From Jane’s: The head of NATO’s nascent Special Operations Coordination Centre says the international organisation is considering the creation of a new special operations air wing.

Brigadier General Lance Mans, deputy director of NATO Special Operations Coordination, told Jane’s on 21 January that the new force would start on a small scale, consisting of around eight helicopters and a few unmanned aircraft. Countries that lack special operations-relevant aircraft would be able to buy flying hours on the aircraft to contribute to counterinsurgencies and other special operations-related campaigns.

“It would essentially focus on the troop-carrying side [which is in demand in Afghanistan], as well as unmanned vehicles for surveillance, which again are hugely in demand when conducting special operations,” Gen Mans explained during a speech at a Washington conference organised by the US Air Force (USAF) and the Fletcher School at Tufts University. (photo: Special Operations Command Europe)