If you’re reading this then you’re a tactical nerd like me. It’s ok, I’m pretty sure there are support groups for people like us. In this article we are going to talk about the full gear list for an assaulter in Delta Force (Combat Applications Group). I’ve included some discussion on the most common pieces of kit, as well as links to where you can get the exact same pieces of gear. Keep reading for more.
Let’s get some ground rules out of the way, so I can avoid angry comments. First, I’ve put together a list of the most common types of equipment I see Delta guys carrying. I’m not covering specialized pieces of kit for snipers, breachers, medics etc.
I should also point out that Delta is often referred to using many different names. Most commonly they are called Delta Force, but they are also known as CAG or Combat Applications Group. Those of you who are even more nerdy might know that they are also referred to as ACE (Army Compartmented Element), or Task Force Green, within JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command). Hopefully this will clear up some confusion.
As you’ll note, there is quite a lot of overlap amongst all Tier One units such as the Navy’s Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), but Delta/CAG does tend to prefer certain pieces of gear, or weapons modifications as compared to their Navy brethren. Without further ado, let’s get into the full loadout and kit list.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL LIST OF EQUIPMENT FOR A DELTA OPERATOR
Helmet Systems
If you take a gander at the image below, you’ll see a very common setup for a CAG operator. In the last several years they are almost all wearing Ops Core hight cut helmets. This particular operator has a Princeton Tec Charge MPLS helmet light (Amazon Affiliate Link) on his left side rail. Likewise, he is also using Peltor Comtac hearing protection, and a Wilcox DPAM night vision mount. Lastly, he’s wearing a Core Survival Hel-Star 6 IR beacon on the top of his helmet.
Because this is a daylight photo, he isn’t wearing night vision equipment. Most recent images show CAG guys wearing ground panoramic night vision GPNVG-18 quad tube goggles. These goggle use four IR tubes to allow operators a wider field of vision than traditional two tube goggles.
For those of you who’ve read my Ranger or Special Forces loadout articles, you’ll remember that helmet systems are always the most expensive part of an operators kit. For a Delta operator, the total cost comes in right around $46,876. This is the total cost that you or I could buy all this equipment for right now.
Let’s continue to work our way down and move to the plate carrier and first line gear.
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Plate Carrier and Pouches
Plate carriers are quite often operators choice. That being said, I’ve seen the Crye Precision JPC 2.0 most commonly, followed by the Crye Precision SPC. They are also arranged according to each operator’s preferences and speciality. Medics, breachers, and assaulters will all have different set ups that allow them to do their job the best.
Most operators are using the Crye Smart Pouch Suite, which is a collection of pouches. There are rifle magazine pouches, radio pouches, general purpose pouches, and more. You will also see them using various Crye zip on back panels as well.
Interestingly enough, I’ve seen several operators sporting magazines with Taran Tactical basepad extensions on them. I’ve seen them on rifle and pistol magazines. Check the image out below.
This image also highlights a different rifle setup than you’ll see anywhere else. Most operators are not using that particular scope or the extended length Magpul PMAGs. Hey, it’s good to be a Delta Operator!
The total cost for the plate carrier and associated equipment comes in at $10,714. This does include the very expensive radio they carry as well. Now that we’ve covered the plate carrier, let’s move onto the uniform and combat belt system they are wearing.
Combat Uniform
This is one piece of gear that seems to be changing. I’ve heard some chatter that they are moving away from Crye Precision G3 Combat Tops, and Combat Pants, towards other vendors. I can’t verify that, and I still see photos of them sporting Crye Gear.
From what the message boards are saying, it seems like Delta might be going towards Patagonia L9 Combat uniforms. Again, this is likely to come down to personal preference for each operator. The guys in the photo above are still wearing Crye Combat pants. They are also wearing Salomon Mid combat boots.
If you go back up to the very first image from Instagram, that operator is wearing a Crye MRB belt, with Safariland 6354 DO holster for his Glock. This is probably the most common belt setup I see these guys wearing.
Now that we’ve covered what these guys are wearing, let’s get to the good stuff. Their rifles and pistols!
Weapons
Delta has been fairly consistent with the primary and secondary weapon systems for a long time now. They almost always carry a 10 inch HK 416, and some form of Glock pistol with a red dot optic. We’ll cover the rifle first.
Rifle
CAG is famous for the freedom they enjoy in customizing their rifle setups. The base rifle these guys are using is the Heckler and Koch 416, as seen in the first image. It is equipped with a Geissele SMR MLOK rail, and a LMT B5 stock. There are two very common sighting systems that CAG uses. The first is the Eotech XPS 3-0 red dot sight, with or without the G30 magnifier. The other common sight is the Vortex Optics Razor II E 1-6x scope.
Older images have these operators using the venerable PEQ 15 IR laser sight, however the guy in the very first image is using the NGAL which is a brand new, more compact version of the PEQ 15. Almost all operators are using Surefire M600C scout lights and associated switches. Lastly, it appears that Delta is still favoring the Surefire RC 556 suppressor. The grand total for this bad ass rifle is $10,440. Now let’s talk about the pistol.
Pistol
CAG almost always uses a Glock 19 or Glock 17. There is quite the variability amongst pistols in the images I’ve seen. Many of them are now using a Leupold Delta Point Pro red dot sight, and an aftermarket magwell. Some are using compensators and most are using surefire X300u white lights.
I would assume that they are running some aftermarket triggers and custom internals but I have no idea what their gunsmiths are providing for them, so I won’t speculate on that. The grand total for the pistol is $1,426. That’s one expensive Glock, but not as expensive as my custom Glock build.
Final Thoughts
If you download the spreadsheet you’ll see that I’ve included a few other miscellaneous pieces of kit. Things like back up iron sights, slings, and watches don’t need to be harped on here. They are also quite variable, and not at all consistent between operators.
This brings us to the big question. What does all this top grade tactical gear cost? You better sit down Bessy, because it costs $71,802 dollars just to outfit one operator for a basic mission. Remember this doesn’t count speciality weapons or optics. Nor does it count other things like packs, and cold weather gear that they would be issued as well.
If you have any corrections or any recent images, just put them in the comments below and I’ll include them in an updated version of this article, if it looks like they check out. Feel free to share this article with someone who might enjoy!
Any links to Amazon, Brownells, Primary Arms, or Palmetto State Armory are affiliate links. This means that if you purchase from them we receive a small referral fee at no cost to you. It helps keep the lights on here. Thanks.
Men run 1911’s, boys run glocks
That’s just what you would say
Okay gramps don’t forget your meds
Atrocious, there’s a reason we love our polymer princess. We can throw it in a creek and it still keeps on trucking during a two way range.