Russian Frigate Fires Flares Near Danish Helicopter
An unidentified Russian frigate fired two pyrotechnic flares toward a Royal Danish Air Force AS550 Fennec during a photographic identification mission in international waters south of Gedser on September 14, 2026.
One flare passed close to the helicopter, prompting it to break away. No crew members were injured, and no damage was reported. Denmark has not disclosed the aircraft’s altitude, speed, flight path, closest approach to the ship or minimum separation from the flare, preventing a precise reconstruction of the encounter.
Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus said the helicopter operated “relatively close” to the frigate, but described that proximity as normal for Danish monitoring missions. Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin said Danish helicopters had previously conducted low-altitude passes and hovered near Russian warships.
No Radio Contact Before Launches
No radio exchange preceded the flare launches, although Bruus said established communication channels were available. The Danish Armed Forces described flares as pyrotechnics normally used as an attention signal at sea.
The Fennec’s task was to obtain photographic identification, requiring it to close with the frigate. Danish authorities have not identified the vessel or provided further operational details.
The incident occurred amid routine Danish surveillance of naval traffic around the Baltic approaches and Danish Straits, where military and civilian vessels operate in constrained shipping corridors.
Surface Tracking Preceded Helicopter Mission
Earlier that day, Danish patrol vessel P523 Najaden and German offshore patrol vessel Neustadt were monitoring activity south of Falster. Sentinel-1 imagery acquired at approximately 07:32 showed two unidentified vessels measuring an estimated 90–110 metres nearby. Neither was transmitting Automatic Identification System data.
One contact moved east, while the other occupied a westbound traffic lane toward waters south of Falster and the area of the later Gedser encounter. Najaden, which had arrived from the Bornholm area, subsequently reversed course while Neustadt continued west.
The movements were consistent with a geographic surveillance handover, but the available length, direction and location data do not establish that either contact was the frigate later approached by the Fennec. Military vessels are not required to transmit civilian AIS continuously, so the lack of a signal also does not establish nationality. Another unidentified 90–110-metre vessel without AIS was recorded south of Lolland at 07:24 on September 15.
Aircraft and Patrol Vessel Roles
Denmark’s AS550 Fennec C2 is used for observation, reconnaissance and light transport. Denmark bought 12 Fennecs in 1987 and received the first in August 1990. The fleet transferred from Army Aviation to the Air Force in 2003, with eight aircraft active by 2006, primarily under Eskadrille 724.
Originally configured for anti-armour operations, the helicopters later lost their anti-tank weapons. The Fennec has an empty weight of 1,220 kg, a maximum takeoff weight of 2,250 kg, and a normal capacity for two crew and four passengers. Published AS550 C3 performance figures include a maximum cruise speed of 246 km/h, a range of 648 km and a ceiling of 5,280 metres.
Najaden provides the persistent surface component of such monitoring. The 43-metre Diana-class patrol vessel can reach 25 knots and has a range exceeding 1,000 nautical miles. It carries navigation radars, a rigid-hulled inflatable boat and two 12.7 mm machine guns. In surveillance operations, the patrol ship can maintain contact while a helicopter closes rapidly for imagery and identification.
Wider Maritime Activity
The Gedser area lies on the route used by Russian naval vessels and tankers travelling from Baltic ports through the Danish Straits toward the North Sea and English Channel. European states increased inspections, boardings and seizures linked to Russian oil exports and sanctions evasion during 2026, while Russian naval deployments extended along the same corridor.
The September encounter followed a separate June 16 incident south of the Isle of Wight involving the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich and British yacht Bright Future. The yacht’s crew reported warning horn blasts followed by several small-arms rounds fired nearby. Russia placed the closest approach at 150 metres, while the British figure was 457 metres.

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F-16s Deploy for Arctic Operation
The Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region deployed F-16 Fighting Falcons from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, for Operation Arctic Vanguard 26-4.2.
The NORAD operation runs from Sept. 13 through Sept. 26, 2026, with the Alaskan NORAD Region operating alongside the Canadian NORAD Region on defense missions across the Arctic.
Forward Operations in Greenland
NORAD personnel and aircraft are scheduled to deploy forward into Greenland, where they will operate in austere conditions with personnel from Denmark and other NATO countries.
