U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Craig Prather, Air Force Special Operations Command director of strategic plans, programs and requirements, reaffirmed the enduring value and necessity of special operations forces aviation as AFSOC leaders, industry partners, warfighters and leading academics converged at the 2026 Special Air Warfare Symposium.
Speaking at SAWS, Prather emphasized that despite shifts in strategic focus in recent years and rapid technological change, SOF aviation remains essential to national defense and joint force operations. He framed SOF aviation’s relevance across four core mission areas: maneuver, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, strike, and air-to-ground integration, highlighting how these missions will evolve to meet emerging threats.
Source: DVIDS Marines | Published: Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:11:16 -0500