Today's Special Forces are required to be capable of conducting operations against a huge range and mixture of opposing units, from national forces to insurgent groups, from urban terrorists to conventional forces in the field, from siege and hostage situations to raids, surveillance and search-and-destroy missions behind enemy lines. For these tasks they deploy specialist tactics, and with these come specialist weaponry and equipment. This fully illustrated and highly-detailed volume is international in scope and provides a unique guide to the range of weapons, equipment and methods employed by the world's special forces units, including airborne, waterborne and land transport, weaponry, clothing, communications equipment, navigation kit, survival and medical supplies, optical and audio surveillance, building-entry methods and equipment, combat specialisms and key operations, plus joint operations with other services. It also examines the increasing role of the media and its enthusiasm for elite forces. This book provides a valuable reference for special forces personnel, procurement bodies and the defence equipment industry, as well as those whose work requires an understanding of elite military formations, counter-terrorism and covert operations, including administrators, journalists, politicians, academics and analysts. Book jacket.