The deployment is intended to exercise the movement of combat aircraft from Alaska through Canada and into Greenland while supporting multinational operations across North America’s northern approaches.
Nordic Bridge Coordination
Operation Arctic Vanguard supports the NORAD and U.S. Northern Command Nordic Bridge concept. The concept aligns Arctic operations, exercises, training, activities, and investments with other U.S. combatant commands, NATO members, individual countries, and regional partners.
According to the release, the operation is also intended to support a more consistent multinational presence in the Arctic through activities conducted across multiple domains and locations.
Recurring Arctic Mission
Arctic Vanguard is part of a recurring series of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command operations in the North American Arctic. The series focuses on operating from forward Arctic locations, maintaining a regional presence and defending northern approaches to the continent.
Lt. Gen. Robert D. Davis, commander of the Alaskan NORAD Region, said the operation tests NORAD’s ability to deploy combat airpower across long distances and integrate with the Canadian NORAD Region, Denmark, and other NATO allies.

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B-52 Engine and Radar Programs Advance
The U.S. Air Force reached two acquisition milestones in 2026 for modernization of the B-52 strategic bomber fleet. The service approved Milestone B for the B-52J Commercial Engine Replacement Program on June 1, moving the engine upgrade into engineering and manufacturing development.
On Aug. 21, the Air Force granted Milestone C approval to the B-52 Radar Modernization Program, authorizing low-rate initial production. The upgrades are intended to support B-52 operations through the 2050s and beyond, including long-range strike and nuclear deterrence missions.
Engine Replacement and Supporting Systems
The Commercial Engine Replacement Program will replace the B-52’s original TF33 engines with commercial-derivative Rolls-Royce F130 engines. It also covers changes to hydraulic pumps, cockpit displays, flight systems, and generators, with the latter increasing the aircraft’s electrical power capacity.
Milestone B established the program’s first official Acquisition Program Baseline. Total acquisition cost was set at $20.2 billion, including research, development, testing, evaluation, procurement and military construction. According to the Air Force, $2.6 billion has been spent since 2018.
Early wind-tunnel testing identified airflow distortion at the engine inlet. Engineers subsequently redesigned the nacelle and inlet and conducted additional testing. Boeing and Rolls-Royce completed the critical design review in May 2026, while engine testing remains underway.
Two aircraft designated for testing are scheduled to enter modification at Boeing’s San Antonio facility in the coming months. Both recently completed depot maintenance and are currently flying operational missions. The aircraft will receive engine and radar modifications concurrently.
Radar Production Authorized
The Radar Modernization Program will replace the 1980s-era APQ-166 analog radar with the APQ-188 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar. The Air Force described the new system as a military off-the-shelf radar related to those used by the F-15 and F/A-18.
Following the Aug. 21 production decision, the Air Force awarded low-rate initial production contracts to Raytheon Technologies for radar systems and Boeing for aircraft integration kits. The first lot comprises four kits.
The planned five-lot production effort is expected to provide 74 kits in total. Ground testing evaluated the initial software build and hardware integration, while a Production Readiness Review completed in June 2026 determined that the system was ready for initial production.
Communications and Weapons Integration
Additional B-52 work includes survivable nuclear command-and-control communications and conventional beyond-line-of-sight connectivity. Programs cited by the Air Force include Extremely High Frequency terminals and Hybrid SATCOM.
Weapons integration efforts cover current variants of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile. The B-52 also continues to serve as a test platform for hypersonic weapons.
Airframe Service Life
As part of the engine program’s Milestone B process, the Air Force conducted fleet-wide structural assessments to determine whether the airframes could support the new engines, greater electrical generation, and continued operations.
The B-52 was designed in the late 1940s, with current aircraft built through the early 1960s. Air Force analyses concluded that the airframes retain sufficient fatigue life to continue operating into the 2050s and potentially beyond.

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Navy Awards Initial Production Contract
The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract for the first low-rate initial production lot of MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned aircraft.
The contract funds three Lot 1 aircraft and advance acquisition of long-lead components for three additional MQ-25As under Lot 2. Initial Lot 1 deliveries are expected to begin in 2029.
