SITDEF 2019: Peruvian Special Forces in live demonstration of counter-terrorism operations.

Today, at SITDEF 2019, the International Exhibition of Technology for Defense and Prevention of Natural Disasters, Special Forces of Peruvian armed forces and SWAT team of the Peruvian National Police have made a live demonstration to demonstrate their abilities to perform counter-terrorism operations.

Special Forces of Peruvian armed forces in a live demonstration at SITDEF 2019, defense exhibition in Lima, Peru. May 18, 2019.  (Picture source Army Recognition)

The three branches of the Peruvian armed forces have Special Forces units. The Peruvian Marines also have a Special Forces composed of the Espíritus Negros and Fuerza Delta, based on the American Delta Force and US Army Rangers.

The Special Forces of the Peruvian army have gained notoriety after the Operation Chavín de Huántar which has been considered one of the most successful military rescue operations in modern times. The government of Peru carried out the operation in April 1997, to rescue 72 hostages held by remnants of the terrorist group Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA, in Spanish), during a crisis at the Japanese ambassador’s residence in the Andean nation.

After what happened in the 1980s and the 1990s, not only with Chavín de Huántar, the Peruvian armed forces have implemented new strategic planning, but with a different vision, where interoperability of the three branches including Army, Navy, Air Force, had to be clear. Consequently, the Joint Special Operations and Intelligence Command (CIOEC) was created under the Joint Command, as the head of the special forces in the Peruvian Armed Forces.

The National Police of Peru is often classified as a part of the armed forces. Although in fact, it has a different organization and a wholly civil mission, its training and activities over more than two decades as an anti-terrorist force have produced markedly military characteristics, giving it the appearance of virtual fourth military service with significant land, sea and air capabilities and approximately 140,000 personnel.