces protective equipment. Takes the GRU special forces: what does it look like, what color? The difference between the uniform of the GRU special forces and other branches of the military

Fighters prefer non-standard stocks, sights, body armor and boots. Military personnel of the units special purpose The Ministry of Defense, Internal Troops and SOBR of the Special Purpose Center (TSSN) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs agreed to tell the newspaper "Military-Industrial Courier" why American colors are popular in Russian special forces and how effective they are domestic body armor and night vision devices, as selected combat equipment and weapons.

IN last years the main characters of television reports and photographs from North Caucasus became fighters of various special forces units performing tasks to combat the terrorist underground. In the video and photo chronicles, it is striking that the field uniforms, body armor, communications equipment, etc., are different for the special forces, so to speak, just like the world.

IN modern world The private production segment of tactical equipment and protective equipment is developing very dynamically. Even such well-financed Western divisions as the American Delta, British SAS and others buy the products they like with their own money. After all, the success of any operation depends on uniforms, equipment, and especially weapons. How are things going with the Russian security forces, what problems are there, what would you like to change?

Today our interlocutor is Ivan. We talked about equipment, nutrition and more.
G99: To what extent do you use standard clothing, and how often do you buy additional ones with your own money? What equipment is missing from the issued equipment?

Ivan: As a rule, we use all our own clothes and equipment during tasks. We use regular ones at various show events. Naturally, they are very unhappy with this state of affairs.

G99: How do you see the right set of clothes for movement and static in the cold season?

Ivan: I fully adhere to the concept of layering in clothes. I try to use clothes like PCU, ECWCS (VKBO is a separate conversation - we wanted the best, it turned out as always..).

G99: What kind of backpacks did you use? Their pros and cons. What would you like to change in the design of backpacks, how do you see an ideal backpack for 3-5 days?

Ivan: Previously I used backpacks from SPLAV. Then there was an attack from the MTR. I can't say anything bad about these manufacturers. I was very pleased at one time when I moved away from wearing what they gave out. Until I got acquainted with the frame structure. There was a choice between ILBE/FILBE and G99, in the end I decided to support the domestic manufacturer, and have never regretted it. Currently the frame is T10+T40 with side pouches from G99 and Rush 24 from 5.11. For daily events I take a 5.11 backpack, everything larger is T40. I thought towards the T60, but this moment I don’t feel the need for this - there is a reason to think about the things that you really need with you and what you can do without) There is such a common problem for many people when it is not the task that determines the necessary things, but the volume of the backpack. Yes, and you need to be as maneuverable as possible..

G99: How do you maintain and improve your physical fitness while stationed and on business trips? What sports do you do and how much?

Ivan: Physical training in our work is very important. Whether you can successfully complete the task depends on your condition. Therefore, I take this as seriously as possible. In addition to regular activities, I go in for sports free time and after work. For active recreation) Previously, I only did body weight, kickboxing, sambo. Then I realized that I needed to turn on the hardware, because... Everything is hard when working. But running is also very important. We need a middle ground, which is why I really like Crossfit at the moment. On business trips for long periods of time, we try to take the necessary basic equipment - weights, a barbell with weights, various collapsible dumbbells. If we are limited in carrying capacity, then we take only a Sandbag - it is very convenient to fill it with sand upon arrival and the projectile is ready. But even if it is not possible to take it, you can always use available means. There would be a desire)

G99: How do you plan meals during reconnaissance and search activities during the cold season? What do you take from the standard dry ration, what do you buy in addition? What food heating systems do you use and how much water do you take per day?

Ivan: Everything is different on this issue. Some people are satisfied with the standard packed ration - irp, while others don’t eat it on principle, but prefer to buy, for example, dried meat or various cereals. Personally, I use the IRP as a basis and add what is necessary to it - various high-calorie bars. To heat food we use gas burners from various brands such as track, pathfinder, etc. Some people use jetboil burners or their Chinese equivalents. Regarding water, it all depends on the task being performed and climate conditions. But you should always follow the drinking regime. Some preparation is required. I always carry a hydration pack with me in my backpack - up to 2.5 liters of water. I dilute citric acid and rehydron in it to maintain the salt balance. The minimum amount of water for yourself per day is one and a half liters.

G99: What kind of armor and helmets do you use, do you buy additional covers for plates and do you use armor in the forest? If yes, which one and, if not, why? Would use it if it were more convenient/compact

Ivan: Standard SIBZ from the Ratnik kit. We buy covers for stoves because... The regular ones do not satisfy us at all in fulfilling our tasks. We don’t use armor in the forest, because... We believe that mobility is needed more in this case. But everything depends on completing the task. If an assault is necessary, then there will be armor. If searching, then without reservation. When choosing a cover, everyone decides for themselves. Some people choose minimalism, others choose maximum protection.

Military personnel of the special forces units of the Ministry of Defense, internal troops and SOBR of the Special Purpose Center (TSSN) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs agreed to tell why American camouflage in the MULTICAM color scheme is popular among Russian special forces, how effective domestic body armor and night vision devices are, how combat equipment and weapons are selected.

In recent years, the main characters of television reports and photographs have become soldiers of various special forces units performing missions to combat terrorists. In the video and photo chronicles, it is striking that the field uniforms, body armor, communications equipment, etc. are different for the special forces, so to speak. In the modern world, the private production segment of tactical equipment and protective equipment is developing very dynamically. Even such well-financed Western divisions as the American Delta, British SAS and others buy the products they like with their own money. After all, the success of any operation depends on uniforms, equipment, and especially weapons. How are things going with the Russian security forces, what problems are there, what would you like to change?