The award follows approval in May 2026 for the MQ-25A program to enter the production and deployment phase. Navy Capt. Daniel Fucito, program manager for Unmanned Carrier Aviation, described the contract as the program’s transition from development toward operational service.
Program Scope and Mission
The Navy’s program of record covers 76 aircraft, including four engineering and manufacturing development vehicles and five system demonstration test articles. Seven test aircraft are currently in production, according to the Navy.
The MQ-25A is intended to provide carrier air wings with an organic aerial-refueling capability. By assuming tanker duties currently performed by F/A-18 Super Hornets, the unmanned aircraft is expected to make more fighters available for strike missions while reducing flight hours associated with the refueling role.
The Stingray will operate alongside crewed aircraft and use Lockheed Martin’s Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station. The Navy also views the platform as an initial step toward broader integration of unmanned systems into carrier aviation.
Development and Testing
The MQ-25 originated in the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System program, which followed the earlier Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike effort. Boeing was selected for the program in August 2018 and received an $805 million development contract for four aircraft. Three additional test aircraft were ordered in April 2020.
The first MQ-25 test vehicle flew on Sept. 19, 2019. In June 2021, it transferred fuel to an F/A-18F Super Hornet during a roughly 4.5-hour test mission. Subsequent testing included refueling work with the E-2 and F-35C.
The Navy conducted the first flight of a developmental MQ-25 in April 2026. Flight testing is expected to continue through the end of fiscal 2029.
Aircraft and Unit Details
The MQ-25A is powered by a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007N turbofan producing more than 10,000 pounds of thrust. Published Navy data lists a length of 51 feet and a wingspan of 75 feet when extended or 31.3 feet when folded for carrier storage. A Cobham aerial-refueling store is carried externally.
Unmanned Carrier Launched Multi-Role Squadron 10 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, serves as the MQ-25 Fleet Replacement Squadron and supports development of operating and maintenance procedures.
The Navy established operational squadron VUQ-11 in April 2026. It is intended to be based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, after operational aircraft are delivered and developmental testing concludes. A second operational unit, VUQ-12, is planned for a later date.

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Navy Places Blackbeard Production Order
The U.S. Navy has awarded Castelion a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III production delivery order valued at up to $200 million for the Blackbeard hypersonic missile.
Under the order, Castelion will manufacture, assemble, test, and deliver an initial lot of Blackbeard Hypersonic Weapon All-Up Rounds for naval aviation. The Navy and company releases did not specify the number of production rounds, delivery schedule, or unit price.
The production weapons will follow 50 Early Operational Capability rounds ordered in June 2026, according to Castelion. The latest order moves the program from early operational capability prototypes into production.
Air-Launched Strike Role
Blackbeard is an air-launched hypersonic weapon intended to provide carrier-based strike fighters with a long-range, high-speed strike option against maritime and land targets. The Navy said the weapon is designed to extend the reach of carrier strike groups, increase available magazine capacity, and improve aircraft survivability against advanced air defenses.
The program builds on previous U.S. Army and Navy platform-integration contracts. The releases did not identify specific aircraft, integration schedules, or planned dates for operational deployment.
Vice Adm. John “Doc” Dougherty IV, commander of Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation and Naval Air Systems Command, said the award pairs the Navy’s rapid-acquisition structure with commercial manufacturing practices to expand naval aviation’s strike capacity.
Acquisition and Testing Approach
Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation issued the order through its Future Capability Development and Integration Aviation Rapid Capabilities Cell. The cell is part of an acquisition structure in which embedded rapid-capability organizations develop and transition scalable prototypes.
The Navy described the award as an early use of rapid-acquisition initiatives supported by the Department of the Navy Rapid Capabilities Office. It also cited acquisition reforms in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and authorities under the Small Business Innovation Development Act as the basis for transitioning privately financed technology directly into production.
According to the Navy, this structure is intended to limit duplicated non-recurring engineering work and shorten the transition between development and manufacturing.
Blackbeard’s test program will use mission-engineering processes and specialized testing software to support flight-clearance and safety requirements. No flight-test results or certification timeline were included in the releases.
