Aviation Technology Office

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]

External images
image icon Modified Bell 407s attributed to ATO depart in formation Note the military communications arrays equipped on each.

Aviation Technology Office
ActiveUnknown–present
Country United States
Branch United States Army
TypeAviation
RoleClandestine aviation, rotary aviation development, special operations
Part ofU.S. Army Aviation Flight Test Directorate
Garrison/HQFelker Army Airfield, Fort Eustis, Virginia, United States
Aircraft flown
HelicopterMil Mi-17, Bell 407

History

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]

Activities

The 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

Aircraft reportedly flown by the unit by country of origin:

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. "Colonel Ball". U.S. Army Pacific. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Murphy, Jack (27 August 2012). "Interview With a Night Stalker". SOFREP. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  7. "These Secret Helicopters Were Flown By A Shadowy Unit During The Battle of Mogadishu". AutoMotoBuzz.com. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  8. "Bells in the Shadow, Part One". engelsjk.com. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  9. "Special Operations Hughes/MD500s - Not 160th SOAR!". ARC Discussion Forums. Retrieved 19 September 2021.

See also
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