The armor is strong

“We use 6B23 body armor. There are also brand new 6B43s, but there are very few of them,” says an officer from the TsSN of the Ministry of Defense based in the Moscow region. According to him, most military personnel buy imported products with their own money, mainly covers, which are then hemmed so that domestic armor panels can be installed. Colleagues from the internal troops are supplied with body armor vests developed in the early 90s, “Korund”, but now they have begun to supply the modern “Bagariy”. Just like the Ministry of Defense, the VV buys foreign body armor, in particular American ones. True, domestic Defenders and Redoubts are also popular.

Special forces are equipped independently

Employees of the TsSN of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are protected by various products from Fort Technologies and Armakom. All the publication’s interlocutors agreed that none of the types of body armor meets their requirements. What is needed is not ordinary body armor, but modular armor protection systems, which are an unloading vest (“unloading”) with armor panels and the ability to install the necessary pouches for the tasks performed. Now such systems have become a mandatory attribute not only of special forces units, but also of combined arms in many armies of the world.

“We would like to have standard lightweight body armor according to the plate carrier design, like what LBT and PIG-tactical companies make. But since they don’t exist, many people buy their own and install armored panels,” says an officer from the Ministry of Defense. The internal troops do the same. "The Americans have good system fastenings with a set of pouches called MOLLE. Everything is of high quality, the pouches are held securely. Something similar was done at Bagaria, however, the quality is worse and the pouches are only enough for two or three classes. But we only have 30–40 percent of such body armor,” complains an Internal Troops officer.

But an employee of the SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs believes that domestic protective materials are better and the protection classes of body armor are higher than those of foreign products. But he also recognizes the need for modular armor protection systems. All the publication's interlocutors are not satisfied with the standard protective helmets. “Like he put a chamber pot on his head. You have to make a special cover for landing, otherwise it might catch the edge of the helmet with the straps when it opens. Ours don’t have mounts for NVDs, flashlights and similar things,” says an officer from the Central Special Operations Center of the Ministry of Defense. The regular ZSh-1s are not liked by the internal troops, and the Altyn, Mask and Lynx-T are not liked by the SOBR officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

By all accounts, the most optimal version of the protective helmet supplied to special forces units around the world was developed by the American company OpScore.

“Very comfortable, fit well on the head, can be combined with glasses, headphones, an oxygen mask, and have a streamlined shape,” said a representative of the Ministry of Defense. He is supported by colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops. “ZSh-1 is a thing of the past. We buy with our own money an “ShBM” from the Omnitek-M company, similar to the “Opskorovsky” one. You can easily put headphones under it. It is easy to fit and lightweight. Under the ZSh-1 you need to wear a special cap, and if in the summer, then a bandana, but under the ShBM you don’t need to,” says an officer of the internal troops. At the same time, the SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs uses a product from the Russian company Armakom, similar to the American OpScore helmet. “We are now working with the company to fine-tune their product to our requirements. But this is a long process, at least a year,” explains an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Kalashnikov" with a foreign stock

“We mainly use AK74M. There used to be a lot of AKMSL, but now they are almost all worn out and are being written off. There are several AK103s, but the current 5.45 cartridges (PP, BS, etc.) have reduced the advantage of the 7.62 caliber to zero. And the accuracy of small-caliber assault rifles is higher, and the ammunition capacity is greater for the same weight,” says an officer from the Central Specialist Service of the Ministry of Defense. According to his colleague from the internal troops, in addition to the AK74M, the TsSN also had AK-104s: “Now they have been taken away from us, but we liked them. They are shorter, more convenient to manipulate, throw on your back, etc. And the firing range suits us.” Special forces are also armed with submachine guns. According to a SOBR officer, his squad chose the SR-2M Veresk. It is lighter, more mobile, and the cartridge is more powerful than that of the proposed Vityaz SMG. But “Vereski” did not take root in the internal troops and the Ministry of Defense.

“We handed over our SR-2M immediately - the explosives did not purchase cartridges for them. We use PP-2000. Working with them are “shield men” (soldiers walking with bulletproof shields). There was also a Vityaz submachine gun, but it was not used in combat. Were technical problems with constant sticking of cartridges. Yes, and there is no such task where “Vityaz” better than Kalashnikov“- states the BB officer. In the TsSN of the Ministry of Defense, the SR-2M is used as a sniper’s second weapon.

But the biggest headache and a source of constant expenses - standard Kalashnikov assault rifles modified at their own expense. “We install a buttstock adjustable in length. Usually these are American Magpul or Israeli products. We install purchased DTK (muzzle brake-compensator), which reduces the weapon’s toss, and some models also reduce the flash of a shot, which is very important when working with NVGs. Adapters with Picatinny rails. Fuse box with an additional pedal for easy switching with middle and/or index finger“,” a special forces officer of the Ministry of Defense lists purchases. Military personnel of the TsSN VV and SOBR officers do the same.

“The gentleman’s kit on every machine gun is a front handle, a red dot sight and an adjustable butt. If the employee is comfortable, he also adds a pistol grip. We install Picatinny and Weaver adapter rails. “The “inkwell” (muzzle brake-compensator. - Author’s note) is very necessary, it is indispensable for night work,” the special forces officer of the internal troops is sure.

According to him, of the numerous collimator sights currently offered on the small arms market, the center chose products from American companies Eotech and Aimpoint.

