United States Special Operations Command Archives

L-ATV earns spot as military’s Humvee replacement: Weapon of the week

January 31, 2024
The High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle — or Humvee for short — was invented in 1985 and rose in popularity during the Gulf War as part of Operation Desert Storm. The Humvee still serves troops today, however, experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan spurred military leadership to ask for a replacement, leading to the Oshkosh Defense Light Combat Tactical (L-ATV).

The L-ATV entered active duty in 2019 with a price tag of $344,000. It is currently used by the U.S Army, the Marine Corps and the U.S. Special Operations Command.

There are four different vehicles and multiple variants available for users: the general purpose (GP), the heavy gun carrier (HGC), the utility (YTL) and the close combat weapons carrier (CCWC).

On average, each L-ATV weighs 11 tons and is comparatively easier to transport than its cousin, the M-ATV. This means it can be sling-loaded under helicopters and fit in a C-130.

The L-ATV has a range of 400 miles and a top speed of over 70 miles per hour. Even though it is mine-resistant and protected with modular armor, it can still navigate up to 60 inches of water if needed.

Each L-ATV is multifunctional and can also be configured to carry several weapons that allow troops to take the fight to the enemy. It can be fitted with light, medium and heavy machine guns, as well as automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank guided missiles.

Last year, Oshkosh went a step further and introduced the eJLTV — a hybrid that allows operators to charge the lithium-ion battery while the diesel engine is in use. The battery then allows users to drive in silent mode to help conceal the vehicle.

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Sniper competition attracts sharpshooters to Fort Bragg

March 24, 2023

Snipers from across the world traveled to North Carolina at the end of March, 2023. The sharpshooters took part in the United States Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition.

The competition brought 19 military and law enforcement sniper teams from all over the world to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for a series of events. Instructors from the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School designed the course.

Each two-person team completed a series of challenges which tested their ability to work together and hit their targets with speed and accuracy. Sniper teams typically consist of one shooter and one spotter.

In addition to snipers playing critical roles in every military around the globe, law enforcement agencies from dozens of countries are increasingly relying on snipers. Snipers can conduct on-the-ground reconnaissance in hard-to-reach places, and of course, have the skill to take out targets at great distances.

Sharpshooter competitions and other wargames between allies aren’t unusual. In a conflict, troops from allied nations would be expected to work together. These types of competitions help increase the sense of partnership and what militaries call “interoperability.”

In August of 2023, the United States joined 17 other NATO and partner nations for the European Best Sniper Team Competition.

That 11-day sniper event was held at the Hohenfels training area in Germany. Most of the challenges there were based on real-world inspired battles, like the conflict in Mogadishu that served as the basis for the movie “Black Hawk Down.”

36 teams competed in events ranging from aerial shooting to unknown-distance shooting, and even trench warfare. Small-arms marksmanship, stalking, nighttime operations, and other skills were also put to the test.

A U.S. sniper teamed up with a Lithuanian for the competition. A team from Greece, however, was named Europe’s top team.
US Special Operations Command could use deepfakes soon

March 7, 2023

The United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is responsible for overseeing America’s combined Special Operations Forces (SOF). SOCOM plans and carries out some of the nation’s most secretive missions.

According to recently amended federal contracting documents, SOCOM wants to add a few more tools to its toolbox; specifically, using the internet to conduct propaganda campaigns employing deepfake videos.

Deepfakes have been around for some time now. They are created by feeding a computer streams of information, and then programming it to project someone’s likeness in an image or video.

Deepfakes can be funny. Plenty of late-night talk shows have gotten mileage out of the technology. However, they can also be dangerous. The U.S. government often warns of the risks associated with deepfake videos, like the spread of misinformation and disinformation by bad actors. Now, SOCOM apparently wants to turn those risks into resources against enemies.

Through its Military Information Support Operations, SOCOM is looking for partners to build a system that allows SOF to more easily collect and disseminate information through social and local media outlets.

SOCOM is also asking for next generation deepfake technology to generate messages and influence operations via non-traditional channels. Lastly, using the ever-expanding Internet of Things, SOCOM wants to be able to hack into almost any device connected to the internet and see how well its potential propaganda campaigns are going.

The plans to add deepfakes to its repertoire come at a time of increased scrutiny on the technology, with many asking whether it does more harm than good.

In an interview with The Intercept, the head of the Brookings Institution’s Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative, Chris Meserole, said, “When it comes to disinformation, the Pentagon should not be fighting fire with fire. At a time when digital propaganda is on the rise globally, the U.S. should be doing everything it can to strengthen democracy by building support for shared notions of truth and reality.”

L-ATV earns spot as military’s Humvee replacement: Weapon of the week

Sniper competition attracts sharpshooters to Fort Bragg

US Special Operations Command could use deepfakes soon

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