Special Operations Aviation(Page 2)

Latest in Special Operations Aviation

The famed Little Bird helicopters used by the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are seeing a 'resurrection' after the Army's cancellation of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft program, but their future is still murky.

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on May 9, 2024
We now have our first look at a mini-cruise missile U.S. Special Operations Command is developing that could arm AC-130J gunships and other aircraft.

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on May 9, 2024
An annual special operations capability demonstration has included paragliding Marines on a mock drone hunt.

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick
Posted on May 8, 2024
US Special Operations Command says it has 'hit pause' on plans to convert an MC-130J special operations tanker/transport in a floatplane.

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on May 8, 2024
The next version of the famed Little Bird helicopter for the US Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment has reportedly been dubbed the MH-6R.

New Night Stalker Little Bird Helicopters Now Dubbed MH-6R (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Feb 27, 2024
USSOCOM is looking for companies that can provide AESA radars for its C-130 fleet.

AESA Radars For AC-130J, MC-130J Sought By SOCOM

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Jan 27, 2024
The US military has released an unusual video showing an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship conducting live-fire training the Caribbean. This comes as a major crisis in the region between Guyana and Venezuela.

Unusual AC-130J Gunship Caribbean Training Video Released

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Dec 12, 2023
Night Stalker Ship Training

Night Stalker MH-60 Executes Sneak Mock Assault On Navy Ship In Awesome Video

By Oliver Parken
Posted on Nov 9, 2023
An MH-60M Black Hawk helicopter in the latest configuration utilized by the US Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and with a unusual paint job recently visited a civilian airport in Alabama.

Night Stalker MH-60 Black Hawk Spotted In Blue Camouflage

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 29, 2023
Newly released pictures give a great look at just how loaded down with sensors and other specialized system the MH-60M Black Hawks assigned to the US Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment really are.

Special Ops MH-60 Seen Absolutely Crammed With Modifications

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Sep 21, 2023
Air Force Special Operations Command is looking at expanding its ability to land on beaches around the world as part of a shift toward "runway agnostic" operations.

Special Ops C-130s Using Beaches As Runways Eyed For Pacific Fight

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 19, 2023
Personnel from the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as the Night Stalkers, recently took part in an exercise focused in part on the defense of strategic Shemya Island.

Night Stalker Helicopters Train To Defend Strategic Alaskan Island

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 23, 2023
A recent US guerrilla warfare exercise shows signs of influences from the conflict in Ukraine.

Guerrilla Warfare Exercise In West Virginia Looks Heavily Influenced By Ukraine War

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Jun 29, 2023
AC-130 Gunship Laser Weapon Program’s Future Is Looking Blurry

AC-130 Gunship Laser Weapon Program’s Future Is Looking Blurry

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on May 11, 2023
Half Of Night Stalker Black Hawks, Little Birds Replaced With High-Speed Types By 2030s

Half Of Night Stalker Black Hawks, Little Birds Replaced With High-Speed Types By 2030s

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on May 10, 2023
MAC MC-130

Amphibious C-130 Won’t Fly For Two To Three More Years

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on May 9, 2023
Retirement Of MC-130H Speeds Up MC-130J Low-Flying Radar Upgrade

Retirement Of MC-130H Speeds Up MC-130J Low-Flying Radar Upgrade

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Apr 11, 2023
MQ-9 Special Operations Sky Guardian

USAF Special Ops Buys MQ-9B SkyGuardians To Test Air-Launched Drone Concepts

By Emma Helfrich
Posted on Mar 7, 2023
MAC MC-130

C-130 Seaplane Program Put On Back Burner (Updated)

By Howard Altman
Updated on Feb 2, 2023
Special Ops C-130 Tests Pallet-Dropped Cruise Missiles In The Arctic

Special Ops C-130 Tests Pallet-Dropped Cruise Missiles In The Arctic

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Nov 9, 2022
Raid Newport Beach harbor helicopter

Helicopter-Borne Commandos ‘Raid’ Yacht In Newport Beach Harbor For Charity

By Oliver Parken
Posted on Oct 18, 2022
US Special Operators Carry Out Helicopter Raid On ISIS Leader In Syria (Updated)

US Special Operators Carry Out Helicopter Raid On ISIS Leader In Syria (Updated)

By Howard Altman
Posted on Oct 6, 2022
C-130 Amphibian

C-130 Seaplane Should Fly In 2023 Says Air Force Special Ops Commander

By Howard Altman
Posted on Sep 21, 2022
AT-802U Armed Overwatch

Modified Crop Duster Chosen For Special Ops Armed Overwatch Mission

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Aug 2, 2022
Night Stalkers Syria