“We put Eotech on machine guns, and Aimpoint on machine guns. I don't like Russian and Belarusian sights. The collimator is good with a three-fold magnifier, but it is too expensive, so not everyone has it,” says an internal troops officer. In his opinion, the collimator sight should be protected like the apple of your eye: “There are no licensed workshops of these companies in Russia, and it is almost impossible to repair it yourself, especially if the matrix is broken.”

An employee of the SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that his units, in addition to imported parts, also purchase domestic production from the Zenit company: “We do not purchase everything at our own expense, something is given to us by the Motherland. We would like ACOG sights from TriJicon, but they are too expensive, so we opted for Aimpoint products.”

Over the past four years, the field uniform ACU (Army Combat Uniform), adopted in 2008 for supply by the Pentagon and differing from the traditional field uniform by a short jacket with a stand-up collar and slanted chest pockets, has become popular among Russian special forces. Also widely used is the American camouflage pattern “multikam”, jokingly called “multik” in Russia.

“ACU is more convenient, only pockets need buttons. These are high-quality products made from good materials, although, of course, there are exceptions. The “cartoon” coloring is well suited for the regions where you have to work. And one more thing - when working together with “fesniks” (FSB special forces soldiers), specialists from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, etc., it turns out that everyone is dressed in the same uniform and there are no problems identifying each other,” says an officer of the Special Forces Center of the Ministry of Defense.

According to his colleague from the VV, these troops are now abandoning the “multikam” color scheme in favor of the “surpat” (SURPAT), developed by the Russian company “Survival Corps”. “Multik” is worse in the forest, so officers take it for everyday wear, and sometimes wear it for training. Sometimes we use the standard camouflage field uniform of the internal troops. But the “surpat” cut of the ACU is very comfortable, especially the built-in knee pads. They do not tighten the leg and do not disrupt the blood supply,” explains the special forces officer.

An employee of the SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that his unit also prefers a field ACU, which is purchased from British and American manufacturers: “We take the original form of the CRYE company. Our employees buy what is most comfortable for them to wear. We receive some of the field uniforms regularly, but we buy most of them at our own expense.” According to him, the use of “multicam” colors allows you to quickly identify friendly units participating in the operation. Although this color is not optimal for the North Caucasus.

According to all interlocutors, a big problem- uniform shoes that cannot be worn. And again you have to buy it yourself, giving preference to foreign products, and not only for military purposes: sports boots are also in demand. IN Lately The special forces of the Internal Troops and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are increasingly liking the boots of the domestic company Faraday. “It is generally impossible to walk in shaped pieces of wood, and it is also life-threatening. Now Faraday shoes have appeared that are no worse than imported ones, but much cheaper. If only they would take it for supply and give it to us on a regular basis,” the internal troops officer modestly dreams.

Communications and night vision devices

Night vision devices are a headache for Russian special forces. When asked whether you consider Russian devices adequate for the assigned tasks, an officer from the Special Purpose Center of the Ministry of Defense answered succinctly: “Are you kidding me?”

According to an officer of the internal troops, his colleagues, whenever possible, prefer to purchase imported products, sometimes Belarusian “Filins”. “For snipers there are good standard Russian night lights DS-4 and DS-6. But there are few of them in our center. We have now purchased Russian NVGs “Shakhin”. We immediately said that they were not suitable for us. The same "Cyclone" (manufacturer - NPO "Cyclone") has a much better, more reliable and lighter one. But the intelligence department of the Internal Troops considered that even such things would do for us,” the special forces soldier of the internal troops was outraged.

All interlocutors also admitted that their departments purchase, at their own expense, active headphones with built-in communications that amplify weak sounds and dampen strong ones. They prefer Peltor headphones.

“They are not needed everywhere, but only for a specific task, otherwise the hearing deteriorates very quickly. Just for fun, try walking with active headphones along a mountain stream or through a forest in a strong wind. But they are good indoors or during fire training,” explains an officer from the Ministry of Defense.

His colleague from the internal troops believes that active headphones are necessary for operations in the forest: “There they amplify the sound and you can hear the enemy in advance. Although I personally prefer a regular headset.”

Ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Syria require the constant participation of military personnel and special forces from all security agencies. If in the early 90s the quality and quantity of equipment was determined by the capabilities of the department, now even at elite special-purpose centers everything depends on the thickness of the wallets of the servicemen themselves. One could argue that foreign specialists also spend their money, because everyone chooses what is more convenient for them to fight in. But shoes and field uniforms are one thing, but when it comes to body armor, helmets, communications equipment, and weapon attachments, it’s worth thinking about.

international market weapons and equipment has been at its peak of activity over the past 10–12 years. Russian companies, with rare exceptions, do not participate there, although the military and law enforcement agencies have accumulated sufficient combat experience, which can be implemented in new families of body armor, communications equipment, active headphones, etc. At the same time the latest machines The AEK-971 and AK-12 were submitted for testing without full-fledged domestically produced red dot sights. Although Belarus is actively producing these products. One can only regret that foreign special forces are supplied by departments, and Russian special forces are supplied by their families, donating money from the family budget.

Alexey Mikhailov

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Special forces are military special forces trained according to a special program and designed to carry out special combat goals and tasks. It is obvious that these units, among other things, must be the most mobile, maneuverable and resilient, and in this matter the fighter’s equipment plays an important role.

