Let’s face it — the role of attack helicopters has evolved. They are no longer just used for armed reconnaissance and secondary strike missions. Instead, they have become indispensable in high-end conventional warfare and counter-insurgency operations as well as the premier platform for close air support missions. As a result, attack helicopters have become crucial […]
helicopter
Complacency Kills: Lessons from a Delta Force breacher
“THERE’S A FREAKIN’ FENCE OUT THERE. A CHAIN-LINK FENCE!” came the holler from our man in the doorway of the building we were in. That fence was blocking our route to a field just outside, to where our exfiltration help was already inbound. I already knew what was coming next as the assault team leader […]
Watch: 360 degree video shows what it’s like to hitch a ride dangling under a Blackhawk
Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE) flights offer a unique way to get troops into and out of terrain that a helicopter may not be able to land on. To the untrained observer, SPIE flights might look like a helicopter simply lowers a rope, warfighters clip on with carabiners, and then they get taken for one hell […]
MH-6 Little Bird upgrades include a huge increase in operational range
Some sharp eyes over at The Drive recently spotted a modification to the MH-6 Little Bird helicopter in a USASOC-released video. The footage shows the Little Bird configured with external pods designed for ferrying special operations soldiers to their targets, but underneath one can see a rectangular attachment that appears to be an additional fuel […]
Watch: Kiowa pilots supporting ground forces
This raw video shows how air assets can support ground forces in a dynamic environment. It appears that the Kiowa pilots try to initially slow down a pair of fleeing Taliban fighters on a motorcycle with warning shots. Maybe to allow the US forces in pursuit to catch up. Maybe because they don’t have clearance […]
Train Like You Fight | Muscle Memory
Anyone who as spent more than 5 minutes in the Military has heard the phase, “muscle memory”. The idea of muscle memory is to practice a task until it becomes more reflex than active action. In other words, train like you fight. We used to practice all sorts of drills with muscle memory in mind: […]
USMC’s New CH-53K King Stallion Helicopter is Really, Really Expensive
(Article courtesy of Tactical Life) We’ve all seen the news reports about the spiraling costs associated with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Well, the Marine Corps’ CH-53K King Stallion has found itself in the crosshairs for the exact same reason, as Sikorsky‘s new heavy-lift helicopter will likely exceed the per unit cost of the F-35A. RELATED STORY: Combat Vehicles – Sikorsky’s SB-1 […]
Boeing Submits the MH-139 to Replace Air Force Huey Helicopter
(Article courtesy of Tactical Life) The competition to replace the U.S. Air Force’s UH-1N Huey helicopter fleet just got a little more interesting, with Boeing officially submitting its MH-139 helicopter for consideration. Unveiled at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium last Thursday, the MH-139 is based on Leonardo’s AgustaWestland AW139, which Boeing describes as a “modern, non-developmental, multi-mission […]