Particular operators want an eye-in-the sky to look out for them as they function in harmful environments throughout the globe. And it isn’t all the time sensible for that overwatch to come back from high-end fight fighter jets, that are higher suited to countering threats from nation states.
This yr’s price range request contains funding for U.S. Particular Operations Command to advance efforts to place smaller plane, uniquely suited to Particular Operations Forces wants, within the skies over particular operators.
“The price range … helps the ‘Armed Overwatch’ program to make sure our SOF have the required assist in distant and austere environments the place they function,” mentioned Christopher P. Maier, the assistant secretary of protection for particular operations and low-intensity battle, throughout testimony Tuesday earlier than the Senate Armed Companies Committee.
About $246 million for 9 plane was requested this yr to assist procurement inside USSOCOM’s Armed Overwatch program in order that SOF deployed to distant areas can get the shut air assist, precision strike functionality, airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities they should execute their missions.
“The funding into the Armed Overwatch program will be certain that this devoted functionality exists, permitting high-end fighter plane to orient in the direction of different crucial wants,” wrote Maier in submitted testimony to the SASC. “The Armed Overwatch platform will ship a functionality that ensures our SOF can proceed to function wherever we want them, every time they’re wanted.”
The price range request additionally seeks funding to assist SOF Undersea program, Maier mentioned, which incorporates each manned and unmanned underwater methods to offer intelligence and transport capabilities to particular operators.
“We’re working with the Division of the Navy to make sure the combination of modernized SOF operational ideas and investments meant to facilitate entry in denied areas and higher vary for longer durations of time with much less threat to the operator,” Maier mentioned.
Maier informed lawmakers that is the primary yr that each the Armed Overwatch and the Undersea applications have been formally designated as “particular curiosity” acquisition applications.
“[This ensures] extra complete oversight in order that any issues or points could also be recognized early and quickly remedied,” Maier mentioned.
Additionally a part of the price range request, Maier mentioned, is sustained funding to assist USSOCOM’s most essential asset, that are its individuals.
“As mirrored within the FY23 price range, we proceed to put money into the well being and well-being of our SOF warriors and their households,” he mentioned. “Our flagship Preservation of the Drive and Households program, or POTFF, enhances service-administered applications to deal with the distinctive bodily, cognitive, psychological and non secular well being wants of our SOF group.”
Maier additionally thanked lawmakers for permitting the POTFF program to be prolonged to Gold Star households — the households of SOF servicemen and girls killed whereas on responsibility. Congress made that attainable by means of language within the Nationwide Protection Authorization Act for Fiscal Yr 2022.
“[This will] allow the SOF enterprise to increase the POTFF household assist program to our Gold Star households and embrace surviving households as essential members of the SOF group,” Maier mentioned.
