398 articles
Latest Special Operations stories, analysis, and updates from SOFREP.
Aerial application is a relatively obscure flying profession piloting large, single seat, turbine tailwheel airplanes. Add that attraction to legally strafing the ground low and fast, dozens, if not hundreds of times a day. The catch? It’s extremely specialized, and requires the aviator to be half farmer, half fighter pilot (in that order). The best […]
President Barack Obama awarded retired Army Lt. Col. Charles Kettles, a UH-1 helicopter commander, the Medal of Honor on Monday. He is credited with saving the lives of 40 soldiers during the Vietnam War. Kettles led helicopter flights carrying reinforcements to U.S. soldiers and evacuated the wounded after they were ambushed in combat operations near Duc Pho […]
The Islamic State’s oil network revenues from fields in Iraq and Syrian have been cut in half due to ongoing airstrikes. Over the course of the last two years, approximately 300 airstrikes specifically targeting oil fields, oil reservoirs, and oil convoys have led to a dismantling of ISIL oil revenues. During peak times, US officials […]
Erik Prince. For a lot of folks, the mere mention of his name is guaranteed to evoke a visceral reaction. A philanthropist, businessman, and former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, Prince is best known as the founder of the private security company formerly known as Blackwater USA. has branched out in a different direction. As the […]
Ground Branch operators, the CIA’s elite, carrying out their missions and staying in the shadows to protect national security.
It’s rare you get to see the Nightstalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment in action, mainly because their missions and the bulk of their training are, appropriately enough, conducted at night! This video compilation contains some good daytime footage of the unit training in both field and urban environments–as well as a few […]
In conjunction with our sister sites under the Force 12 Media umbrella, we here at FighterSweep are embarking on a pretty awesome adventure this month. Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke, a Navy SEAL veteran, introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives on 18 September, proposing October be designated Special Operations Appreciation Month. The whole […]
Courtesy of the “Nightstalkers“–the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, we bring you some absolutely beautiful Close Air Support provided by the Sikorsky MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP), as well as the AH-6 “Killer Egg” version of the MD-500E helicopter. The SOAR is most well-known for its ability to insert and extract SOF units under any […]
A recent article by the Washington Examiner begins to peel back the onion regarding the impact of decommissioning HSC-84 and 85. I would like to add some depth and put the argument in better context. The United States Special Operations Command’s rotary-wing deficit is one of the most important and consequential issues our Special Operation Forces face […]
Inserting SOF at night into an urban terrain LZ is one of the most exhilarating and dangerous things anyone can do in a helicopter.
Executing difficult missions is hard; training and qualifying the best aviators and crew members in the world to perform those missions is essential.
On February 26, 1981 while participating in Special Warfare Exercise 81 (SPECWAREX), an MC-130E Combat Talon I (callsign STRAY59) from the 1st Special Operations Squadron crashed into the ocean shortly after departing NAS Cubi Point in the Philippines on a predawn mission. Eight of the nine crewmembers and 15 special operators perished upon impact with […]
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FightCamp is an at-home boxing and kickboxing training system built around real technique, structured programming, and measurable performance. Members train with fighters and professional coaches while using connected punch and kick trackers that record volume, speed, and power in every round. The result is training that builds conditioning, skill, discipline, and resilience — all from home, on your schedule.
Essential Provisions Field Fuel® meals [ready-to-eat] & sports nutrition products have been developed with the cleanest, high-quality nutrient and energy-dense ingredients available. Research has shown that the whole food nutrients contained in our products have the ability to help.
Have you ever tried to wear a fleece hoodie in bad weather? We don’t recommend it. That’s why we founded BÆRSkin in 2019 – to create the world’s best outdoor gear that’s just as comfortable at home as it is durable outdoors. “Bad fitting, bulky, and boring” is how we felt about 1000’s of regular fleece hoodies we tested.
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Stay Locked In. No Matter What. NEORON is a brain-boosting beverage built for the mission: sugar-free, crash-free, and engineered for clean, tactical focus through long hours and high-stakes operations. Made for those who grind, stay sharp under pressure, and refuse to fold—if failure isn’t an option, NEORON has your six.