Special forces in full combat readiness

Features of the special forces uniform of the Russian Army

Among ordinary people who do not belong to military service, there is a strong opinion that military uniforms are of the highest quality and best wear resistance. And this is not without reason! After all, the main features of the special forces uniform are to ensure maximum comfort for the wearer.

Regardless of the climatic conditions in which a soldier finds himself, the special forces uniform must minimize the possible inconvenience of weather conditions, be it heat, cold, gusty wind or pouring rain. In addition, despite the external bulkiness, the suit should not constrain or impede movement, allowing you to quickly respond to any unforeseen situation.

Thus, the main principles that workwear must meet are practicality, convenience and functionality. In these matters, without a doubt, the main role is played by the fabric from which it is made.

A popular material among many workwear manufacturers is rip-stop (RIP-STOP), which is based on heavy-duty nylon threads woven crosswise, which guarantees the durability of the product. Suits made from this material are durable, frost-resistant, waterproof, windproof, not flammable from sparks and do not fade in the sun, and are also relatively lightweight.

Another purpose of special clothing is camouflage, allowing a soldier to blend into the surrounding area and remain unnoticed by the enemy. Camouflage clothing is divided into three categories:

one-color (a striking example is winter white or one-color sand, called “sand”);
camouflage (on the fabric there are two or more colors representing some kind of pattern);
clothing using additional camouflage materials.

Types of special forces uniforms

The special forces uniform, regardless of the military unit, is universal and is divided into the following options:

summer tactical special forces uniform;
winter special forces uniform.

According to purpose, the form is classified into:

field;
everyday;
front door

The field uniform is the main option used during combat operations, field exercises, as well as when eliminating freelance and emergency situations. Its style and color depend on the task at hand. Casual is intended for daily use.

The front dress is worn exclusively on holidays and vacations, as well as on the occasion of special events. A distinctive and memorable element of the dress uniform is the beret, the color of which is determined by the military unit.

The elite of the special forces are considered to be fighters in maroon berets, who, for the right to wear a beret of this color, undergo strict qualification tests.

In addition, the following types of forms are distinguished:

special;
protective;
labor type.

One of the striking examples of a special type of uniform is the jumping suit, called the “Mabuta” suit, considered the best option for hot climates thanks to the special composition of the knitwear, which allows air to pass through. This uniform proved itself in Afghanistan and is still associated with GRU special forces.

The basis of the protective type is OKZK (combined arms complex protective suit), designed to protect skin and mucous membranes from harmful emissions and environmental influences.

Special forces - OKZK uniform (combined arms integrated protective suit)

The MPA-24 special forces uniform, made with ventilation inserts that reduce sweating during physical exertion, is popular as a work casual look. Due to its practicality and functionality, this suit (for example, the SOBR uniform) has become widespread among the mass consumer and is especially loved by fishermen and hunters.

Russian GRU special forces uniform

The main task of the GRU is to ensure state security our country, often serving on enemy territory. Most of these formations are considered classified.

In this regard, the field uniform - camouflage of the GRU special forces does not have any distinctive or characteristic features. It may be completely identical to the uniform of another military unit.

The GRU special forces field uniform has no distinctive or characteristic features.

This is a historical circumstance: back in Soviet time Special forces soldiers were assigned to combat units, which, in order to hide their location from the enemy, were carefully disguised as other types of troops.

In addition, in the intelligence community there are often cases when officers, working undercover, specially dress in the uniform of privates. The GRU dress uniform differs from the field uniform by the presence of a tunic and a white shirt.

Special forces camouflage for field conditions

The field uniform of fighters in most cases has a camouflage coloring. Special forces camouflage is a camouflage coloring of fabric that makes it difficult to identify an object. To achieve this goal, there are two camouflage functions:

deforming (for example, the Alpha special forces uniform);
imitation.

The deforming function is achieved by violating the integrity of the perception of the object through the use of contrasting colors in camouflage, which distorts the outline of the silhouette.

A clear example of the deforming function of camouflage is a set of uniforms for the special forces of the Russian Mountain Troops, called the “Gorka” suit, which is made using large contrasting elements.

Special forces uniform of mountain troops

Camouflage uniform Russian Army and special forces are endowed with an imitation function, which is achieved by merging the object with the background through the use of a color palette characteristic of the field operations area.

As for the camouflage color, in order to perform the above functions it must meet two requirements:

match the color often found in the area (the object literally blends into the background);
be unpleasant or unnoticeable to the human eye (so that the gaze does not intuitively stop at the object).

Special forces - uniform (photo)

Today, camouflage colors mainly use shades of brown and marsh, khaki, olive, gray, black, and also use the following texture and color schemes:

KZS Coloring-57(“Border camouflage”): olive or marsh background with angular spots of sand, gray-silver or khaki (FSB special forces uniform);
"Butane"(“Amoebae”): colors may vary, the principle of the scheme is that dark spots and an amoeba-like pattern are applied to a light background;
VSR-93(“Birch”, “Watermelon”): oblong dark green and brown spots are applied vertically onto a light green background;
VSR-98(“Flora”): differs from VSR-93 in that the spots are located horizontally;
EMR(“Russian figure”, “Russian pixel”): in this color scheme, small (“pixel”) spots that perform a simulating function are distributed in such a way that they form groups of large spots that perform a deforming function;
"Undergrowth": sharp angular spots of marsh and black colors are applied to a light background;
"Raster undergrowth"("Raster"): a twisted brown net is superimposed on the color scheme of the original undergrowth;
"Tiger"(“Reeds”): dark stripes are applied on a light background, horizontal in the “Tiger” version or vertical in the “Reeds” version.

