Special Operations Aviation(Page 2)

Latest in Special Operations Aviation

MH-6s belonging to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are now flying with a multi-tone blue camouflage scheme that looks intended primarily for use in maritime operations.
Air

Blue Camouflage MH-6 Little Birds Point To Night Stalkers’ Pacific Pivot

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 20, 2024

NH90 special forces helicopter has entered flight testing.
Air

NH90 Special Operations Helicopter Begins Flight Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 18, 2024

Aurora Flight Sciences has unveiled a new uncrewed fan-in-wing aircraft concept as part of ongoing work for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
News & Features

Revised Lift Fan Aircraft Concept Emerges From Special Ops X-Plane Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 21, 2024

Green berets on Shemya
News & Features

American Special Operations Forces Are At A Crossroads

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 12, 2024

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

Unusual AC-130J Gunship Caribbean Training Video Released

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 12, 2023

Night Stalker Ship Training
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Air

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.
Land

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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

By Emma Helfrich

Posted on Mar 7, 2023

MAC MC-130
Air

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
Air

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
News & Features

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)
Land

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

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 6, 2022

C-130 Amphibian
Air

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
News & Features

Modified Crop Duster Chosen For Special Ops Armed Overwatch Mission

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 2, 2022

Night Stalkers Syria
Air

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
News & Features

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
Land

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
Air

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)
News & Features

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)
Air

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)
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Land

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
Air

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)
News & Features

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)
Air

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)
News & Features

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Sea

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
News & Features

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
Air

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
News & Features

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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
News & Features

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
News & Features

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
Air

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
Air

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
Air

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jul 25, 2020