US Special Operations Command

Sep- 2026 -

25 September

Arms

Green Berets assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) enter a room during close-quarters battle training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Sept. 16, 2026. The exercise replicated realistic operational conditions, allowing Soldiers to refine close-quarters tactics, communication, and team coordination in preparation for real-world missions. 1st SFG(A) maintains highly lethal, rapidly deployable forces to execute the full spectrum of special operations alongside allies, partners, and the joint force as the preferred partner and premier special operations entity in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. John Bae) This photo was altered for security purposes in accordance with USSOCOM Manual 360-1.

USSOCOM Selects GMP for Weapons, Ammo, and Protective Gear Program

The US Special Operations Command has partnered with Global Military Products under a $19.5-million multi-award program to distribute weapons, ammunition, and personal protective equipment for US and foreign partners.

7 September

Americas

Inder Singh Bisht

Boeing to Upgrade US Special Ops Chinooks With Flight-Control System

The US has contracted Boeing to equip MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters with an advanced flight-control augmentation system.

Jun- 2026 -

16 June

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) drone operator assigned to 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) releases a UAV for a flight demonstration at a counter- drone range in Ellerbe, North Carolina, May 5, 2026. UAVs are flown using First Person View (FPV) goggles to see real-time, immersive video feed from the drone's internal camera. This photo has been altered to protect the identity of the operator. (U.S. Army photo by Ssg. Gabriel E. Davis)

Rojoef Manuel

USSOCOM Opens Search for AI-Enabled Drone Vision Trainer

US Special Operations Command has launched a competitive effort to acquire a synthetic data generation tool that will train computer vision models for unmanned systems.

May- 2026 -

25 May

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

Air Commandos assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing prepare to load a GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb Weapon System onto an MQ-9 Reaper during a weapons load competition at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, March 27, 2026. The GBU-39B is designed to limit collateral damage, expanding the MQ-9’s ability to deliver persistent, scalable effects in support of special operations forces across a range of operational environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Williams)

Rojoef Manuel

US Air Force MQ-9 Reapers Gain Long-Range Precision Strike Capability

The US Air Force Special Operations Command has integrated the GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb into MQ-9 Reaper drones, adding a long-range precision strike capability designed for contested environments.

15 May

Technology

Rojoef Manuel

US Special Ops Chiefs Push for Right-to-Repair Authority for Military Systems

US special operations commanders have revealed that proprietary restrictions imposed by defense contractors are slowing efforts to rapidly repair military equipment, particularly unmanned aerial systems, as adversaries move faster with commercially available technology.

Apr- 2026 -

30 April

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 Air-launched from General Atomics’ MQ-9A

Inder Singh Bisht

SOCOM Plans MQ-9 Drone Mothership as Armed Overwatch Fleet Shrinks

US Special Operations Command has requested increased funding in its 2027 budget to transform the MQ-9 system into a drone “mothership.”

Mar- 2026 -

9 March

Air

Inder Singh Bisht

Merlin Advances C-130J Autonomy Program With Preliminary Design Review

Merlin Labs has completed its preliminary design review of an autonomy stack for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.

Jan- 2026 -

13 January

Americas

Joe Saballa

US SOCOM Wants AI That Sees, Hears, and Reads the Battlefield

The US Special Operations Command is exploring how artificial intelligence could process data collected during field operations.

2 January

Americas

Akhsan Erido Elezhar

Ghostrider Gunship Poised for Starlink-Enabled Battlefield Transformation

AC-130J Ghostrider gunship is a heavily armed multi-role special operations aircraft, capable of close air support, air interdiction, and armed reconnaissance.

Nov- 2025 -

26 November

Americas

Christine Casimiro

US Special Ops to Use 500+ Seized Chinese Drones in Training

Instead of being incinerated, more than 500 Chinese-made uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) confiscated by the US state of Florida will be handed over to the US Special Operations Command for target practice and evaluation.

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