Special Operations Archives - Defense Daily

U.S. Special Operations Command Budget For OA-1K Drops From 62 To 53 Planes

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 20 May 2026 17:00:32 +0000

U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) fiscal 2027 future years defense plan (FYDP) said that the budget for the OA-1K Skyraider II Armed Overwatch aircraft has fallen from 62 to 53 […]

USSOCOM Experimenting With Commercial GEOINT Imagery And Analytics At The Edge

Cal Biesecker — Mon, 11 May 2026 16:12:45 +0000

SkyFi is under a research and development contract with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to allow Special Forces to assess the startup’s commercial-based self-service Earth observation platform and analytics on […]

V-22s to Resume Restriction-Free Flight a Year Later Than Initially Projected

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:13:10 +0000

A dozen new, “Dash 123” proprotor gearboxes (PRGBs) for the Marine Corps/Navy/Air Force V-22 are coming off the line monthly, yet a legislator suggested on Tuesday that the rate needs […]

USAF To Pursue Degraded Visual Environment System For HH-60W Without Helmet Mounted Display

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:25:51 +0000

To save funds, the U.S. Air Force plans to pursue a Degraded Visual Environment System (DVES) without a helmet mounted display (HMD) for the Lockheed Martin [LMT] Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly […]

Conventional Wisdom On S-300 Effectiveness Called Into Question

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:20:29 +0000

Conventional defense wisdom has held that Russian-made long-range S-300 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) pose significant threats to U.S. military aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35 stealth fighter, yet the Jan. […]

L3Harris And IAI To Bid Sky Warden Variant For Israeli Light-Attack Aircraft Program

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:38:51 +0000

L3Harris Technologies [LHX] and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said on Wednesday that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a joint bid on the Israeli Light-Attack Aircraft program with […]

Low-Cost Cruise Missile Funding in Reconciliation Act Awaiting Contract Obligation

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 20:49:40 +0000

The fiscal 2025 reconciliation law includes $1.5 billion over the next four years for low-cost cruise missiles–$1 billion for DoD and another $500 million for “exportable” low-cost cruise missiles. Possible […]

Leidos Taps Pratt & Whitney For Engine To Power Black Arrow Cruise Missile

Cal Biesecker — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:18:35 +0000

Pratt & Whitney on Monday said that Leidos [LDOS] has awarded the company a contract to supply TJ150 engines for the Black Arrow small cruise missile being developed to provide […]

Scaling Up of Black Arrow Control System Eyed by Moog

Frank Wolfe — Mon, 12 May 2025 19:38:13 +0000

Moog, Inc. [MOG.A] said last week that its Salt Lake City, Utah plant will be able to scale up production of the custom fin Control Actuation System (CAS) for the […]

First OA-1K Skyraider Delivered to AFSOC

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 21:06:01 +0000

L3Harris Technologies [LHX] and Air Tractor said on Thursday that they have delivered the first “missionized” OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft for U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) at Hurlburt Field, […]

Leidos Successfully Flies Guided Small Cruise Missile

Cal Biesecker — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 19:45:02 +0000

U.S. Special Operations Command has said that Black Arrow, flight tested from an Air Force Special Operations Command AC-130J last November, may become operational in late fiscal 2026 (Defense Daily, […]

Boeing Awarded $240 Million To Deliver Five More MH-47G Block II Chinooks

Matthew Beinart — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:02:14 +0000

Boeing [BA] has received a $240 million contract covering delivery of five MH-47G Block II Chinook heavy-lift aircraft for U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC), the company said on […]

SOCOM Awards Anduril $86 Million To Enable Rapid Integration Of Autonomous Capabilities

Cal Biesecker — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:49:08 +0000

Anduril Industries has received an $86 million contract to partner with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to create the architecture and standards for integrating autonomy technology into the command’s unmanned […]

DoD Awards First FY ’25 APFIT Funds To Transition Technologies Into Production

Cal Biesecker — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:27:32 +0000

The Defense Department on Wednesday announced the award of at least $10 million each to five small businesses to transition their technologies into production for different Defense Department customers. The […]

Leidos-Developed Small Cruise Missile Eyed For SOCOM Funding

Cal Biesecker — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 21:00:55 +0000

A low-cost cruise missile in the final stages of development by Leidos [LDOS] has made the cut line for funding by U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) and is being requested […]

Leidos Introduces Self-Funded Small Cruise Missile With Multi-Mission Capabilities

Cal Biesecker — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:31:45 +0000

Leidos [LDOS] on Thursday introduced a small cruise missile (SCM) the company has been developing on its own for nearly four years to meet the needs of Special Operations Forces […]

