Special Operations Forces Week 2026

SOF Week 2026

With new threats emerging at home and abroad, the U.S. Coast Guard has created a new Special Missions Command (SMC) to oversee its "deployable specialized forces."
U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard Creates Its Own Special Operations Command

The Coast Guard is putting all of its specialized forces under a single headquarters as demand for their services is at an all-time high.

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 6, 2026 9:30 AM EDT

MAYHEM 10 is an autonomous, multi-role launched effect designed to deliver coordinated non-kinetic and kinetic effects at standoff. Employable from air, ground, and maritime platforms, it combines advanced collaborative autonomy with modular payloads to operate effectively in contested environments.
Drones

Super-Adaptable Mayhem 10 Swarming Drone Evolved From The Switchblade

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 16, 2026

The U.S. Army has given us our first glimpse at what the new MV-75A Cheyenne II tiltrotor will look like in its special operations configuration.
160th SOAR "Nightstalkers"

First Look At What A Night Stalker MV-75 Cheyenne Will Look Like

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 15, 2026

FARP in Iran set up by special tactics squadron airman during WSO rescue.
Iran

How A Dusty Strip Deep In Iran Can Be Turned Into A U.S. Special Operations Base In Hours

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

Little birds of the 160th SOAR were destroyed in Iran after the successful rescue of a F-15E WSO
160th SOAR "Nightstalkers"

Night Stalker AH-6 Little Bird Helicopters Destroyed At Forward Landing Site In Iran

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 5, 2026

Continued Coverage

L3Harris has highlighted the potential benefits of pairing its Red Wolf miniature cruise missile with the U.S. Air Force's OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft.
Light Air Support

Red Wolf Cruise Missile Eyed To Give OA-1K Skyraider II Standoff Strike Capability

Giving the OA-1K a standoff strike capability has been seen as one potential way to expand its relevance in an era focused on high-end foes.

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawks assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment approach Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic during a forward arming and refueling point exercise, MCOLF Atlantic, May 6, 2025. U.S. Army Soldiers and aircraft from the 160th SOAR utilized MCAS Cherry Point’s training area to conduct a FARP. This training is essential for enhancing the unit’s operational readiness and ensuring efficient support for rapid deployment, as Cherry Point provides the facilities and resources to simulate real world scenarios.
MH-60/AH-60

This Is What The Night Stalkers’ MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator Brought To The Venezuelan Op

The hard-hitting attack version of the special operations MH-60 was clearly among the critical assets used in Operation Absolute Resolve.

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 5, 2026

The U.S. Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), better known as the Night Stalkers, has been exploring ways to ensure it can operate in more heavily defended airspace in the future.
U.S. Army

How The Night Stalkers Are Planning To Survive In Future High-End Fights

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is having to drastically adapt its playbook in order to be effective in future fights against major foes.

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 15, 2025

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) recently awarded a contract for new rifles chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round to Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT).
Assault Rifles

New Rifles Chambered In 6.5mm Creedmoor Heading To U.S. Special Operations Armories

The new Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault will give U.S. special operators a rifle option for greater reach, accuracy, and ballistic performance.

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

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