Nighttime U.S. Helicopter Raid Captures ‘Senior Daesh Leader’ In Syria (Updated)

By Howard Altman
Posted on Jun 16, 2022
Elite British SAS Soldier’s Action-Packed Account Of The Falklands War

Elite British SAS Soldier’s Action-Packed Account Of The Falklands War

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Jun 14, 2022
This Is Our Best Look Yet At The MH-6’s Plank-Mounted Machine Gun

This Is Our Best Look Yet At The MH-6’s Plank-Mounted Machine Gun

By Emma Helfrich
Posted on May 20, 2022
Little Bird’s Future Laid Out In New Night Stalkers Aviation Plan

Little Bird’s Future Laid Out In New Night Stalkers Aviation Plan

By Dan Parsons
Posted on May 19, 2022
U.S. Says Its Diplomats Are Out Of Ukraine After U.S. Special Ops Planes Tracked Near Polish Border (Updated)

U.S. Says Its Diplomats Are Out Of Ukraine After U.S. Special Ops Planes Tracked Near Polish Border (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Feb 22, 2022
Unmanned Resupply Gliders Will Take Part In Largest Special Operations Exercise (Updated)

Unmanned Resupply Gliders Will Take Part In Largest Special Operations Exercise (Updated)

By Brett Tingley
Updated on Feb 14, 2022
Night Stalker MH-60 Black Hawk Lost In Successful Raid That Killed ISIS Leader In Syria (Updated)

Night Stalker MH-60 Black Hawk Lost In Successful Raid That Killed ISIS Leader In Syria (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick
Updated on Feb 3, 2022
One Of U.S. Special Operation Command’s Shyest Spy Planes Has A New Name

One Of U.S. Special Operation Command’s Shyest Spy Planes Has A New Name

By Thomas Newdick
Updated on Oct 11, 2021
It Looks Like A C-130 Seaplane Is Finally Happening

It Looks Like A C-130 Seaplane Is Finally Happening

By Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Sep 16, 2021
Special Operations Command Wants Tiny Cruise Missiles With Hundreds Of Miles Range

Special Operations Command Wants Tiny Cruise Missiles With Hundreds Of Miles Range

By Michael Peck
Updated on Sep 7, 2021
Night Stalker Little Bird Helicopters Flew German Commandos On Kabul Mission: Report

Night Stalker Little Bird Helicopters Flew German Commandos On Kabul Mission: Report

By Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Aug 26, 2021
Pentagon Dismisses The Idea Of Retaking Bagram Air Base To Support Kabul Evacuations (Updated)

Pentagon Dismisses The Idea Of Retaking Bagram Air Base To Support Kabul Evacuations (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Aug 23, 2021
Night Stalker Special Ops Helicopters Now In Kabul Could Be Critical To Evacuation (Updated)

Night Stalker Special Ops Helicopters Now In Kabul Could Be Critical To Evacuation (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway
Updated on Aug 21, 2021
RC-135W Rivet Joint Spy Plane Is Flying Orbits Over Kabul (Updated)

RC-135W Rivet Joint Spy Plane Is Flying Orbits Over Kabul (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Aug 17, 2021
Bell Unveils VTOL Aircraft Concepts That All Feature Fold-Away Rotors For Jet-Speed Flight

Bell Unveils VTOL Aircraft Concepts That All Feature Fold-Away Rotors For Jet-Speed Flight

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Aug 2, 2021
MC-145B Wily Coyote Special Ops Planes Will Be Able To Launch Stealth Cruise Missiles

MC-145B Wily Coyote Special Ops Planes Will Be Able To Launch Stealth Cruise Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Jul 26, 2021
Meet The MC-145B Wily Coyote Armed Special Ops Transport Plane

Meet The MC-145B Wily Coyote Armed Special Ops Transport Plane

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Jul 1, 2021
Special Ops MH-47 Chinooks Can Use These Fuel Dump Pipes To Help Climb Over Mountains

Special Ops MH-47 Chinooks Can Use These Fuel Dump Pipes To Help Climb Over Mountains

By Thomas Newdick
Updated on Jun 15, 2021
MC-130J Commando II Simulated Launching A Pallet Of Cruise Missiles During A Mock Strike Mission

MC-130J Commando II Simulated Launching A Pallet Of Cruise Missiles During A Mock Strike Mission

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Jun 7, 2021
Special Operations Command Is Now Seeking A High-Speed VTOL Aircraft

