Operators from the Royal Malaysian Air Force Special Forces (PASKAU) and the French Air and Space Force’s Commando Parachutiste de l’air 30 (Air Parachute Commando no. 30, or CPA 30) successfully concluded the seven-day MALFRENCH DAGGERT 2023 combat search and rescue exercise on October 17. Following initial force integration training, operators from both units faced a field training exercise scenario where a pilot had ejected in “hostile” territory around Kuala Rompin, Pahang, with the joint team mobilized for a combat search and rescue mission. Operators of the joint French-Malaysian team fa ..read more

In a recent Senate estimates hearing, Chief of Defence Force General Angus Campbell revealed that in March 2021, after the Brereton Report was released, the United States Military notified the General of legal concerns regarding the US’ ability to assist the Australian SAS regiment and Special Operations Command in their future operations because of these allegations. Australian SASR Operator Shooting Unarmed Afghan Civilian General Campbell was grilled in the hearing by crossbench senators Jacqui Lambie, a Tasmanian senator who is notable for her advocacy for ADF veterans and a veteran hersel ..read more

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has announced that the United States Air Force Special Operations Command has entered into an agreement to acquire three MQ-9B SkyGuardian uncrewed aerial vehicles. According to the GA-ASI press release, AFSOC is the first US customer for the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, with 14 years prior experience operating the MQ-9A Reaper.  AFSOC spokesperson Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse said in a statement that the MQ-9Bs would not be used operationally, and that AFSOC expected to take delivery of the first airframe by the end of the year. International customers include P ..read more

The Polish 7th Special Operations Squadron was a relatively small unit, which utilized two models of post-Soviet transport and attack helicopters – Mi-17-1W and Mi-17TU. A total of 8 aircraft were capable of conducting limited support of the Special Operation Forces (SOF) component from either Formoza, GROM, or JWK units. However, the 7th SOS has now been recently reformed into a Special Operations Air Unit (SOAU) which is going to expand both in numbers and types of aircraft operated. The inspiration for such change in the 7th SOS comes directly from the US Air Force 160th Special Operations ..read more

On Friday, 17 February, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the US military, in collaboration with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), conducted a raid on ISIS targets in northern Syria. According to CENTCOM’s statement, Hamza al-Homsi, a commander of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), was targeted in the helicopter raid in Syria. The authorities, who did not specify where the raid occurred, stated that Hamza al-Homsi was killed as a result of the operation, and that an explosion injured four American soldiers and a military working dog. According to a US officia ..read more

The Department of Defense announced on July 13 that US Special Operations Command has awarded a $30.5 million contract to Area-I, LLC for the purchase of an unspecified quantity of the ALTIUS unmanned aerial system. ALTIUS, which stands for Agile-Launch, Tactically-Integrated, Unmanned System, is a line of three different products: the ALTIUS-600, -900, and -500. The ALTIUS-600 has been a focus in recent US Army exercises, including: Project Convergence 20 and 21; EDGE 21 and 22. At these exercises, the ALTIUS-600 was launched from the back of a Polaris Dagor, from a UH-60 Blackhawk, and from ..read more

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Defence showcased their indigenous midget submarine SOV400 during India’s flagship defence exhibition DefExpo 2022, held in Gandhinagar. Two models of the submarine design were displayed. L&T Defence is marketing the SOV400 as “The Small, Smart Submarine.” The diesel-electric multi-role submarine is primarily intended for special operations. The submarine is equipped with a ‘Moon Pool’ for deployment and recovery of marine commandos at depths of up to 40m.  One of the two L&T SOV400 models displayed during DefExpo 2022 (Adithya) Up to eight commandos ..read more

On Friday, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced the suspension of German peacekeeping operations in Mali under the United Nation’s MINUSMA mission. According to a statement from the minister released by the German defense ministry on Twitter: “Once again, Mali’s leaders have denied airspace access to the UN MINUSMA mission. A planned rotation of personnel is therefore not possible – this has an impact on our commitment as the safety of our soldiers has the highest priority.” Erneut haben die ?? Machthaber der #UN-Mission #MINUSMA die Überflugrechte verweigert. Ein geplante ..read more

United States Special Operations Command announced 1 August, that it had selected L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor Inc.’s AT-802U Sky Warden for its Armed Overwatch program, which seeks to procure a low-cost aircraft to perform surveillance, forward air control, and strike missions in austere and permissive environments. The initial program contract award is worth $170 billion, with the Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery contract having a cost ceiling of $3 billion. Up to 75 Sky Wardens and their training systems, mission planning systems, support equipment, spares, and logistics su ..read more

The 18th edition of Yudh Abhyas, the annual bilateral training exercise between the Indian Army and U.S. Army, is currently scheduled to be conducted from October 18-31, 2022 in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This was revealed to Overt Defense by U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC). In response to an inquiry, Major Jonathon M. Lewis (Media Operations, USARPAC Public Affairs) provided details of the exercise: “At this time, we expect the main element will come from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska ..read more