The 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., on Nov. 16 received its first operational CV-22 Osprey, ushering in a new era for Air Force SOF. The unit will get five of the first nine production Ospreys, giving the 8th its first aircraft with a “self-deploying capability” that Lt. Col. Eric Hill, 8th SOS operations chief, says will mean immediate mission response. “We can just up and fly as-is with no tear down or transport necessary,” added Hill. The unit’s helicopters must be broken down and transported via cargo aircraft.
Since President Donald Trump first unveiled his “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative in late January, much of the focus for it has been focused on space—how the Pentagon may deploy dozens, if not hundreds, of sensors and interceptors into orbit to protect the continental U.S. from missile barrages. But the Air…