Special Services Wing

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Special Services Wing (SSW)
The Special Warfare Insignia/Badge of PAF
Active	2004—present
Country	Pakistan
Branch	Pakistan Air Force
Type	Special operations force
Role	Special operations
Part of	Air Force Strategic Command
Garrison/HQ	Kallar Kahar, Punjab
Motto(s)	'Faith, Piety, to strive in the path of Allah', 'Thunder and lightning is a message of death for you '
Commanders
Current commander	Air-Commodore Sohail Imran Cheema
Abbreviation	SSW

The Pakistan Air Force Special Services Wing is a special operations force who specialised in all aspects of air-to-ground communication, including air traffic control, fire support, command, control and communications in covert counterterrorism or austere environments. They are often assigned individually or as a team to Army Special Service Group, Navy Special Service Group and special tactics units of the Pakistan Marines, to provide expert airfield seizure, airstrike control and communications capabilities.

After the 1965 war with India, Air Cdre Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar (SJ), who had flown Royal Indian Air Force aircraft supporting the Chindits Operating behind Japanese lines in Burma, was instrumental in creating a special forces unit for the Pakistan Air Force called SAW (Special Air Warfare Wing). The SAW was raised in 1966 under the command of Sqn Ldr Altaf Hussain Butt (GDP) as C.O of the unit. These Men were picked up directly from RTS (Recruit Training School) in January 1966. The unit was directly under the Directorate of Air Intl (DAI). In 1971, Upon request from PIA (Pakistan international Airline), members of SAW Unit were given to SKY MARSHALS to perform Flight Protection Services on all domestic and international flights till the end of 1973. When it was decided to convert the unit roll from Offensive to Defensive.

In 1999, the concept of a special forces wing for the Air Force was again revived after the Kargil War with India. Senior officials and military scientists of the Pakistani Armed Forces were impressed in the way that United States Army Special Forces during the initial phase of the war in Afghanistan were able to secure targets, set up runways and airstrips for immediate use and direct strategic and tactical air strikes on enemy positions so quickly.^{[citation needed]} The Air Force established the division under the name Special Service Wing (SSW). The one of the combat brigade of Special Service Wing had been carrying out special day-light aerial and night-aerial operations during the recent insurgencies inside Pakistan. The unit, alongside Navy's SSGN and Army's SSG, has actively participated in recent operations led by the Pakistan Army in Waziristan.^{[citation needed]}

All SSW members get their initial training from the Army's Special Operation School, Cherat. Soldiers wanting to join the SSW must have at least two years of service before they can join.

First, they are given basic training at Pakistan Air Force Ground Combat School Kallar Kahar for a 6–8 weeks. The initial course emphasizes tough physical conditioning and endurance. This includes a 40-mile march in 12 hours with 20 kg weight and a 5-mile run in 35 minutes with full gear (60-80 lbs) among the many physically demanding challenges. The concept of the initial training is designed to weed out the weak candidates. The drop out rate is very high; those who survive the initial training are then sent to Army Special Operation School for 9-12 Months for specialized training.

The advanced training includes anti-terrorist & hostage rescue, Minor Ops, basic desert, mountain, water, snow survival training, unarmed combat, firing with all types of weapons, intelligence, static line equipment jumps, diving etc. Many in the SSW are selected for additional specialist training. A HALO/HAHO course is given at Risalpur with a "Skydiver" tab awarded after 30 free fall jumps. For HAHO minimum 150 free fall jumps along with 10 night equipment free fall jumps are required.^[1] A "Mountain Warfare" qualification badge is given after completing a course at the Army Mountain Warfare School in Ratto; and a "Combat Diver" badge is awarded for the course held by the Special Service Group (Navy) at School of Divers PNS Hamalaya Karachi or by SSG(ARMY)'s MUSA company at Mangla .

Special Services Wing has five squadrons and one separate Flight Wing.

• Each Squadron consists of 250–400 men. Squadrons are divided into numerous flights which are further subdivided into 10-12 men teams. Squadrons are commanded by Wing Commanders/Squadron leaders.

SSW (Special Services Wing) is distinguished by maroon berets with PAF Officer, JCO or Airmen berret insignia, and a wing on the right side of the chest. The combat uniform of the SSW is green jungle camouflage. They also wear their wing insignia.

Image	Name	Type	Origin	OEM	Notes
Pistols
	Glock-17	Semi-automatic	Austria	Glock Ges.m.b.H.	Standard issue sidearm.[2]
	Glock-26	Semi-automatic	Austria	Glock Ges.m.b.H.	Standard issue sidearm.[2]
	FN Five-seven	semi-automatic pistol	Belgium	FN Herstal	[2]
Submachine guns
	MP-5	SMG	Germany	Heckler & Koch/Pakistan Ordnance Factories	Locally made variants used. MP-5Kurz and MP-5SD versions also used.[2]
	P-90	PDW	Austria	FN Herstal	[2]
Assault rifles
	F2000	Bullpup AR	Belgium	FN Herstal	Standard issue bullpup rifle.[2]
	Aug	Bullpup AR	Austria	Steyr Arms	[2]
	M16	Assault rifle	United States	Colt	[2]
	Type-56	Assault rifle	China	NORINCO	[2]
	M4A1 Carbine	Carbine/Assault rifle	United States	Colt/POF	Standard issue carbine rifle.[2]
Machine Gun
	FN Minimi	SAW	Belgium	FN Herstal	[2]
	MG-3	GPMG	Germany	Heckler & Koch/POF	[2]
	FN Mag	GPMG	Belgium	FN Herstal	[2]
	Type-81	LMG	China	NORINCO	[2]
Sniper rifles
	Barret M82	AMR	USA	Barrett	[2]
	PSG-1	DMR	Germany	Heckler & Koch/POF	Also operates local license made PSR-90.[2]
Rotary canon
	GAU-17/A	Gattling gun	USA	General Electric	[2]

Since the formation of SSW in 2004, they have been engaged in fighting against militants in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and FATA region. SSW Also participated in repelling a Major Terrorist Attack over Pakistan Air Force Base Kamra alongside Army's SSG on the Night of 15/16 August 2012.

In yet another attack on the M.M. Alam PAF Training Base attack on 4th November 2023, Special Service Wing's swift response thwarted the terrorist attack on the Mianwali airbase.

• Special Service Group (Pakistan Army)
• Special Service Group (Navy) (Pakistan Navy)

• Special Services Wing Training
• SSW Special Ops
• PAF sets up Commandos of SSG training center for Anti Terrorism operations