What are the elite Cobra soldiers, dressed in red, known as?

The elite Cobra soldiers dressed in red are known as Crimson Guardsmen. Collectively, they are the Crimson Guard, an elite organization serving Cobra and remaining loyal to Cobra Commander.

The Crimson Guard was introduced to the G.I. Joe franchise in 1985. Unlike ordinary Cobra Troopers, these operatives were designed for elite military, security, and undercover work. In the Marvel Comics version, Crimson Guardsmen commonly maintain civilian cover identities and may operate in political, business, or professional settings.

Tomax and Xamot command the Crimson Guard in the comics. Their red dress uniforms, helmets, and face-covering black masks distinguish them visually from Cobra’s blue-shirted Troopers and the later Viper forces. “Vipers” is therefore a common but incorrect answer to this particular clue: Vipers are a separate Cobra troop category, while the red elite soldiers are Crimson Guardsmen.