Uniform care

The most important element of valiant military bearing is impeccable appearance. It's no secret that military uniforms require careful care. In regular and especially solemn situations, wearing dirty, wrinkled, unkempt clothes is strictly prohibited. Russian special forces uniforms must look impeccable.

It is recommended to wash and iron field and casual uniforms according to the information indicated on the tags. It is better to entrust the care of your dress uniform to dry cleaning.

Military uniforms - field, everyday and ceremonial uniforms - are always regulated by the relevant decrees of the Ministry of Defense. However, there are special forces formations in the law enforcement agencies of ministries and departments not related to the Russian Armed Forces, which perform specific tasks, for which they use a very wide range of military and universal uniforms.

Classification of special purpose units

Existing special forces units in Russia belong to different departments. The Russian Armed Forces have the following special forces units:

NE ( ground troops) – DShB brigades and DShP regiment;
GU - 25th regiment and brigade;
MO – center of Senezh;
GRU - PDSS detachments of reconnaissance points Parusnoye (Baltic Fleet), Tuapse (Black Sea Fleet), Zverosovkhoz ( Northern Fleet) and about. Russky/Dzhigit Bay (Pacific Fleet);
Airborne Forces - 45th Guards Brigade (Kubinka);
Navy - detachments of the Caspian Flotilla, Black Sea, Baltic, Pacific and Northern Fleet.

The Russian intelligence services also have Special Forces units:

FSB - operational support departments, regional departments and services, departments A (Alpha), B (Vympel) and C;
Border Service of the FSB - regional services and departments, DShM of border detachments, special intelligence groups OGSpR;
SVR – Zaslon detachment;
Ministry of Internal Affairs - Thunder squad;
National Guard troops - instead of internal troops, detachments were created: Wolverine (Krasnoyarsk-26), Rus (Simferopol), Skif (Grozny), Peresvet (Moscow), Svyatogor (Stavropol), Bulat (Ufa), Ratnik (Arkhangelsk), Kuzbass (Kemerovo) , Bars (Kazan), Mercury (Smolensk), Mechel (Chelyabinsk), Typhoon (Khabarovsk), Ermak (Novosibirsk), Edelweiss (Minvody), Vyatich (Armavir), Ural (Nizhny Tagil), Rosich (Novocherkassk), 604 TsSN;
Russian Guard - combat units SOBR and OMON;
FSIN - republican departments Saturn (Moscow), Rossy (Sverdlovsk), Typhoon (Lenoblast), Iceberg (Murmansk), Guardian (Chuvashia), Akula (Krasnodar), Yastreb (Mari El), Vulcan (Kabardino-Balkaria);
Ministry of Emergency Situations – special risk center Leader;
FSUE Communications-Security – Mars department.

Some of the above special purpose units are military, that is, by default they are staffed by military personnel. The other is departmental, that is, it employs employees who are assigned special ranks, not military ones. The two largest ministries of the Russian Federation include both:

Ministry of Internal Affairs - the special forces of the National Guard are staffed by military personnel, riot police and special forces are not military formations;
FSB - special forces of the border troops and departments A, B and C, respectively.

Special forces formations perform combat missions V populated areas and forests, under water and in the air, so field uniforms, ammunition and weapons are very different. A presidential decree in 2005 prohibited the use of insignia and military uniforms in the security units of the FSB, FSKN, Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSIN, PPS and other departments formed not from military personnel.

These highly mobile units go out on combat missions, perform guard duty and learn skills in various forms.

Military special forces

When performing fixed-term, long-term or contract service as part of special forces, a serviceman is obliged to comply with the rules of wearing uniforms and insignia. The state provides special forces formations with VKBO sets (all-season basic uniform set) consisting of 19 items of clothing. Independent configuration of VKBO elements is allowed, depending on combat and training missions and weather conditions.

Any third-party “camouflage,” “body armor,” or “unloading” that does not meet the requirements of the statute is considered a dress code violation. However, the Special Forces are considered the elite of the Russian Armed Forces; commanders may allow the use of more comfortable clothing, for example, American or European special forces.

Special purpose squads of combat swimmers actually arose during the Second World War, but the units were so secret that field and everyday clothing was altered by their employees independently from the most suitable uniforms of various branches of the military.

In 1974, during the formation of the famous Alpha (Group A of the KGB of the USSR for the fight against terror), working in a less secret mode, the problem of equipment also arose, so the officers wore blue jackets and suits for pilots and technical workers, which turned out to be most convenient for their tasks.

When a limited contingent of troops was introduced into Afghanistan in 1979, the special forces field uniform for hot climates and mountainous terrain was urgently developed based on the uniform of the troops of Congolese President Colonel Mabuta; the suit was sewn according to GOST 17 6290 from raincoat fabric with water-repellent impregnation.

Officially, the “Mabuta”, “jump suit” or “sand” was the uniform of “Alpha”, GRU units and the newly formed Vympel department; in fact, paratroopers and infantrymen bought it for cash with the permission of their commanders for everyday wear.

The modern Russian special forces uniform is comfortable and functional, but there are Western analogues that are superior to it in some properties/qualities. For example, until recently, a protective helmet did not have devices for fixing a tactical flashlight, night vision device and other devices. The colors and patterns of some camouflage fabrics and clothing styles from American and European manufacturers are better suited to specific local conditions.

