SOAR displays mission equipment

The US Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) displayed its mission critical equipment for reconnaissance, assault and attack operations. The 160th SOAR has three primary helicopters in its more than 180 aircraft fleet. They include Boeing’s MH/AH-6M (Little Bird) and MH-47G (CHINOOK) and the Sikorsky MH-60M (BLACKHAWK).

The Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based unit showed the versatility of its MH-60M in both Assault and Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) configurations. In the Assault configuration, the SOAR can conduct a precision air assault, a troop infiltration or extraction of special operations forces worldwide – at night while armed with two Dillon Aero 7.62mm M134 Miniguns. In the DAP configuration, the BLACKHAWK is more heavily armed to conduct clandestine attacks or close-air-support against a variety of targets. DAP armaments include two Miniguns, Lockheed Martin M299 HELLFIRE, Arnold Defense 2.75-inch rocket launchers (M260/M261), and the Orbital ATK M230 Bushmaster Chain Gun.