Manufacturing Locations
Work will take place at Castelion’s Project Ranger manufacturing campus in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and at the company’s facility in Torrance, California. Project Ranger covers approximately 1,000 acres.
Castelion said its production plan combines vertically integrated operations with commercial manufacturing methods, covering activities from raw materials through finished rounds. The company has funded Blackbeard with hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment while working with the Navy, Army and Air Force, according to its release.
Program Transition
Castelion co-founder and CEO Bryon Hargis said the production decision followed progress made jointly with the Navy and that Blackbeard was designed with production requirements in mind.
The Navy linked the award to its broader objective of obtaining lower-cost munitions in larger quantities and improving strike options in contested maritime areas. The releases did not provide the order’s maximum period of performance or indicate whether additional production lots are planned.

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U.S. and Germany Sign Defense Industrial Agreement
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signed an agreement Sept. 15, 2026, intended to expand defense industrial cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement aligns the War Department’s acquisition transformation strategy with Germany’s Procurement Acceleration Act. According to Hegseth, the framework is intended to increase opportunities for joint development, production, licensed manufacturing, maintenance and sustainment.
The officials said the objective is to expand production capacity and deliver military systems to U.S., German and allied forces more quickly and at greater scale. No individual programs, contract values or implementation deadlines were announced.
NATO Spending and Industrial Capacity
The agreement followed Pentagon discussions covering increased European defense spending, NATO force contributions and the U.S. and German defense industrial bases.
Hegseth placed the talks within what he calls “NATO 3.0,” a proposed approach emphasizing higher defense expenditures, troop readiness, weapons production and force contributions. President Donald Trump has called for NATO members to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense.
Hegseth said Germany was moving toward the 5% commitment made at the previous year’s Hague Summit. He added that spending increases would need to be accompanied by higher production on both sides of the Atlantic.
The secretary also linked the agreement to the U.S. “arsenal of freedom” plan, which he described as an effort to expand domestic manufacturing, rebuild industrial capacity and increase production of U.S.-made defense equipment.
Germany Reports Spending Increase
Pistorius said Germany had increased defense spending by 25%, with expenditures equivalent to about $147 billion. He described the increase as part of a broader effort by European allies to assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence in Europe and reduce the burden on the United States.
Germany is purchasing new weapon systems from U.S. suppliers while expanding its role within NATO, Pistorius said. He cited German support for Ukraine and the deployment of an armored brigade in Lithuania as contributions to NATO’s eastern flank.
Pistorius also identified space systems and deep-precision strike capabilities as areas of German technology investment. Germany is scheduled to roll out its first F-35A aircraft later in the week, according to the release.
Production and Sustainment Priorities
Both officials identified increased production capacity as the agreement’s central aim. Hegseth said coordinating the countries’ acquisition and procurement policies could support shared manufacturing and sustainment arrangements for allied systems.
Pistorius said the framework would provide a basis for closer bilateral armament cooperation after more than 70 years of Germany’s NATO membership. The release did not identify specific weapons, facilities or companies that would participate.
European Role in NATO
Pistorius said Germany supports a larger European role in NATO while maintaining the transatlantic alliance. He characterized the effort as a shift in burden-sharing rather than a reduction in U.S.-European defense ties.
“Together with our allies, we are working towards a stronger Europe and a stronger NATO,” Pistorius said, adding that Germany and the United States would continue cooperating on collective defense and resilience.

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Pentagon IG Details Operation Epic Fury Costs
Operation Epic Fury cost an estimated $33.4 billion through June 29, according to a Pentagon Inspector General report covering operations from Feb. 28 through June 30, 2026. Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of structures at U.S. bases, while dozens of American aircraft were lost or damaged.
The estimate comprises $22.3 billion in expended munitions, $7.4 billion in cumulative operational obligations and $3.7 billion in equipment losses, calculated largely at replacement cost. It excludes infrastructure repairs, broader economic effects and some costs that remain under assessment.
Through June 30, seven U.S. service members were killed in action, seven died in non-hostile incidents, and 417 were wounded in action. Four additional service members were killed in action in July.
Bases and Aircraft Hit
Iranian attacks damaged or destroyed buildings at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. The military has not determined the full repair cost or its future basing posture, including which facilities will be rebuilt and how much allies may contribute.