Rules for wearing uniforms by Russian military personnel

In 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed decree number 300 on the rules for wearing military uniforms. The latest changes were made to it in 2017, but before that significant adjustments were made three times:

1997 – symbols were added, wearing rules were introduced;
2008 – simplified dress uniform, improved field uniforms;
2011 – partial return to the form of the USSR, development of the VKBO.

Until 2008, the equipment of special forces of the Armed Forces and non-armed forces departments was almost identical. Moreover, the guard’s uniform almost completely copied the uniform elite units participating in hostilities, therefore, in these formations and organizations, military symbols and army uniforms were prohibited.

VKBO kit

In 2011 it was developed new form clothing for parts general purpose and units of the Special Forces. The customer of the project was the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the contractor was a domestic holding company light industry BTK Group. An integrated scientific approach was used, so the design bureau included:

University of Technology and Design St. Petersburg;
Naval Engineering Institute of State Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education;
Institute of Medicine RAMS.

A ready-made VKBO set was tested in 8 military units for 3 months in 2012 in different regions of the country - the south of the Russian Federation, the Trans-Urals, the Central region, and the Arctic. The customer put forward the following requirements:

anti-slip surface of shoe soles;
petrol and oil resistance of the upper part of the shoe;
ergonomics of each element;
durability, compactness, low weight;
camouflage properties (camouflage);
protection from adverse conditions;
provision and ability to regulate heat balance;
moisture management at any level of physical activity.

The final VKBO set consists of 3 pairs of shoes and 20 items that provide a multi-layer effect. In other words, everyone next layer worn over previous underwear to achieve a comfortable thermal balance in any weather conditions And climatic zones at different seasons of the year.

The delivery schedule was carried out in stages from 2013 to 2015. The transition from the existing uniform to the new uniform occurred gradually. Some of the personnel dressed in VKBO, and at the same time they wore old-style uniforms.

The uniform is considered casual and field, so the summer kit is intended for indoors all year round and outdoors at an air temperature of +15 degrees. The winter kit is effective for temperatures from -40 degrees to +15 degrees. Three pairs of shoes are designed to be worn in temperature ranges of -40 – -10 degrees, -10 – + 15 degrees and above + 15 degrees. Clothes that are not currently in use are transported and stored in a special backpack-trunk.

moisture-wicking underwear short (T-shirt and shorts) made of 100% polyester or long (long johns with a codpiece, sweatshirt with a round neck, long sleeves, fitted silhouette);
fleece underwear made from a long-sleeved sweatshirt (zip to the middle of the chest, chin protection, thumb hole) and long johns (selective brushing, elastic band inside the waistband) made of 7% elastane and 93% polyester;
fleece jacket (100% polyester), 2 internal and 2 external pockets, chin protection, elbow, shoulder pads and stand-up collar made of finishing fabric, has a windproof flap, side zipper, double-sided fleece, wears with insulated, protective or demi-season suit ;
windbreaker (2% elastane and 98% polyester), digital camouflage, worn with trousers of the next level, cord at the bottom with fasteners, ventilation valves in the pockets, water-repellent finish;
demi-season suit (1% elastane, 99% polyamide) made of trousers with removable suspenders, the seat area and knees are reinforced with high-strength pads, side seams with zippers, and jackets with a two-way zipper, hood, front pockets, stand-up collar, elbow pads;
windproof suit (PTFE membrane inside 100% polyamide) made of jacket and trousers, linings, double flap, hood, waterproof zippers, side seams of trousers with zippers;
insulated vest (100% polyamide and PTFE membrane), one internal pocket is tightened with a cord, the second is closed with a zipper, front external patch pockets, windproof placket with hidden buttons;
insulated suit (100% polyamide), hood is adjustable to fit the face, pockets in the sleeves, reinforced linings, mitten clips, bottom of trousers with elastic bands, top to mid-thigh with zippers.

Fleece underwear weighs 516 g, regular 281 g (long), insulated suit 2.3 kg. The summer suit (digital camouflage) has an increased cotton content (65%). The thread is reinforced using rip-stop technology, the fabric practically does not tear. A headdress is provided for him - a cap. The second cap is worn with a demi-season suit. The scarf is made in the shape of a bib and is adjustable in volume.

Universal hat-balaclava made of 30% polyamide and 70% wool, transformable. An insulated hat with two elongated flaps allows for wearing in several positions. Winter socks made of wool with the addition of polyamide. The mittens have removable insulation and fasteners for jacket sleeves. Five-fingered woolen gloves, black.

However, the basic kit does not provide 100% equipment for solving special forces combat missions, so special forces units use additional equipment, ammunition, and weapons. For example, body armor, unloading vests, camouflage suits, wetsuits, jumpsuits for parachutists.

Casual dress

Unlike rapid reaction forces, special forces plan operations in advance, so daily activities traditionally include:

classroom training (theory, tactics);
performing guard duty;
rest and personal time.

Thus, army special forces use the new VKBO kits, which are quite sufficient for these tasks. For training in special disciplines, field uniforms are used - camouflage suits, body armor, wetsuits, jumpsuits.

Field uniform

Due to the special status of special forces, they solve very different tasks:

sabotage and anti-terrorism activities;
intelligence and counterintelligence;
ensuring the safety of one’s own unit and eliminating enemy structures of the same name;
organizing mass riots on enemy territory and fighting them in one’s own regions;
protection of objects/persons and their physical destruction.

The field black uniform of the OMON of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the FSB provides visual control - friend/foe, demoralizes the enemy, and the diving suit of the PDSS GRU naval combat swimmer ensures covert penetration under water. The “Izlom” camouflage is good for moving through the forest as part of a group, and the “Leshy” camouflage suit is used by a sniper in a long-term firing position.

