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New System Added to Special Operations Forces’ Arsenal

Oct 30, 2021

Photo illustration Wikimedia US DoD — ILOPANGO, El Salvador A Costa Rican special operations member engages targets June 18, 2011 at the Critical Tasks Evaluation event of Fuerzas Comando 2011 at the Shangallo Range here. Fuerzas Comando, established in 2004, is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored special operations skills competition and senior leader seminar which is conducted annually in Central and Southern America and the Caribbean. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Luke Rollins)

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A new manned light attack aircraft is designed to support U.S. special operations forces. Lockheed Martin’s Polish subsidiary PZL Mielec showcased its new MC-145B Special Operations Multi-Role Aircraft (SOMA), which features multi-role strike capabilities.

The aircraft is the latest variant of a versatile aircraft with many new capabilities added specifically to meet the needs of Special Forces operations by the U.S. and its allies. It is a significantly enhanced and modified version of the M28 short take-off and landing twin-engine turboprop, a utility aircraft currently operating in some of the harshest environments across the globe including the deserts of Jordan, the extreme cold of Estonia, and the subtropical forests of Kenya.

The aircraft’s high wing, powerful engines and rugged, fixed tricycle gear are ideal for safe and reliable operations in the austere environments anticipated for the special forces program Armed Overwatch.

The aircraft rapidly re-configures to air drop, paratroop and casualty evacuation roles while supporting self-deployment and resupply of forward operating locations without a reliance on strategic airlift assets, according to defence-blog.com.