Aircraft losses included four F-15Es, one A-10, an AH-64 helicopter, an MH-60 helicopter, and as many as 30 MQ-9 intelligence and surveillance aircraft. Seven KC-135 tankers were damaged or destroyed, while an F-35A, E-3 surveillance aircraft, and HH-60W helicopter were damaged. Four AH-6 helicopters were destroyed by U.S. forces after becoming unrecoverable during combat search-and-rescue operations, and an MQ-4C uncrewed aircraft was reported crashed.
The State Department separately estimated about $184 million in damage to U.S. embassies, consulates and other diplomatic facilities as of June 30.
Munitions and Funding Shortfalls
The Pentagon’s acquisition and sustainment office told investigators that munitions use created “strategic inventory shortfalls” and exposed industrial-base bottlenecks. Persistent constraints include solid rocket motor production, supplies of high-grade explosives and propellants, and recruitment of skilled manufacturing workers. Officials said expanding production capacity requires significant lead time.
About 90% of the operation’s $7.4 billion in obligations fell under operations and maintenance. The largest disbursement categories were airlift operations at $929.6 million, flying-hour costs at $691.1 million, ship operations at $647.7 million, base support at $405 million and maneuver units at $385.3 million.
Because Congress did not provide a dedicated fiscal 2026 appropriation for the operation, military components used base-budget funds otherwise intended for activities including training and maintenance. On June 24, the White House requested $87.6 billion in emergency supplemental funding, including $67.1 billion for the military, largely for Epic Fury. That request included $21 billion for munitions and $17.3 billion for operational costs.
Scope of the Campaign
The United States launched Epic Fury with Israel on Feb. 28 to target Iran’s nuclear, missile, naval, and security infrastructure. More than 50,000 U.S. personnel deployed across the Central Command region. Between Feb. 28 and an April 7 ceasefire, U.S. forces struck about 13,500 targets, conducted approximately 36,000 combat sorties and carried out more than 1,800 fire missions.
A blockade of Iranian ports ran from April 13 to June 18. U.S. forces redirected more than 140 vessels, disabled 10 non-compliant ships, and permitted passage for more than 50 commercial vessels supporting humanitarian aid.
The report’s accounting ends June 30 and does not include the full costs and losses from renewed daily strikes in July. The complete mission statement for Epic Fury remains classified.

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U.S. Acknowledges Weapons in Orbit
The U.S. military has publicly acknowledged for the first time that the Space Force operates weapons in Earth’s orbit.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said during a Sept. 14 keynote at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, that the service has “on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.”
Meink, who oversees the Air Force and Space Force, said the disclosure was intentional and its wording “very well thought out.” He did not identify the systems, disclose how many are deployed, or say whether they use kinetic or non-kinetic methods.
Details Remain Classified
Meink said acknowledging the weapons’ existence could support deterrence, but releasing technical or operational details would not.
“We’re not going to talk about the specifics of what we’re doing, whether we’ve tested, not tested, or anything else,” he said. “I would just say that the space environment is critical for military and economic security, and we need to make sure that the U.S. can operate freely there.”
An Air Force spokesperson said the systems are intended to defend the military “against space-enabled attack.” Meink similarly said the United States has taken steps to respond when threatened and must maintain its position in both air and space.
China and Russia Cited as Threats
The Air Force said the United States has warned about Russian and Chinese weapons testing in space since 2007. China has operated spacecraft capable of damaging other satellites, while the Space Force says Russia is developing a satellite “designed to carry a nuclear weapon.”
“Due to their actions, it is no longer a question that space is a warfighting domain,” the spokesperson said. “Space control is part of how the Joint Force protects national security interests.”
The spokesperson added that public communication can strengthen deterrence, reduce the risk of adversary miscalculation, and normalize space operations alongside those of other military services.
The disclosure represents a shift from past U.S. reluctance to discuss anti-satellite capabilities. Destroying satellites in orbit can create debris that threatens other spacecraft and astronauts.
Golden Dome Programs Advance
Meink also highlighted two Space Force projects within the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative: the Space-Based Interceptor program and the Space-Based Air-Moving Target Indication constellation.