Ceremonial uniform

The dress uniform of military personnel and employees of special forces units is much easier to understand:

they belong to certain branches of the military;
ceremonial uniforms are used during dismissal, at a gala event or during vacation, that is, at events not related to combat missions.

Special forces soldiers are dressed according to the rules of wearing military uniform clothes.

Airborne Forces

Usually the special forces demobilization uniform is decorated with aiguillettes and numerous piping elements of ceremonial clothing. In fact, aiguillette is an element of the dress uniform for special ceremonial occasions according to Decree No. 300 of 2015 of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Officer's dress uniform airborne special forces includes:

jacket, trousers and cap made of blue (sea wave) wool;
a vest with blue stripes instead of a white general-arms shirt;
ceremonial golden belt;
black boots with high tops;
blue beret or cap.

in winter landing troops dress in the same uniform, and over it a casual warm jacket blue and black gloves. Instead of a beret/cap, a fur hat with earflaps or a cap can be used.

In the summer, soldiers, sergeants and cadets wear a blue beret, combat boots, a vest and a casual suit.

Navy

The uniform of the Special Forces belonging to the Navy is completely identical to the uniform of the Airborne Special Forces. Since the rules for wearing a dress uniform clearly state that all special forces, regardless of belonging to a specific branch of the military, receive the right to wear a blue vest and ankle boots. The beret has the color of the military branch.

PS FSB (border service)

The jacket of an FSB officer is no different from the uniform of a serviceman - three buttons, sea wave color, fitted. The shoulder straps of employees of departments A, B and C have a cornflower blue edging on a silver or gold field, the border service has a green edging. The ceremonial military uniform is equipped with boots or boots (for formation), and a golden belt. The color of the overcoat is steel gray, it is fastened with 6 buttons.

Special Forces National Guard Troops (maroon berets)

A distinctive element of the dress uniform of the special forces of the former Internal Troops, preserved after they were renamed the National Guard, is the headdress. The maroon beret appeared in 1978, until 1989 it remained a non-statutory element of the uniform, to which senior officers turned a blind eye. The qualification test for the right to wear it was legalized only in 1993.

Simultaneously with the maroon beret of the VV special forces, vests with stripes of a similar color appeared, similar to the Airborne Forces and Marine Corps(blue and black vests in the color of the berets of these military branches, respectively).

PDSS and MRP GRU (combat swimmers)

PDSS units were created to identify and eliminate enemy underwater saboteurs. However for effective fight with them are included combat swimmers(the same saboteurs, but their own). In addition, there are separate formations in each fleet for highly specialized tasks, for example, protecting the water area and ships inside it under water or organizing sabotage.

These formations of Russian special forces are considered the most classified so far. During the Soviet era, they were provided with the standard uniform of privates and sergeants of the home fleet. We wore it on leave and on vacation; we never took part in parades.

Currently the situation continues. The dress uniform of the MRP and PDSS detachments is completely identical to the uniform of the Navy.

Dress code for particularly hot regions

The Russian Army does not provide dress uniforms for hot regions. But for the Russian soldier there is a special everyday uniform from the manufacturer BTK Group consisting of 8 items:

socks;
t-shirt;
baseball cap;
Panama;
shorts;
trousers;
jacket.

This is the uniform worn by the MTR units of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria. All clothing is sand-colored without a camouflage pattern.

Female form

In Special Forces formations, women's everyday and field clothing has special sizes. The jacket-shirt is equipped with a large number of pockets. The dress uniform is distinguished by the presence of a blouse and skirt made of wool instead of a men's jacket and trousers. Berets, ankle boots and vests are preserved in full for the special forces that the Russian Army has.

Special units of law enforcement agencies and ministries

After 2008, special forces uniforms staffed by non-military personnel use differences from army uniforms. This was done on purpose to avoid confusion. However, even before the renaming, the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs received the right to wear a maroon beret and vest.

By default, employees use a full police uniform (MVD) or similar uniforms of their own department (FSB, FSIN). In most cases, a domestically produced VKBO kit is used as an everyday uniform. The field uniform corresponds to the tasks of the units and differs significantly from the army uniform.

For example, the Special Forces formations of the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs use a black uniform.

Standard uniform

By analogy with the army, the latest edition of the Rules for Wearing Uniforms of the Ministry of Internal Affairs took place in 2011, so the special forces “parade” is practically no different from the PPS uniform. The main nuances are:

even at special events, riot police are allowed to wear gray camouflage, and SOBR is allowed a black summer suit;
instead of an army field uniform, there is an analogue - uniforms for performing service and operational special tasks;
instead of a jacket, the suit set may include a “Gorka” (mountain suit) of an anorak style (put on over the head) or a single-breasted jacket with a zipper;
by analogy with airborne troops A beret is provided, only in green or black.

Unlike the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the GRU special forces uniform is subject to the rules of wearing of the Ministry of Defense, that is, by default it is army.

Individual uniform and ammunition

If the army Special Forces are characterized by covert operations, police special forces often confront armed formations “face to face”, therefore the cut of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and FSB clothing and its protective characteristics often turn out to be unsatisfactory when using standard kit. Uniforms of American and European production are purchased, including by the special forces officers themselves:

bulletproof vests Redut, Defender and Bagariy of modular type;
unloading vests manufactured by Armak;
Molle pouch sets;
OpScore, Omnitek-T and ShBM helmets;
submachine guns Veresk SR-2M and PP-2000.

