Policy

Oversight of Special Operations Forces Requires Better Data, Watchdog Says

The data collected by U.S. Special Operations Command lacks consistency and transparency, the Government Accountability Office found.

Threats

This Gen-Z Value Could Spell Trouble for Spec Ops Community

CNA looked at the leadership traits valued by today’s youth, special operators, and strategists of tomorrow.

Threats

New ‘Influence Triad’ Will Fuse SOF, Cyber, and Space Command Satellite Intelligence

Information warfare cells, where space units and SOCOM work side by side, will be dispersed throughout combatant commands.

Business

SOCOM Orders Cropduster Attack Planes from L3Harris Technologies

The contract, which could grow to 75 aircraft, marks a major victory for proponents of prop-driven close air support.

Policy

SOCOM Nominee Sees China Fight As More Partner Building, Less Door Kicking

The SOCOM mission in the age of high-end conflict a lot less flashy than Zero Dark Thirty

Science & Tech

‘Collaborative, Portable Autonomy’ Is the Future of AI for Special Operations

Creating autonomous teams in contested environments will be a challenge of technology—and policy.

Ideas

Another Killer Dressed Up Like a Special Operator

The SOF community could do more to protect what they’ve earned and shame wannabes who dress to kill.

Policy

What Have US Special Operators Learned from the Ukraine War?

The Army, for one, is considering creating a special-operations drone specialty.

Science & Tech

Air Force Special Operations Looks To Reinvent Itself On the Cheap

Cargo planes that drop cruise missiles from pallets and land on water show how air special operators are trying to trick out what they’ve already got on the tarmac.

Science & Tech

General Atomics Unveils New Drone That Carries 16 Hellfire Missiles 

The Mojave, marketed for special forces, doesn’t need a traditional runway to launch.

Threats

The Taliban is No ‘Partner,’ Says Top US Special Ops Commander

After withdrawing, the US must rely on other Afghans and foreign governments for intelligence to track and target ISIS-K.

Science & Tech

US Air Force Developing Combat Tanker-Airlifter that Can Land on Water

In a conflict with China, aircraft will need flexibility in basing, and that means water takeoffs, landings.

Science & Tech

SOCOM Members Got an All-Star Crash Course in AI

Over a unique six-week course, participants met virtually with tech leaders to talk about AI's future.

Science & Tech

Army SOF Units Are Getting Smaller, More Self-Reliant as Focus Shifts to China, Russia

New adversaries, warfare concepts, and gear are also driving special operators to become more tech-savvy.

Science & Tech

Tough Conditions and Contested Communication Are Forcing the US Military To Reinvent AI

Those miracle apps on your phone are powered by cloud computing and high-bandwidth data transfer. What does AI look like when those features are missing?

Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 81: The future of Afghanistan

Ben Watson talks with Greg, a Green Beret medic who served in Afghanistan, and with Long War Journal's Bill Roggio.

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