Black Hawk Down: Army Puts Faith in Next Generation Aircraft ‘Leap’

Army says next generation vertical lift will play decisive role in era of 'Great Power Competition'—but exactly how is classified

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Task Force Heavy Cav flies over Afghanistan in support of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during Operation Freedom's Sentinel and NATO Operation Resolute Support on May 20, 2019. Jordan Trent/DoD

When grainy images surfaced of helicopter wreckage leaning against the wall of Osama bin Laden’s compound, military tech geeks pored over the tell-tale signs of new stealth capabilities in the odd-looking pieces.

The two helicopters in the Navy Seal raid that killed bin Laden were officially identified as (heavily-modified) U.S. military Black Hawks, one of which went down in the mission.