CV-22 Fleet to Be ‘Fully Operational’ by End of Year or Early Next

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:35:28 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.–The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) fleet of 51 Bell [TXT]-Boeing [BA] CV-22 tiltrotors may be flying without restrictions by the end of this year or […]

SOCOM Reduces Planned Armed Overwatch Need to 62 from 75, GAO Says, Questioning Program Value

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:51:15 +0000

The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in March reduced its requirement for 75 L3Harris Technologies‘ [LHX] AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft for SOCOM’s “Armed Overwatch” mission to 62, the Government Accountability […]

Boeing Receives $115 Million Order For More MH-47G Block IIs

Matthew Beinart — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 14:41:50 +0000

Boeing [BA] has received an $115 million order for delivery of two more MH-47G Block II Chinook heavy-lift aircraft for U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC), the company said […]

Merlin Labs Says $105 Million C-130J Advanced Automation Contract Stepping Stone for Other SOF Aircraft

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 21:13:06 +0000

Boston’s Merlin Labs, Inc. said on June 12 that it has received a $105 million contract from U.S. Special Operations Command to provide advanced automation for the Air Force C-130J […]

Resumption of Unrestricted V-22 Flight Operations Not Expected Until Mid-2025

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:49:06 +0000

The V-22 will not likely return to unrestricted flight operations until the middle of next year, Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, the head of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), said on […]

Pentagon Awards Nearly $200 Million To Transition Technologies To Production

Cal Biesecker — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:53:38 +0000

The Defense Department this week said it has awarded $193.8 million in new projects aimed at quickly fielding new technologies to warfighters, the second tranche of fiscal year 2024 awards […]

SOCOM Continuing Cuts To Vehicle Fleet Citing Budget Constraints, New Operational Priorities

Matthew Beinart — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 22:12:50 +0000

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Special Operations Command (SOCOM) will continue reducing the size of its vehicle fleet citing ongoing budget constraints and its shift to focus on integrated deterrence operations […]

AFSOC Examining Future CV-22 Alternatives

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 19:16:35 +0000

The grounding of the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force V-22 fleet since early December is unlikely to lift soon, as DoD officials consider what measures to take for crew […]

Pentagon Mum on Candidates Chosen for Replicator Initiative

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 19:12:45 +0000

The Pentagon said that it would choose contenders for Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks’ Replicator initiative this week, but DoD has not released those candidates yet. “We remain on plan, […]

GAO Advises Slowdown of Armed Overwatch Until SOCOM Justifies Number of Aircraft Needed

Frank Wolfe — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 18:14:15 +0000

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) advises DoD to slow the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Armed Overwatch program until the command and DoD justify the need for 75 planned L3Harris […]

RTX Receives $321 Million Contract for Silent Knight Radar

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 01:28:22 +0000

U.S. Special Operations Command has awarded RTX [RTX] a $321 million, multi-year contract for the “continued production and delivery” of the company’s AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight radar used by Air Force […]

Possible Personnel Cuts at Army Special Operations Command Loom

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:24:34 +0000

A looming challenge for U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Gen. Randy George, the nominee to become the next Army Chief of Staff, is opposition among those in the service’s […]

Adaptive Airborne Enterprise Top Acquisition Priority for AFSOC

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 21:14:43 +0000

The Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E) is the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) top acquisition priority, as the command seeks to move beyond its current intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance […]

USAF Wants Software Support for MC/AC-130J

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 19:29:59 +0000

The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s special operations forces, personnel recovery, and rotary division (AFLCMC/WIU) at Robins AFB, Ga., wants industry help to sustain and improve software for […]

USAF Wants U-2 to Inform Fighters’ Open Mission Systems, Future SIGINT

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 21:29:31 +0000

DAYTON, Ohio–While the U.S. Air Force plans to retire its Lockheed Martin [LMT] U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance fleet by 2026, the service wants to use the plane to inform future […]

SASC Republicans Press Special Ops Leaders On Potential Budget Cuts Amid Growing Requirements

Matthew Beinart — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 21:58:11 +0000

Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday signaled concern about potential cuts to spending and personnel for Special Operations Forces (SOF) in the upcoming fiscal year 2024 budget […]

SOCEUR Conducts JASSM Palletized Munition Test Over Arctic Circle

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 16:35:50 +0000

As Ukraine continues its NATO-backed defense against Russian forces, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) on Nov. 9 conducted the first theater test over the Arctic Circle in Norway of […]

