The United States ArmyAviation Technology Office (ATO), known as Flight Concepts Division (FCD) before 2017,[1] is a component of the United States Army that provides discreet, sometimes clandestine helicopter aviation support primarily to Joint Special Operations Command.[2] The unit provides highly specialized flights for special operations forces during covert and clandestine missions, and also has a bleeding-edge development role, leading research in emerging technologies for Army aviation. It is a part of the infrastructure of covert special operations airlift more secretive than the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, joining at least three other units across the services and within JSOC itself: the joint Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group (AvTEG), and the Air Force's 66th Air Operations Squadron and 427th Special Operations Squadron.[1] Part of the U.S. Army Aviation Flight Test Directorate, the unit is located at Felker Army Airfield along the James River on Fort Eustis,[3] and has been described as "the best of the very best"[4] and "one of the most secretive U.S. military aviation units known to be in existence today."[5]
Little is known of the history of the unit because of its inherent secrecy, however it is often reported to have emerged out of the lineage of the unit known as SEASPRAY, as well as sharing connections with the former aviation component of Delta Force, Echo Squadron.[4][6] Through its various incarnations, the unit's history has been described as "intertwined" with many other covert elements of the U.S. Army including the Intelligence Support Activity, as far back as the 1980's.[7]
^ abTrevithick, Joseph (23 February 2021). "Photo Emerges of Shadowy Intelligence Gathering "Ghost Plane" In Somalia". The War Zone. from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
^Trevithick, Joseph (21 March 2017). "Shedding Some Light on the Pentagon's Most Shadowy Aviation Units". The War Zone. from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
^"Colonel Ball". U.S. Army Pacific. from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^ abD'Costa, Ian (19 March 2021). "This is the Army's super secret special ops aviation unit". We Are The Mighty. from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^ abcdTrevithick, Joseph (18 September 2021). "Russian-Made Mi-17 Helicopter Flown by Secretive U.S. Unit Lands in Farmer's Field". The War Zone. from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^Murphy, Jack (27 August 2012). "Interview With a Night Stalker". SOFREP. from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^"These Secret Helicopters Were Flown By A Shadowy Unit During The Battle of Mogadishu". AutoMotoBuzz.com. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^"Bells in the Shadow, Part One". engelsjk.com. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
^ ab"Special Operations Hughes/MD500s - Not 160th SOAR!". ARC Discussion Forums. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
aviation, technology, office, united, states, army, known, flight, concepts, division, before, 2017, component, united, states, army, that, provides, discreet, sometimes, clandestine, helicopter, aviation, support, primarily, joint, special, operations, comman. The United States Army Aviation Technology Office ATO known as Flight Concepts Division FCD before 2017 1 is a component of the United States Army that provides discreet sometimes clandestine helicopter aviation support primarily to Joint Special Operations Command 2 The unit provides highly specialized flights for special operations forces during covert and clandestine missions and also has a bleeding edge development role leading research in emerging technologies for Army aviation It is a part of the infrastructure of covert special operations airlift more secretive than the Army s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment joining at least three other units across the services and within JSOC itself the joint Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group AvTEG and the Air Force s 66th Air Operations Squadron and 427th Special Operations Squadron 1 Part of the U S Army Aviation Flight Test Directorate the unit is located at Felker Army Airfield along the James River on Fort Eustis 3 and has been described as the best of the very best 4 and one of the most secretive U S military aviation units known to be in existence today 5 Aviation Technology OfficeActiveUnknown presentCountry United StatesBranch United States ArmyTypeAviationRoleClandestine aviation rotary aviation development special operationsPart ofU S Army Aviation Flight Test DirectorateGarrison HQFelker Army Airfield Fort Eustis Virginia United StatesAircraft flownHelicopterMil Mi 17 Bell 407 External imagesModified Bell 407s attributed to ATO depart in formation Note the military communications arrays equipped on each Contents 1 History 2 Activities 3 Aircraft 4 References 5 See alsoHistory editLittle is known of the history of the unit because of its inherent secrecy however it is often reported to have emerged out of the lineage of the unit known as SEASPRAY as well as sharing connections with the former aviation component of Delta Force Echo Squadron 4 6 Through its various incarnations the unit s history has been described as intertwined with many other covert elements of the U S Army including the Intelligence Support Activity as far back as the 1980 s 7 Activities editThe unit reportedly led the development of the stealth variant of the Sikorsky UH 60 Blackhawk helicopter used in the raid on Osama Bin Laden s compound in Abbottabad Pakistan 5 Aircraft editAircraft reportedly flown by the unit by country of origin nbsp Russia Mil Mi 17 5 nbsp United States Bell 407 5 8 Hughes 530F 9 nbsp Italy Alenia C 27J Spartan 9 References edit a b Trevithick Joseph 23 February 2021 Photo Emerges of Shadowy Intelligence Gathering Ghost Plane In Somalia The War Zone Archived from the original on 23 February 2021 Retrieved 31 August 2021 Trevithick Joseph 21 March 2017 Shedding Some Light on the Pentagon s Most Shadowy Aviation Units The War Zone Archived from the original on 23 March 2017 Retrieved 31 August 2021 Colonel Ball U S Army Pacific Archived from the original on 28 February 2013 Retrieved 19 September 2021 a b D Costa Ian 19 March 2021 This is the Army s super secret special ops aviation unit We Are The Mighty Archived from the original on 18 April 2021 Retrieved 19 September 2021 a b c d Trevithick Joseph 18 September 2021 Russian Made Mi 17 Helicopter Flown by Secretive U S Unit Lands in Farmer s Field The War Zone Archived from the original on 18 September 2021 Retrieved 19 September 2021 Murphy Jack 27 August 2012 Interview With a Night Stalker SOFREP Archived from the original on 3 August 2020 Retrieved 19 September 2021 These Secret Helicopters Were Flown By A Shadowy Unit During The Battle of Mogadishu AutoMotoBuzz com 14 December 2019 Retrieved 19 September 2021 Bells in the Shadow Part One engelsjk com 7 February 2021 Retrieved 19 September 2021 a b Special Operations Hughes MD500s Not 160th SOAR ARC Discussion Forums Retrieved 19 September 2021 See also editSEASPRAY Scott A Howell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aviation Technology Office amp oldid 1115114417, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
