'Night Stalkers': Who Are The Elite US Army Special Ops Unit That Use Black Hawks To Strike?

Last Updated:October 19, 2025, 19:03 IST

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, nicknamed 'Night Stalkers', is an airborne unit and flies helicopters in support of US Special Operation Forces

US Army Black Hawk helicopters during a drill after President Donald Trump deployed significant military assets as part of what he said are counter-narcotics efforts in the Caribbean. (Image: @Abby Karim/Facebook)

Black Hawk helicopters of the US Army were spotted doing drills in Trinidadian oil fields, weeks before President Donald Trump deployed significant military assets as part of what he said are counter-narcotics efforts in the Caribbean.

These attack helicopters – MH-60M Black Hawks modified to include stealth features – are part of the arsenal of the elite “Night Stalkers", as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) is nicknamed. It is an elite special operations unit, which is airborne and flies helicopters in support of Special Operation Forces (SOF) and regular forces.

The 160th SOAR is also otherwise known as Task Force 160 (TF-160). They fly the following helicopters:

WHAT IS THE 160th SOAR, OR TASK FORCE 160?

Functioning mostly as a support system to other special forces in the armed forces, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) is an element of the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC).

The ARSOAC is part of the United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne), which is a component of US Special Operations Command.

The regiment has Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Operation Aviation Training Company, 1st Battalion at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, 2nd Battalion at Fort Campbell, 3rd Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, 4th Battalion at Fort Lewis at Washington, and E Company at Fort Campbell.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE ‘NIGHT STALKERS’?

The ‘Night Stalkers’ are deployed on a number of missions including insertion/extraction of SOF, attacks, and even reconnaissance. It regularly practises with the SOF of the US Army, Air Force, and Navy, other than military exercises with the special forces of other countries.

According to a report in the New York Post, the ‘Night Stalkers’ are able to deposit highly trained fighters, including Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, or Delta Force personnel, into battle zones. No other element of the armed forces uses the “little bird" helicopters that have been spotted off the Venezuelan coast, the report said.

“They have excellent surveillance equipment to watch for potential drug smugglers coming out of Venezuela and the attack capabilities to destroy those vessels. They could also seize vessels, although they have not done that yet as far as is known," defence expert Mark Cancian told the Post. “The 160th could take special operations forces into Venezuela to strike cartel or regime targets. I don’t expect that because of the risk of casualties or capture but it’s possible."

An analysis by The Washington Post said the special operations aviation force has flown within 90 miles (149 km approx) of the Venezuelan coast.

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