Standard AKs are equipped with length-adjustable stocks and Picatinny rails, allowing you to attach additional devices to the machine gun.

Special Operations Forces MTR

The unit reports to the Minister of Defense, was created in 2009, and the data of the current SOF commander is classified. They are considered a rapid reaction force and conduct operations abroad (Somalia, Aleppo) and within the country (North Caucasus).

From its inception until mid-2014, exclusively foreign special forces uniforms were used to equip these units:

Propper BDU (multicam colors);
special equipment kits for hot climates;
Arcteryx Leaf;
Tactical Combat, Field or Performance;
tactical suit Fortrex K14;
helmets Warrior Quiver and 6B7-1M;
ballistic helmet Spartan;
diving suit GKN-7 set Amphora diving;
anti-fragmentation suit Reid-L;
body armor 6B43;
unloading vest 6Sh112.

Currently, the BTK Group holding company provides decent quality materials, design and functionality of equipment; domestic uniforms are used, with rare exceptions.

In the media, this unit is usually called “Polite People” because of the corresponding attitude towards journalists during the maintenance of order in Crimea in 2014. During the operation, his disguise was either a security guard's uniform or civilian clothing.

Options for camouflage suits

Domestic camouflage for military uniforms comes in several types:

Deciduous forest - created during the Second World War in 1942, suitable for forest;
Silver leaf - has additional names “birch” and “sunny bunny”;
Amoeba - appeared in 1935, the spots are large, there are options for any season of varying color intensity;
VSR-93 – “Butane”, more often called “vertical”, the design completely merges the form with the vegetation;
VSR-98 - “Flora” or “Watermelon” because of the corresponding stripes, is considered basic for the European part of the Russian Federation;
Flora digital - called the “Russian number”, is the youngest option.

Initially, camouflage was used to disguise special forces weapons and their uniforms to match the surrounding terrain. All units of the Special Forces wore such field clothing. However, for special operations there are better camouflage options:

Goblin - the cape is hung with bunches of green, brown and yellow color, blends in with any vegetation and tree trunks;
Kikimora is a high-strength shapeless fiber of a marsh color.

There are known options from third-party manufacturers of camouflage fabric and ready-made sets of tactical uniforms made from it:

Twilight – color from black to light gray (twilight);
Cobra - looks like the scales of a large reptile, blends in with the woodland and tall grass;
Kink – waterproof fabric for hardwood and coniferous forest;
Frog – large digital squares;
Multicam - the American version for urban areas, slums, communications, not suitable for forests;
Suprat - a domestic development of a forest camouflage pattern and suit style, costs three times less than imported analogues;
Amoeba - created from illogical fabric, has the most extensive operating experience;
Black - for units of departmental security forces (Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB and UPSIP) for the purpose of quickly identifying each other;
Winter – pure white or with black spots;
Desert – advantage of sandy and brown colors;
Jungle – yellow and green;
Urban – considered basic, has a gray background and a dark “number”.

In addition to the Special Forces, camouflage clothing is used by combat units and units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Armed Forces, GRU, FSB and even civilians and organizations. For example, a police officer and a fisherman can be dressed in camouflage. Until recently, the uniform of a security guard was practically no different from army uniforms.

Foreign analogues of camouflage fabric are most often superior to domestic developments:

Apu Pat - the name of the style of clothing and the color of camouflage fabric, does not change color when wet;
Woodland - a budget version of the previous material, darkens when wet, nicknamed “NATO”, has four shades - rich green for swamps, moderate for forests, brown for mountains and basic universal;
Marpat - has three options for desert, city and forest, digital spots with black, brown and green shades, breaking the symmetry of human anatomy, which the observer’s eye usually clings to.

Digital drawing is considered the best option, as it is developed in a special camouflage department of the Karbyshev Central Research Institute. The shape of the pixel interferes with the concentration of the gaze on it and “falls out” from the field of view. For example, the “kink” option has the following masking properties:

the scheme is divided into color parts - mustard, dark green and brown;
the fracture imitates the three main coverings of a coniferous forest - moss, foliage and fallen needles;
the deforming visual perception of the silhouette behind the camouflage fabric is achieved by increasing the size of the pattern;
digital areas of green color should be close to actual size needles, brown - to the size of moss spots, and mustard - to dry foliage.

Camouflage colors are often used for sewing everyday uniforms, since the fabric is very strong.

Special uniforms

In addition to the Kikimora and Leshy camouflage coats, several categories of military specialists have special uniforms:

scuba divers and divers;
paratroopers and snipers;
saboteurs and anti-terrorism groups;
sappers and miners.

For the same reasons, special forces weapons are diverse:

Pecheneg and AKM machine guns;
pistol Vityaz PP-10-01, Glock-17 and PYa;
AK-105, 74M and APS (underwater) assault rifles;
sniper complexes VSK-94 and Vintorez;
PRTK Kornet complexes;
hand grenade launchers GM-94 and under-barrel grenade launchers GP-34.

Special forces move overland in SUVs, KamAZ-Mustangs, BTR-82 armored personnel carriers, armored vehicles and ATVs.

Delivery by air is carried out by AN-26 transport personnel and Mt-8MTV-5 helicopters, by water by BRP SEA-DOO jet skis, and under water by tugboats and nuclear submarines.

Thus, the dress uniform of special forces units is a kind of camouflage. Everyday uniforms are most often the same, but field uniforms are very diverse and unique.

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