Special Frontier Force

Special Frontier Force
Special Frontier Force
	Insignia of the Special Frontier Force
Founded	14 November 1962
Country	India
Type	Special Forces ; Airborne Infantry
Size	Classified (5,000–12,000 troopers speculated)
Part of	Cabinet Secretariat
Headquarters	Chakrata, Uttarakhand, India
Nickname(s)	Establishment 22, "Phantoms of Chittagong"
Engagements	Bangladesh Liberation War; ; Operation Blue Star; Operation Meghdoot; Operation Cactus; Operation Pawan; Kargil War; Operation Rakshak; 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes;
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Maj.Gen Sujan Singh Uban
Insignia
Badge
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	HAL Cheetah; HAL Lancer
Cargo helicopter	Mi-17V-5
Utility helicopter	HAL Dhruv; HAL Chetak
Reconnaissance	IAI Searcher II; IAI Heron; DRDO Rustom
Transport	Gulfstream III; Gulfstream G100

The Special Frontier Force (SFF) is an Indian special forces unit composed primarily of Tibetan refugees and Gurkhas in India. It was established after the Sino-Indian War of 1962 to primarily conduct covert operations behind the Chinese lines in case of another war with China. Later it increased in size and scope of operations.^[3]

Throughout its history, SFF has fought in India's major external wars including the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Kargil War. It has also been involved in internal security, including Operation Blue Star and also serving as the "Personal Force" of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to suppress opposition parties during the state of emergency from 1975 to 1977.^[4] It has been part of border operations against China, including the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes.^[3]

Based in Chakrata,^[5] Uttarakhand, the force was put under the direct supervision of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and later the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency,^[6] and is not part of the Indian Army but functions under their operational control with its own rank structure, charter and training infrastructure.^[7] It falls under the authority of the Directorate General on Security in the Cabinet Secretariat headed by an Inspector General (SFF) who is selected from the Major General rank of the Indian Army and who reports directly to the Prime Minister's Office.^[2]

^ Cite error: The named reference India Today 4 Vikas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Chhina, Man Aman Singh; Kaushik, Krishn (2 September 2020). "Explained: What is the Special Frontier Force, referred to as Vikas Battalion?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
^ ^a ^b Shukla, Ajai (2 September 2020). "Ladakh intrusions: Special Frontier Force takes first casualties". Business Standard India. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ Bobb, Dilip (15 December 1980). "Special Frontier Force: More of a white elephant than an effective intelligence outfit?". India Today. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ "Establishment 22". chushigangdruk.org. 17 December 1971. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
^ "Bollywood Sargam – Special: Tibetan faujis in Bluestar". Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.
^ Chhina, Man Aman Singh; Kaushik, Krishn (1 September 2020). "Special Frontier Force: Why is a covert group now under the spotlight?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 November 2022.

[India_Today_4_Vikas-1] Cite error: The named reference India Today 4 Vikas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:0-2] Chhina, Man Aman Singh; Kaushik, Krishn (2 September 2020). "Explained: What is the Special Frontier Force, referred to as Vikas Battalion?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 September 2020.

[:2-3] Shukla, Ajai (2 September 2020). "Ladakh intrusions: Special Frontier Force takes first casualties". Business Standard India. Retrieved 24 September 2020.

[indira-4] Bobb, Dilip (15 December 1980). "Special Frontier Force: More of a white elephant than an effective intelligence outfit?". India Today. Retrieved 24 September 2020.

[5] "Establishment 22". chushigangdruk.org. 17 December 1971. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2012.

[6] "Bollywood Sargam – Special: Tibetan faujis in Bluestar". Archived from the original on 2 May 2013.

[:5-7] Chhina, Man Aman Singh; Kaushik, Krishn (1 September 2020). "Special Frontier Force: Why is a covert group now under the spotlight?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 November 2022.

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