Special Operations Command Is Now Seeking A High-Speed VTOL Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick
Updated on May 20, 2021
Amphibious MC-130J Transport Is On Special Operations Command’s Wishlist

Amphibious MC-130J Transport Is On Special Operations Command’s Wishlist

By Thomas Newdick and Joseph Trevithick
Updated on May 20, 2021
Check Out This Eerie Image Of A Navy Special Ops Seahawk Raiding A Ship In The Dead Of Night

Check Out This Eerie Image Of A Navy Special Ops Seahawk Raiding A Ship In The Dead Of Night

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on May 11, 2021
Watch This Night Stalker AH-6 Little Bird Execute A Maritime Rope Ladder Extraction

Watch This Night Stalker AH-6 Little Bird Execute A Maritime Rope Ladder Extraction

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on May 11, 2021
Navy SEALs And Army Night Stalkers Captured In Amazing Photos During Virginia Exercise

Navy SEALs And Army Night Stalkers Captured In Amazing Photos During Virginia Exercise

By Tyler Rogoway
Updated on May 10, 2021
Crash In Iraq Helps Unmask Secretive Ultra-Quiet Special Operations Drone Program

Crash In Iraq Helps Unmask Secretive Ultra-Quiet Special Operations Drone Program

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on May 4, 2021
Bin Laden Raid Pilot Says Unique Marine Air-To-Air Course Likely Saved Him From Pakistani F-16s

Bin Laden Raid Pilot Says Unique Marine Air-To-Air Course Likely Saved Him From Pakistani F-16s

By tyler rogoway and jamie hunter
Posted on May 3, 2021
Photo Emerges Of Shadowy Intelligence Gathering “Ghost Plane” In Somalia

Photo Emerges Of Shadowy Intelligence Gathering “Ghost Plane” In Somalia

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Apr 28, 2021
One of US Special Operations Command’s Newest Spy Planes Is Hunting Terrorists In Libya

One of US Special Operations Command’s Newest Spy Planes Is Hunting Terrorists In Libya

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Apr 8, 2021
Special Operations Command’s New A-29 Super Tucano Pays Tribute To World War II Air Commandos

Special Operations Command’s New A-29 Super Tucano Pays Tribute To World War II Air Commandos

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Mar 29, 2021
The Air Force Finally Has Its First New AT-6E Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft

The Air Force Finally Has Its First New AT-6E Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Feb 18, 2021
Check Out This AC-130 Gunship Pilot Wearing A Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display

Check Out This AC-130 Gunship Pilot Wearing A Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display

By Jamie Hunter
Updated on Nov 27, 2020
America’s Elite Flying Unit That Made The Recent Long-Range Hostage Rescue In Africa Possible

America’s Elite Flying Unit That Made The Recent Long-Range Hostage Rescue In Africa Possible

By Jamie Hunter
Updated on Nov 27, 2020
Here’s What All Those Black Helicopters Were Doing Zipping Around Los Angeles Last Night

Here’s What All Those Black Helicopters Were Doing Zipping Around Los Angeles Last Night

By Tyler Rogoway
Updated on Sep 2, 2020
Fatal Night Stalker Helicopter Crash Has Occurred On San Clemente Island

Fatal Night Stalker Helicopter Crash Has Occurred On San Clemente Island

By Tyler Rogoway
Updated on Aug 31, 2020
Night Stalker MH-47 Emerges With Mystery Modifications During Training In Colorado

Night Stalker MH-47 Emerges With Mystery Modifications During Training In Colorado

By Tyler Rogoway
Updated on Aug 10, 2020
No, The Air Force’s Shadowy Surveillance Test Plane Wasn’t Spying On Portland Protesters

No, The Air Force’s Shadowy Surveillance Test Plane Wasn’t Spying On Portland Protesters

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Jul 25, 2020
Unusual High-Altitude Spy Plane Appears at Special Operations Exercise

Unusual High-Altitude Spy Plane Appears at Special Operations Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Jul 5, 2020
Unmasking The S-92 Mystery Helicopter In Syria Which Was Spotted Again Near Raqqa

Unmasking The S-92 Mystery Helicopter In Syria Which Was Spotted Again Near Raqqa

By Tyler Rogoway
Updated on Jul 5, 2020
Nightstalkers Show Off For the Public With a Dramatic Urban Air Assault

Nightstalkers Show Off For the Public With a Dramatic Urban Air Assault

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Jul 5, 2020
These Unassuming Planes Have Been Key Players in America’s War on Terror

These Unassuming Planes Have Been Key Players in America’s War on Terror

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Jul 3, 2020