World News
US Air Force special operators test powered gliders for isolated resupply missions
Military personnel are testing low-signature supply drops in Iceland to evaluate ways to reach isolated troops in contested environments.
The short version
- US Air Force Special Operations Command personnel are testing powered gliders to deliver supplies such as medical gear to ground units during Exercise Northern Viking 2026 in Iceland.
- The effort aims to evaluate low-signature methods for sustaining small teams operating far beyond reliable supply lines without giving away their positions.
- The Air Force has not publicly named the manufacturer or specific model of the powered glider being used in the Iceland exercise.
Key facts
- Air Force Special Operations Command personnel plan to airdrop a powered glider loaded with supplies to ground teams during Exercise Northern Viking 2026 in Iceland.[Business Insider]
- The 352d Special Operations Wing mission commander stated that the training specifically focuses on long-range resupply in contested environments.[Business Insider]
- The US Air Force has not identified the manufacturer or model of the powered glider intended for the test in Iceland.[Business Insider]
- US Army Green Berets previously tested Dzyne-manufactured Grasshopper glider drones carrying construction materials, food, and medical supplies in Romania and Macedonia.[Business Insider]
What remains uncertain
- The specific make and model of the glider being evaluated in Iceland remain undisclosed by the Air Force.[Business Insider]