World's Largest Special Operations Helicopter Fleets

Simple Flying analyzed publicly available data to rank the world's largest dedicated special operations helicopter fleets. The list counts only aircraft whose primary role is supporting special operations, excluding conventional helicopters that can be assigned to special forces when needed.

United Kingdom

Britain does not publish a combined inventory for its Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing. The heavy-lift core comes from the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, operated by No. 7 Squadron at RAF Odiham. No. 658 Squadron of the Army Air Corps provides domestic counter-terrorism support for 22 SAS. In July 2026, No. 27 Squadron assumed readiness as NATO's Special Operations Air Task Unit after a demanding validation process. The UK's light helicopter element has shrunk with the retirement of the Westland Lynx and Gazelle, leaving no clean public fleet number.

Italy

Italy's 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment "Aldebaran" was created on November 10, 2014, at Viterbo. According to the Italian Army, it operates three helicopter lines: CH-47F Chinook, Leonardo HH412A, and NHIndustries UH90 TTH. The regiment is qualified as a NATO Special Operations Air Task Group.

Poland

Poland's special forces aviation centers on two components. The Powietrzna Jednostka Operacji Specjalnych operates eight Mi-17s, as reported by MILMAG. GROM's independent aviation team operates eight S-70i Black Hawks, with the final four delivered in November 2024. That brings the documented total to 16 helicopters directly assigned to Polish special forces aviation.

Germany

Germany's fleet is among the easiest to quantify. The Luftwaffe operates the Airbus Helicopters H145M LUH SOF, with 15 procured, according to VerticalMag. In December 2025, Airbus confirmed ten H145M light combat helicopters are earmarked for special forces; Janes reported the first two arrived at Laupheim on June 24, 2026. Once delivered, the total will reach 25 H145Ms.

France

France's 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment at Pau has nearly 500 personnel and a fleet of roughly 40 helicopters, according to Joint Forces News. The fleet includes Caracals, Cougars, Gazelles, and Tigers. Army Recognition reports that France's 2024 to 2030 programming law targets 18 NH90 special forces helicopters, with Caracals shifting to the Air Force's 1/67 Pyrénées squadron. The Directorate General of Armament confirmed the order for 18 NH90 Caïman Standard 2 helicopters tailored to French special forces requirements.

United States

The US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is in a different category. USSOCOM's FY2026 budget lists 69 MH-47G Chinooks, 71 MH-60M Black Hawks, 28 A/MH-6Ms, and 22 A/MH-6Rs, totaling 190 helicopters. The regiment combines heavy, medium, and light helicopters within one dedicated organization, several times larger than any European fleet.

• CH-47 Chinook
• H145M
• helicopters
• military aviation
• special operations
• US Army