---
title: "In Iceland, Air Force special ops crews test gliders for resupply"
description: "Air Force crews trained to resupply troops on the ground with cargo gliders, which can fly themselves to waiting troops from MC-130J planes."
date: "2026-08-28"
modified: "2026-08-28"
authors:
  - name: "Matt White"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/matt-white/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-special-ops-test-gliders/"
categories:
  - "Air Force"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
---

# In Iceland, Air Force special ops crews test gliders for resupply

![A U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II from the 352d Special Operations Wing performs low-level flight training above Iceland Aug. 23, 2026, during Exercise Northern Viking 26.](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/iceland-glider.jpg>)
*A U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II from the 352d Special Operations Wing performs low-level flight training above Iceland during Exercise Northern Viking 26. 352nd crews in the exercise trained to drop resupply gliders to troops on the ground. \<h3\>Air Force Photo by \<a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1104492/benjamin-sutton">Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Sutton.\</a\>\</h3\>*

Air Force special operations crews appear to be using a major exercise in Iceland to test and train with cargo gliders to resupply ground teams in tough-to-reach locations.

At the Northern Viking 2026 exercise held this month near the northern city of Akureyri, an official with the 352d Special Operations Wing said the unit would be simulating the supply of ground troops with gliders dropped from the unit’s MC-130 cargo planes.

“Basically, we’ll be employing non-standard airdrop platforms to deliver logistical and medical supplies to far-forward troops,” said the 352nd’s commander for the exercise in a press release that did not identify the officer. “We specifically want to train in long-range resupply in contested environments and intend to airdrop a powered glider to a detachment of fellow U.S. servicemembers. This glider will be filled with supplies and airdropped to the servicemembers on the ground, validating our capability to deliver critical supplies to SOF teams operating far beyond friendly supply lines.”

The Northern Viking release did not specify the glider used in the exercise, but at the [Trojan Footprint exercise in North ](<https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/glider-drones-green-berets-trojan-footprint/>)Macedonia in May, U.S. special ops teams trained with a so-called Grasshopper “autonomous aerial resupply vehicle” dropped from Romanian planes.

![A Grasshopper autonomous aerial resupply vehicle prepares to descend from a Romanian C-27 aircraft during a demonstration during Exercise Trojan Footprint 26 near Krivolak, North Macedonia, May 18, 2026. Trojan Footprint is a key biennial training event, focused on posturing Allies to deter aggression and defend regional security through joint and multinational cooperation. The Grasshopper system is an aerial platform designed to expand long-range, low-cost, precision sustainment in contested environments. (Courtesy Photo)](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/9694801.jpg>)
*A Grasshopper autonomous aerial resupply vehicle in a C-27 aircraft during Exercise Trojan Footprint 26 in May 2026. Air Force photo by Capt. Christopher Booker.*

Resupplying troops from the air, even in dangerous combat zones, is not a new skill for Air Force crews. The Air Force even has [two kinds of single-use cargo parachutes for dropping dozens of packages](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/uae-c17-deadly-airdrop/>) of supplies in a single pass: a large, low-speed parachute similar to the one used by airborne infantry troops for relatively safe drop zones; and high-speed system, called the [“low cost, high velocity,” or LCHV parachute](<https://nicheinc.com/pages/high-velocity-parachutes>), that fall as fast as 60 miles per hour for drops over active battlefields.

But with a glider, Air Force crews can resupply troops dozens of miles away.

In the May exercise in North Macedonia, U.S. troops used the Grasshopper. The long, coffin-shaped gliders were dropped from the rear of the cargo planes. In freefall, the glider's wings extend to guide it towards a target. For landing, the glider deploys a parachute. [Photos released during that exercise](<https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9694846/tfp-26-joint-aerial-delivery-event>) showed troops inspecting the glider on the ground, where it showed some minor damage.

According to manufacturer DZYNE, the Grasshopper and its long-range variant (which has an onboard turboprop) are both meant to accurately deliver a payload using a cheap and expendable frame and can each carry 500 pounds of cargo. The normal glider variant emits a very low electromagnetic signal.

Army Special Forces [tested another airdropped glider, the GD-2000, ](<https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/army-green-berets-test-silent-arrow-gd-2000-cargo-delivery-drone/>)at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona in 2023.

## Author
Matt White is a senior editor at Task & Purpose*.* He writes on news, people and events that affect the lives of those in the Army, Air Force and Space Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. He also helps direct and edit coverage across Task & Purpose’s newsroom. He has written widely on military aviation and mishaps, service members with unique stories, and special operations including [combat search and rescue](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-pararescue-astronauts-boat-nasa-ocean/>). Got a story to tell? You can reach Matt at [matthew.white@taskandpurpose.com](<mailto:matthew.white@taskandpurpose.com>)

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