SOCOM Official Highlights HSVTOL Demand for Indo-Pacific and Command Shift to China/Russia Deterrence

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 22:01:41 +0000

A top U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) official on Oct. 26 highlighted the command’s need for High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) systems and SOCOM’s planned shift to a 60 […]

Moog, Inc. Announces Its Selection by L3Harris for Armed Overwatch

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 21:04:44 +0000

New York-based Moog Inc.[MOG-A, MOG-B] said on Oct. 18 that L3Harris Technologies [LHX] has chosen Moog’s space and defense segment to provide the Moog weapon Stores Management System (SMS) for […]

Root Cause of CV-22 Sprag Clutch Slippage in Last Two Months Still Uncertain

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 22:00:31 +0000

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is still investigating the root cause of the slippage of a sprag clutch in one of the engines of the Bell [TXT]/Boeing [BA] […]

L3Harris Wins Contract Potentially Worth $3 Billion for SOCOM Armed Overwatch Program

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:33:42 +0000

On July 31, U.S. Special Operations Command awarded L3Harris [LHX] a contract worth up to $3 billion for SOCOM’s Armed Overwatch program. Under the contract, L3Harris is to build 75 […]

SOCOM Commander: Disrupting Supply Chains for Adversary Drones Will Be Key

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 20:38:20 +0000

Disrupting supply chains for drones made by U.S. adversaries will be an important undertaking for the Pentagon to ensure U.S. air superiority in future conflicts, U.S. Special Operations Commander Army […]

USAF/SOCOM High Speed VTOL Competition Advances

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 21:17:47 +0000

The U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX innovation arm, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) have made 11 awards out of an initial field of […]

DoD Office of Inspector General to Review CENTCOM Defense Against Drones and Missiles

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:54:04 +0000

The Pentagon Office of Inspector General (OIG) plans a number of reviews related to the former Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and the current Operation Enduring Sentinel in Afghanistan and to the […]

Kurilla Looks to Use Artificial Intelligence to Improve Targeting

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 21:56:19 +0000

Army Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the Biden administration’s nominee to head U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), wants to use artificial intelligene (AI) to […]

Aircraft Availability Dictates Strike Use, CENTCOM Nominee Says

Frank Wolfe — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:44:50 +0000

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla, the Biden administration’s nominee to become the new head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), said on Feb. 8 that the military will use fifth-generation […]

Anduril Nabs Record Award to Provide Counter UAS Capabilities to USSOCOM

Cal Biesecker — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:50:58 +0000

U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) last month awarded Anduril Industries a nearly $1 billion contract, the company’s largest ever, to act as a systems integrator for the command’s counter-unmanned aircraft […]

Armed Overwatch Acquisition Funding On Hold Until SOCOM Submits Roadmap

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 18:52:39 +0000

As the competitors in U.S. Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) Armed Overwatch program await a contract award by next June, the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act holds up the disbursement […]

General Atomics Mojave Drone May Fit SOCOM and USAF Visions

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 19:45:20 +0000

General Atomics said on Dec. 9 that it has debuted a new drone, called Mojave, that is to be capable of short take-off and landing (STOL) in 400 to 600 […]

CV-22 Arrives at Bell Plant in Amarillo for Nacelle Improvement

Frank Wolfe — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:29:52 +0000

The first U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey slated to receive improved nacelles arrived at Bell‘s [TXT] plant in Amarilllo, Texas on Sept. 21. Last December, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) […]

AFSOC Examinining MC-130 Amphibious Capability for Indo-Pacific

Frank Wolfe — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 16:48:12 +0000

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is planning to test the amphibious capability of a Lockheed Martin [LMT] MC-130 in the second half of next year, as part of […]

Polaris Eyeing International Interest In New MRZR Alpha Light Tactical Vehicle

Matthew Beinart — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 21:09:03 +0000

Polaris [PII] is eyeing potential international interest in its newest light tactical vehicle, the MRZR Alpha, unveiling the platform to the public for the first time at this week’s DSEI […]

Armed Overwatch Program Gets Rebuttal from U.S. Air Force Official

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 19:28:33 +0000

While U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) desires 75 Armed Overwatch aircraft–four squadrons, plus 15 training planes, a top U.S. Air Force official on Aug. 11 countered that such aircraft will […]

L3Harris to Provide ABMS Radio for AFSOC

Frank Wolfe — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:39:04 +0000

L3Harris Technologies [LHX] is to deliver its Falcon IV handheld radios for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to enable its airmen to connect with the Air Force Advanced Battle […]