The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is developing a new network of ‘power projection wings’ to prepare for a more unpredictable, fast-paced way of war. This involves reshaping three wings, the 1st Special Operations Wing (Florida), the 27th SOW (New Mexico), and the 492nd Special Operations Wing which is moving from Florida to Arizona.
Key points:
- The newly shaped wings will undertake a variety of special operations missions, such as airborne strike and surveillance to ground forces, each loosely affiliated with a combatant command overseas to build regional expertise.
- This reorganization is part of AFSOC’s plan to redefine its operations following prolonged war in the U.S. Central Command area, including further integrating nontraditional fields like cyber and streamlining troops.
- The 492nd Special Operations Wing’s move to Arizona symbolizes a new era in air-to-ground combat as the Air Force plans to retire the A-10C Thunderbolt II attack planes by the end of the decade. It will house several different units upon its move.
- The decision to move squadrons to Arizona is motivated by the desire to protect special operations forces from natural disasters, such as the hurricanes that hit the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast regions annually.
- The 1st and 27th SOWs will largely remain unchanged in this new approach to power projection wings, continuing to operate a diverse set of platforms including the tiltrotor CV-22 Osprey, MQ-9 Reaper drone, AC-130J gunship, among others.