The interceptor program is intended to detect and defeat missile threats from space. Meink said it progressed from an initial contract to flight-ready hardware in less than a year. The Space Force is using a prize competition to assess affordability and scalability, with a possible initial capability targeted for 2028.
Golden Dome Director Gen. Michael Guetlein said contractors completed the first phase, which covered design work and component-level testing. The following phases call for prototype construction, demonstrations in space and integration with the wider Golden Dome architecture.
Satellite Tracking Constellation
The Space-Based Air-Moving Target Indication program will use satellites to supplement airborne threat-tracking missions traditionally conducted by aircraft. The Space Force is working with the National Reconnaissance Office on the constellation, which is intended to remain operational against adversary anti-access and aerial-denial systems.
SpaceX received a $4.2 billion contract in May to begin building the constellation. Meink said the first satellites would launch in September, but the Space Force has not disclosed the size of the initial launch or the planned number of spacecraft.

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Declassified Footage Details Iran Rescue Operations
Newly declassified footage shared by CBS 60 Minutes, shows how the U.S. military recovered two Air Force officers after their F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down south of Isfahan, Iran, on April 2.
The crew, identified by the call signs Alpha and Bravo because of security concerns, ejected after a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile struck their aircraft. They landed about five miles apart and were recovered in separate operations. Alpha was rescued within six hours, while Bravo remained behind enemy lines for approximately 50 hours.
The mission involved combat aircraft, intelligence assets, aerial refueling, special operations aviation and more than 90 U.S. personnel on the ground. Several hundred personnel operated in the air, with several thousand supporting the operation.
Shootdown and Separation
Alpha was the pilot, while Bravo was the weapons systems officer in the two-seat fighter. Their mission, according to U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper, was to strike industrial facilities associated with Iran’s drone and missile program.
After the missile hit, the crew attempted to save the aircraft before ejecting. Bravo’s parachute was damaged, leaving him falling at an estimated 70 to 100 mph. He broke his back, arm and shoulder when he landed.
“At one point when I looked up and saw no parachute, that was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen,” Bravo said. He recalled praying during the fall and later described his survival as a “modern-day miracle.”
Despite his injuries, Bravo moved away from his landing site and climbed toward a ridgeline at roughly 7,000 feet. Iranian search teams reportedly came within a few hundred meters of his location.
Alpha Recovered Under Fire
Alpha was recovered during a risky daylight operation involving 21 aircraft and an HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue helicopter. The rescue force encountered fire on its way into and out of the area.
The team was unable to locate Bravo and withdrew after recovering Alpha. Alpha has since returned to flying but declined a public interview. In a statement, he praised the professionalism of the combat search-and-rescue specialists and other personnel involved.
As night fell, Bravo sent a message confirming that he was injured but still moving. A potential rescue attempt was postponed because operational conditions did not align, leaving him exposed for another day with little food or water in the cold and wind of the high desert.
Second Rescue Uses Ground Force
U.S. intelligence monitored Bravo and Iranian movements while the CIA conducted a deception campaign intended to confuse the search effort. American bombers and drones also struck nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces before the second extraction began.
Two MC-130 aircraft landed on an improvised desert airstrip about 10 miles from Bravo. The force then launched compact MH-6M Little Bird helicopters to reach his position in the restricted mountain terrain.
More than 90 U.S. service members deployed on the ground, described by Cooper as the first American boots on the ground in Iran in 46 years. When rescuers reached Bravo near sunrise, he told them, “Let’s go.”
Aircraft Lost During Extraction
The operation faced another complication when the MC-130 aircraft became stuck in sand at the makeshift airstrip. A clandestine Air Force unit subsequently helped extract the stranded personnel.
The United States destroyed the two MC-130s, each valued at about $100 million, along with the Little Bird helicopters to prevent their technology from being captured. Bravo was brought to safety about 50 hours after the shootdown, as the sun rose on Easter Sunday.
The downed F-15E was valued at approximately $30 million, while the shoulder-fired missile that brought it down may have cost around $100,000. Bravo said the recovery reflected the combined effects of training, teamwork, leadership, and the military commitment to retrieve isolated personnel.

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