Air Force tests powered gliders for remote resupply in Iceland exercise
U.S. Air Force special-operations units are trialing powered gliders to airdrop supplies to isolated teams during Exercise Northern Viking in Iceland.
During Exercise Northern Viking 2026 in Iceland, Air Force Special Operations Command personnel plan to airdrop a powered glider packed with supplies to small teams operating beyond reliable supply lines. The initiative seeks to test long-range, contested-environment resupply for future conflicts in remote regions like the Arctic, where ships and aircraft may face threats or distance constraints. An unnamed commander of the 352d Special Operations Wing highlighted the chance to train alongside allied partners.
The Air Force did not reveal the glider’s manufacturer, but earlier this year Army Green Berets in Romania and Macedonia evaluated Dzyne-made glider drones called Grasshopper for delivering construction materials and medical kits with minimal electronic emissions. Such low-signature platforms could enable troops to receive essential gear while reducing detection risk.
Why it matters
It could give U.S. forces a new way to sustain troops in hard-to-reach, contested areas.
In this story
