In the depths of its secret network of tunnels dug by Hamas under the Gaza Strip operates a shadow military unit, called the Shadow Unit…

The US Army has identified five soldiers who were killed in a helicopter crash in the Eastern Mediterranean on Friday, according to a Monday announcement from the US Army Special Operations Command.
The five soldiers were assigned to the “Night Stalkers” unit, which operates with MH-60 Blackhawk special configuration and belongs to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The 5-member unit was on a training mission, according to the statement.
Specifically, the MH-60 Blackhawk was conducting aerial refuelling training, when the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency resulting in the crash, the statement reports.
The Pentagon has not released any additional information on the recovery operation for the helicopter. The US Navy assisted with the search with three P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft and the guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117), according to the US European Command.
Regarding the said MH-60 Blackhawk, it belongs to the US Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as Night Stalkers. This variant is packed with specialized systems to help them perform critical missions under the most demanding conditions.
The systems that stand out the most are the helicopter’s terrain-following/terrain avoidance radar, its AN/ZSQ-2 sensor turret along with the AN/APQ-187 Silent Knight radar.
The terrain-following/terrain avoidance radar is an essential tool, which allows to safely fly extremely low altitude nap-of-the-earth flight profiles, even in poor weather and at night, and keeps the system away from enemy air defences.
The AN/ZSQ-2 turret has electro-optical and infrared full-motion video cameras as well as a laser range finder. There are also adapters for firearms as well as the capability to carry Hellfire anti-tank missiles, 70 mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets, etc.
Also read: Sikorsky and DARPA test Black Hawk in autonomous flight – VIDEO
Another system worth mentioning is the Degraded Visual Environment Pilotage System (DVEPS), which uses a combination of cameras and LIDAR, linked to a terrain database, to help the crew navigate through dust, sand, snow, fog, and other ‘degraded’ environments.
Further, the system incorporates an array of self-protection systems such as laser warning sensors as well as elements of active jammers and other electronic warfare systems, complemented by flares and chaff dispensers.
In addition to this, the MH-60Ms are equipped with the new Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system. This is a directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system that uses laser beams projected through a pair of turreted beam directors to blind and confuse the seekers on infrared-homing missiles.
These helicopters are considered to be the ultimate modified Black Hawks.
Also read: Firefighting helicopters | The night flight capabilities of the Sikorsky S-70i FIREHAWK®
READ MORE
Scandinavian dinner for 4 leaders with Trump on the menu
A few hours after Donald Trump’s latest “prophecy” from the presidential Air Force One, that the US will finally succeed in taking control…
NATO | Military Intelligence to the EU Aimed at Transition to ‘War Mentality’
NATO has begun the process of “sharing” some of its highly classified capability targets—which determine what kind of weapons and…
Etemad | Iran’s New Ballistic Missile
Iran recently unveiled its new Etemad ballistic missile with a range of 1,700 km during a ceremony in Tehran attended by…
US Navy | Certification of the Operational Service of the New HELIOS Laser Weapon System
The US Navy has certified the operational service of the new HELIOS (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance)…
Lockheed Martin | Upgrade of the Trident II D5 Missile for the US Navy
Lockheed Martin has secured a $383 million contract modification to develop the next-generation Trident II Strategic…
INTRACOM DEFENCE | Launch of the ACTUS Project with Cypriot Participation
INTRACOM DEFENCE (IDE) has signed a €42 million Grant Agreement (No. 101168046 ACTUS–EDF-2023-DA) with the European Defence Fund…
XDOWN | Development of a Rugby Ball-Like Tactical Unmanned Aerial System
US defence startup XDOWN has developed a tactical Unmanned Aerial System called the PS Killer (PSK). Throwers use this lightweight drone…
European Defence Fund | Announcement of the 2025 EDF Work Programme
More than €1 billion will be allocated in 2025 from the European Defence Fund (EDF) to the European defence ecosystem for…