I have been working in Ukraine since 2019, first as an active Green Beret advising in an official capacity, then after leaving that service, directing special operations on the ground and more recently carrying hard-won lessons back to NATO before they are forgotten or overtaken by the next news cycle.
At a glance, Navy SEALs don't appear to use radically different weapons than conventional infantry units. The difference is not the rifle or the optic, but how those weapons are trained and judged under pressure. SEAL missions rarely allow clean sight pictures or predictable engagements, and their training reflects that reality. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at how Navy SEAL weapons training differs from conventional infantry.
Here, 24/7 Wall St. looks at weapons used by Spetsnaz Special Forces, which offers more insight into the weapons used by elite forces - including weapons with ranges over 19,000 feet, which exceeds the height of many mountains. We reviewed a catalog of small arms from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, and arms. We excluded overly similar guns and guns believed no longer in use by the Special Forces.
Their loadout reflects this mindset: lightweight weapons, durable optics, reliable radios, and lifesaving medical kits all configured to maximize mobility. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a look inside the Army Ranger toolkit. To determine the loadout used by US Army Rangers, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various historical and military sources. We ordered these alphabetically. We included supplemental information regarding the type, primary function, skills involved and more.
For over a century, sharpshooters have shaped the evolution of special operations warfare. From the minimalist precision of Simo Häyhä to the extreme-range shots of modern SOF snipers, these marksmen forced militaries to rethink how small teams could dominate the battlefield. Advances in optics, ballistics, and training didn't just make rifles better, they transformed snipers into high-value assets for reconnaissance, target interdiction, and mission security.
The US Air Force plane that crashed into a field in Oklahoma late Thursday afternoon was a new special operations light attack aircraft that the service first received earlier this year. The new OA-1K Skyraider II is a militarized version of the well-known Air Tractor AT-802, which is used for agricultural work like crop dusting, or aerial application of pesticides or fertilizer. The Air Force plane supports missions like close air support and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
