Starting. Stopping. Restarting. And stopping again. For over a decade, the U.S. Defense Department’s attempts to field a light attack aircraft fit into this familiar, futile pattern.

The latest iteration—Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch program—hopes to break this vicious cycle.

Access exclusive subscriber-only coverage as Special Operations Command has selected five aircraft for a demo this summer, continuing the long quest to acquire a light attack fleet.

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