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… Continue reading "AFSOC to Lease MQ-9B"
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… Continue reading "US Special Operations Command Selects L3Harris Sky Warden For Armed Overwatch"
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… Continue reading "SOCOM to Buy ALTIUS UAS"
The Senate Armed Services Committee’s markups for the 2022 NDAA include language prohibiting retirement of any of the US Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt IIs throughout fiscal 2022, alongside ordering an… Continue reading "SASC 2022 NDAA Markups: A-10 Retirements Blocked, Independent Assessment for Armed Overwatch"
This week was very busy at Overt Defense. We covered a range of topics, ranging from the conflict in Israel to new technology developments including the palletization of JASSMs and… Continue reading "Weekend Briefing (17-21 May)"
The United States’ Special Operations Command will begin testing five contenders for its Armed Overwatch program next month, according to SOCOM acquisition chief James Smith. According to a contract notice… Continue reading "Five Candidates For SOCOM Armed Overwatch To Be Trialed In June"
Sierra Nevada Corporation yesterday released photographs of the second of three A-29 Super Tucanos ordered by US Air Force Special Operations Command. While the aircraft is still being modified at… Continue reading "AFSOC’s Newest A-29 Debuted In WW2 Air Commando Scheme"
The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General has announced a formal inquiry into whether potential war crimes conducted by US forces, including special operations forces (SOF), have been… Continue reading "US DoD Opens War Crimes Investigation"
The finalized version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act includes language prohibiting the Department of Defense from procuring any aircraft to meet US Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch requirements… Continue reading "No Funding For Armed Overwatch Aircraft In 2021 NDAA"
Having kidnapped American farmer Philipe Nathan Walton from his farm in Massalata (southern Niger) on Monday, 26 October, his captors hopped back across the border into Nigeria. Their demand: a… Continue reading "Navy SEALs Free American Hostage in Nigeria"